Algae from Fresh and Brackish Waters, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the diversity of phytoplanktonic from some fresh and brackish waters. The methodology employed consisted of sampling the organisms using the Van Dorn bottle at the surface (0.5 m) of fresh and sea waters from Container Terminal from San-Pedro Port Area (CTSP) during June and July 2021 and Ebrié Lagoon in June 2023. A total of 324 taxa were collected with 274 taxa for CTSP and 82 taxa for Ebrié Lagoon. The identified phyla were, in order of importance, the Bacillariophyta (151 taxa), Dinophyta (80 taxa), Euglenophyta (34 taxa), Chlorophyta (31 taxa), Chrysophyta (12 taxa), Cyanobacteria (11 taxa), Cryptophyta and Rhodophyta with 2 taxa respectively and Ochrophyta (1 taxon). In the CTSP, the species Prorocentrum lima and Prorocentrum micans have contributed to the highest number of the taxa during the first mission, but with low contribution during the second mission. At this mission, the contribution of the Dinophyta Protoperidinium quinquecorne and the Bacillariophyta Melosira spp., Coscinodiscus nodulifer, Thalassionema frauenfeldii and Thalassionema nitzschioides was revealed. The Ebrié Lagoon was characterized by the high contribution of the species Cyclotella meneghianana during the sampling mission. As a recommendation, we propose the monitoring in time and space of toxin-producing species and the evaluation of their toxins that could constitute a risk for the fishery, recreational and commercial activities, and the ecosystems studied providing important ecosystem and economic services.