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Phytoplankton communities in marine intertidal rock-pools: Effect of location, geometric shapes and allelopathy

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Abstract

Abstract

Biologically rich rock-pools (RPs) are prominent component of rocky intertidal habitat and this study elucidates the factors affecting the phytoplankton distribution from high-tide (HT), mid-tide (MT) and low-tide (LT) RPs (Anjuna rocky shores, Goa, India), during the summer season. Results revealed that the RP location determines the nature of phytoplankton assemblage. MT-RPs and LT-RPs supported rich microalgal diversity (species number/morphological shapes) than HT-RPs. However, the cell abundance was higher in latter than former RPs. In frequently flushed MT-RPs and LT-RPs, pennate diatoms (Pseudonitzschia, Nitzschia, Thalasionema, Navicula, and Licmophora) representing elongated shapes dominated, whereas in stagnant HT-RPs spherical/combined shaped dinoflagellates (Amphidinium carterae sensu stricto and Bysmatrum gregarium) dominated. Interestingly, even though the taxonomic assemblages changed temporally the shape dominance remained consistent suggesting shape as a robust morphological trait. Additionally, the study also revealed the existence of species-specific allelopathy on other microalgae by Amphidinium (potential harmful algae) indicating a type of adaptive strategy, in addition to eurytolerant capabilities, for its predominance in HT-RPs, which experiences varying environmental (light, temperature, and salinity) conditions.

Research Highlights

  • Investigated factors influencing distribution of phytoplankton (species and shape-wise) in intertidal rock pools (RPs) of Anjuna rocky shores, Goa.

  • Location of RPs determined nature of phytoplankton community, i.e., less diversity and high abundance in high-tide RPs than mid/low-tide RPs.

  • Spherical-shaped dinoflagellates and elongated shape diatoms dominated phytoplankton community of high and mid/low tide RPs, respectively.

  • Even though the species composition changed temporally the shape dominance remained consistent suggesting the latter as a robust morphological trait.

  • Dominant dinoflagellate, Amphidinium caterae sensu stricto, also showed species-specific allelopathy on other phytoplankton.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Director of CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography for his support and encouragement. We thank Drs N L Thakur and D Desai for co-ordinating intertidal rock pool experiments under the Ocean Finder project (PSC0105) and the project staff, who were involved in the experiments, for their help during sampling. We are also thankful to the two anonymous reviewers for their suggestions in improving the manuscript. First author also acknowledges UGC for fellowship. This is an NIO Contribution No. 6695.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, 403 004, Goa, India

    P Paul, J S Patil & A C Anil

  2. School of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, 403 206, Goa, India

    P Paul

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Contributions

Paul P: Performed field sampling, laboratory experiments, samples analysis, data analysis and interpretation; J S Patil: Original concept, field and experiment planning, field sampling, data interpretation and manuscript elaboration; A C Anil: Manuscript elaboration and also co-supervised all works.

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Correspondence to J S Patil.

Additional information

Communicated by N V Chalapathi Rao

This article is part of the topical collection: Advances in Coastal Research.

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Paul, P., Patil, J.S. & Anil, A.C. Phytoplankton communities in marine intertidal rock-pools: Effect of location, geometric shapes and allelopathy. J Earth Syst Sci 130, 128 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01591-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01591-5

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