Studies of Species Distribution for Phytoplankton in Balanga Dam - Introduction

 1.0 INTRODUCTION 

    Difference species of phytoplankton in a community respond differently in term of behavioural, intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Slight alteration of those factor due agricultural and anthropogenic activities might have a direct effect on the species distribution and abundance, that is why research on the recent investigations have been directed to species diversity indices. Phytoplankton is a collective term referring to both organism plants and animals which are unable to resist movement of water current (drifters) [1]. Based on the taxonomic schemes, phytoplanktons consist of 24 classes and about 26,000 species were identified [2]. The interaction between of physical, chemical and biological properties of water often determined their production, while their distribution, composition and diversity is also structured by these factors [3]. Phytoplanktons in tropical reservoir ecosystem are often important in estimating potential fish yield [4], water quality [5], energy flow [6], food chain [1], and pollution assessment [7]. The use of macro (e.g. fish) or micro phytoplankton (e.g. microalgae) for assessment of water quality was reported in many instances [8].