Phytoplankton Diversity in the drains, fish farms and Lake Burullus, North Nile Delta, Egypt

Finding a connection between frequency and abundance of phytoplankton to abiotic components is an interested issue for current research. Thirty-eight microalgal species were found and identified in different locations represented four Bacillariophyta, nine Chlorophyta, and twenty-five Cyanophyta. Oscillatoria contributed the most, followed by, Anabaena, and Chroococcus. Scenedesmus bijuga and Chlorella vulgaris had the largest contribution. Conversely, the largest number of colonies was observed in Lake Burullus, which was followed by pump stations, fish farms, and drainage. Using detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), it was recognized 4 groups (communities) had aggregated at the 4th classification level. Total algal richness exhibited a significantly favorably significant link with NH3 and PO4, but a negative significant correlation with TDS, EC, Zn, and Cd (P < 0.05) according to a correlation study between water and community variables (P < 0.01). The richness of Chlorophyta exhibited a negative correlation with Fe (r = - 0.668, p < 0.05), while the richness of Cyanophyta exhibited a strong positive correlation with PO4 (r = 0.887, P < 0.05) and a negative correlation with zinc (r = –0.636, p < 0.05). However, there are notable differences in TDS, NH3, and zinc between the water from various places. The greatest values of pH, TDS, EC, COD, and heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cd) were found in the Lake Burullus sites. Conversely, the drain sites showed the greatest levels of NH3 and DO and the lowest levels of nearly all water variables