Study of species composition in plankton communities of warmwater fish culture ponds in Dezful

This research aimed to study the phytoplankton communities and their diversity in warmwater fish culture ponds, and their relationship with the physico-chemical factors of water, in three ponds of Dezful Region during an eight-month period. Based on the results, Chlorophyceae with 17 species (80.84%) was the most frequently found phytoplankton in pond A2. Pediastrum sp. had the maximum abundance identified species (9879.18±382.21 ind./L). The highest abundance was found during late June to late July and the minimum one during late February to late March. In pond A12, the Chlorophyceae with 11 species and 69.92% of the population was the most frequent phytoplankton and Pediastrum sp. was most frequent species. In this pond, the maximum number of phytoplankton was the recorded during the late May to late June and the minimum one during late September to late October. In pond D7, the greatest abundance was recored during late May to late June and the less one during late March to late April. The Chlorophyceae with 14 species and 11.89% of the population was the most frequent one and Pediastrum simplex was the most frequent species. The highest observed densitie was 76661514 individual per liter in pond A12 (from late May to late June), 26948994 per liter in pond A2 (from late Aril to late May), and 12302943 per liter in pond D7 (from late May to late June). No relationships were found between phytoplankton population and the measured water physicochemical parameters of water.