Zooplankton Composition in Bun Xang Canal of Can Tho City

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the diversity of zooplankton and using them as indicators for water quality monitoring in the Bun Xang canal of Can Tho City. The research was conducted at 3 sites (Canal begining, canal middle and canal end) from September to October 2018 with 3 sampling periods. At each stage, zooplankton samples were collected at the time of the highest and lowest water level. The results showed that a total of 82 zooplankton species were recorded, in which Rotifera had the most diversity composition with 50 species (61%), followed by Protozoa with 13 species (16%), others from 3-11 species (23%). Composition of zooplankton in tide up and tide down periods were 66 species and 74 species, respectively. In particular, Rotifera had the most abundant composition in both the periods of the highest and lowest water level. The density of zooplankton was high ranging from 11,875-1,309,472 inds.m-3, in which their density at the canal end were the higher than that at other sites. In general, there were a relatively high similarity about zooplankton composition between highest and lowest water level stages. The diversity index of Shannon-Weiner (H') fluctuated from 1.18 to 2.39 indicating that the water quality in the study area had moderate pollution level.