A STUDY ON PHYTOPLANKTON AND PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY IN EL MAX FISH FARM

Abstract

The study presents data on the physicochemical characte• ristics and primary production of different ponds of El Max Fish Farm, so as to provide information about the abundance of natural food and the possibility of exploiting the farm in aquaculture with maximum efficiency. The farm lies at the western extremity of Alexandria, in the vicinity of Lake Mariut and at about one kilometer south of the Mediterranean Sea Coast.. The farm consists of 14 ponds. Five of these ponds representing different habitats of the farm, had been chosen, namely pond 5,6,7,9 and 14. Since the farm receives its water from the polluted Lake Mariut, so it was important to study the physicochemical characteristics of the selected ponds. Temperature, pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorosity and chemical demand were determined monthly for a whole year. oxygen The nutrients namely ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate andsilicate were also measured. The biological conditions of the ponds were also studied. Counting and identification of different phytoplankton species were carried out using a Palmer and Malony counting slide (0.1 ml volume. Biomass and primary productivity were also determined monthly.