Primary Checklist of Phytoplankton Genera in Sunye Lake, Mandalay Region, Myanmar

Phytoplankton are the foundation of food webs and the most important producer in aquatic ecosystems. They can photosynthesize and convert light energy into organic energy. They are a secrete ingredients used as a bioindicator of water quality and pollution. This study investigated composition of phytoplankton in freshwater body of Sunye lake, Mandalay region. The study was conducted one year from January 2020 to December 2020. According to the study, out of 47 total algal genera; Chlorophyceae (14 genera), Baciliophyceae (11 genera); Cyonophyceae (nine genera); Zygnematophyceae (two genera), Euglenophyceae (one genera) and Conjugatophyceae (one genera) were recorded. In this study, among total genera of 37, the class of Chlorophyceae (45%) is the largest group followed by (28%), Bacillariophyceae Cyanophyceae (19%), Zygnematophyceae (4%), Euglenophyceae (2%) and Conjugatophyceae (2%). This present check list study will be useful base line data for further study of phytoplankton in the lake.

Aims: The aim of study is to record and give the information’s of phytoplankton existence and useful data for further study and lake ecosystem.

Study Design: The water sample was collected monthly early morning once a week throughout the study period.

Place and Duration of Study: These sample were collected from natural freshwater Sunye lake during January 2020 to December 2020 for one year period.

Methodology: Phytoplankton samples were taken by filtering through 25 µm mesh plankton net and preserved with a Lugol‘s solution and kept in refrigerator for further study. The sample was identified and took photograph by using the microscope (OPTIKA). The results of phytoplanktons were checked with phytoplankton identification key, taxonomic database site.

Results: In the present study, 47 genera belong to the six different classes of phytoplanktons were recorded Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Zygnematophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Conjugatophyceae.

Conclusion: The current study is first time to study the checklist of phytoplankton in Sunye Lake and should be continuously study to update the checklist data of phytoplankton genera and seasonally abundance which is important indicators of lake ecosystem.