Diversity of Algae Species in the Upper Tha Chin River

Abstract

The study on the diversity of algae in the upper Tha Chin River was carried out between January to March 2022. The samples were collected once a month from 10 various areas in the Tha Chin River that flows through Si Prachan District and Mueang Suphan Buri District, Suphanburi Province. A plankton sac, 10 micrometers in size, is used to collect samples at a depth of 30 cm by drawing approximately 5 meters parallel to the water surface. The total number of algae obtained was divided into 6 divisions, 20 families, 35 genera, and 75 species. Chlorophyta was found in the highest number with 44 species (57%), followed by Bacillariophyta with 14 species (18%), Cyanophyta, Euglenophyta, Pyrrhophyta, and Chrysophyta, respectively. The spread of each algae species during the study months revealed no significant difference (P<0.05), as well as among the sampling stations. The diversity index (H􀁣) of algae in the areas ranged from 4.128 - 4.259. The dominant algae found in all sites were Ankistrodesmus sp., Euglena sp., Gyrosigma sp., Phacus sp., Surirella sp. and Lyngbya sp..