title: A preliminary observation on water quality and plankton of an earthen fish pond in Bangladesh: recommendations for future studies.
abstract: The present study provides a characterization of water quality and plankton samples in earthen fish pond in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Sampling was done over a period of six months, running from October, 2004 through March, 2005. All the water quality parameters were within the optimal ranges for plankton productivity. Temperatures varied from 19.75 to 27.25 degrees C; transparency, 24.75-29.50 cm; pH, 6.62-7.85; Dissolved Oxygen (DO), 3.87-5.85 mg L(-1); free CO2 5.25-7.25 mg L(-1) and bicarbonate (HCO3) alkalinity, 81.25-147.5 mg L(-1). Analyses of plankton samples recorded a total of 5 classes phytoplankton viz.; Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Dinophyceae, Euglenophyceae and 2 classes of zooplankton; Crustacea and Rotifera. The phytoplankton population was comprised of 17 genera belonging to Cyanophyceae (5 classes, 34.47%), Bacillariophyceae (3, 13.87%), Cyanophyceae (3, 34.48%), Euglenophyceae (3, 10.68%) and 1 to Dinophyceae (6.50%). The zooplankton population consisted of 10 genera belonging to Rotifera (4, 40.13%) and Crustacea (6, 59.87%). Phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance varied from 60800 to 239400 units/l and 7620 to 12160 units/l, respectively. It is concluded that the phytoplankton groups provide the main support for earthen pond aquaculture in the pond compared to zooplankton classes. The information provides for more research to compare water quality and pond plankton characteristics in earthen aquaculture systems with and without fish stocking. Further studies on the seasonal changes of water quality parameters and its effects on plankton production in the fish ponds and all year extended monitoring is recommended in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Yeamin
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Saleha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jasmine
authors.forename: Abu Hanif Md
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Zoarder Faruque
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohtomi
authors.forename: Bernerd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fulanda
authors.forename: Momtaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Begum
authors.forename: Abdullahil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mamun
authors.forename: Mohamed A H
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El-Kady
authors.forename: Md Abdul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wahab
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods*; D001459:Bangladesh; D005399:Fishes; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010933:Plankton / Q000254:growth & development*