Peculiarities of Development of Phytoplankton as an Indicator of the Ecological State in Modern Hydrochemical Conditions of Masrik River

Abstract

This paper is related to the study of hydrochemical characteristics and the phytoplankton of the river Masrik. For planktonic study, algae were selected from 3 sampling sites: two from tributaries of the river and one from the river Masrik. Hydrochemical monitoring includes 9 sampling points. The study includes the spring of 2014 and the summer of 2013. According to the hydrochemical research of water, the pH ranged from 6.5-7.3. In 2014, the pH was lower compared with the spring of the previous year. Among tested anions, in some areas, relatively high level of sulfates were reached 80 -120 mg /L. Total hardness ranged from 0,6-5,6 mg-eqv /L, and the total mineralization - was ranged from 60 to 430 mg /L. Studies of heavy metals revealed a relatively high content of lead, nickel and chromium in water. Visual assessment revealed a significant organic pollution of Masrik river, which confirmed by high levels of BOD5 in water in 2014. In Masrik river mainly 3 groups of algae were detected: diatoms, green and blue-green. Dominant group was diatoms. Dominated types of algae were β-mezosaprobs (about 53%), which indicated the average level of organic pollution of the river. As a part of the green algae Spirogira sp. was found. The maximum number of phytoplankton in the investigated areas was 16,854,000 cells / L, and the biomass was 162g /m3, the minimum rates - respectively 464 000 cells /l in and 2.8 g/m3 for biomass. In water samples well developed whorls algae of the genus Chara were found, which presence indicates anthropogenic pollution. Thus, in a more acidic environment, the presence of high levels of organic pollution creates favorable conditions for the growth and development not only phytoplankton such as algae, but also for macrophytes, which indicates the reduction of ecological status of rivers.