The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between environmental factors and phytoplankton community structure and abundance. The samples were collected from 11 stations selected at Hormozgan coastal waters of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea in winter 2015 and summer 2016. Various environmental factors including water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, nitrite, nitrate, and silicate as well as biological parameters such as chlorophyll a and phytoplankton community were measured. The results showed that the maximum phytoplankton density (1.25×10⁶ cell/L) was in summer and the minimum density (2.01×10⁵cell/L) was in the winter season. Based on the results, 46 genera belonging to five phyla of phytoplanktons were recorded. Bacilariophyta and Dinophyta were the most dominant phylum of the total phytoplankton communities. The results of this study revealed that water temperature, salinity, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and chlorophyll-a were the most important factors affecting the dynamics of total phytoplankton distribution in coastal waters of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea.

Keywords: phytoplankton community, environmental factors, Bacilariophyta, Dinophyta, Hormozgan Province

Full-Text [PDF 875 kb]   (795 Downloads)