J. Life Sci. Biomed. 6(2): 37-43, Mar 30, 2016  
JLSB  
© 2016, Scienceline Publication  
Journal of  
ISSN 2251-9939  
Life Science and Biomedicine  
Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton Communities in Gondang Reservoir,  
Lamongan, East Java, Indonesia  
Annisa’ Bias Cahyanurani and Mohammad Mahmudi*  
Fisheries and Marine Science Faculty, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia  
*Corresponding author's Email: annisacahyanurani@gmail.com  
ABSTRACT: Human activity are increase recently around the Gondang Reservoir, Lamongan and cause  
increased of discharges waste that could potentially degrade the quality and function of the reservoir also  
changes the composition, abundance and distribution of phytoplankton communities. This study aims are to  
determine the vertical distribution of phytoplankton community and use it to assume the waters fertility rates  
in the Gondang Reservoir from January to February 2016. This study used survey method by taking samples of  
water and phytoplankton in three observation stations (inlet, middle and outlet) and 5 depth of 0 cm, 50 cm,  
100 cm, 150 cm and 200 cm with 2 times of observation. Phytoplankton that has been found consist of 4  
divisions, i.e. Chlorophyta (31 genera), Chrysophyceae (14 genera), Cyanophyta (7 genera) and Pyrrophyta (3  
genera). Total abundance of phytoplankton ranged between 111-2.557 ind/liter. The highest abundance from  
all stations are at 50 cm depth where the light intensity is optimum and phytoplankton abundance decreased  
with increasing depth. Phytoplankton diversity index (H') ranged from 3,31755 to 7,82316 indicating that the  
diversity range is moderate to high. Water quality parameters such as temperature, brightness, pH, DO, nitrate  
and orthophosphate is good to support phytoplankton life. The overall observations indicated that Gondang  
Reservoir are including in mesotrophic waters. In conclusion, the vertical distribution of phytoplankton can  
be used as a parameter to asses the water quality in Gondang Reservoir.  
Key words: Communities of Phytoplankton, Vertical Distribution, Water Quality, Gondang Reservoir  
INTRODUCTION  
Reservoir receives water input from the river that constantly flowing over it. The river water containing  
organic and inorganic material that can fertilize the waters of the reservoir [1]. Gondang Reservoir was built with  
the purpose for drinking water, rice field irrigation, tourism and aquaculture. Based on the various objectives and  
the utilization, tourism, agriculture and inland fisheries are the most activities that can provide overload input for  
the dam water itself. This reservoir is drained by three rivers, which is around that three rivers also have various  
of human activities that can also provide load input to the dam water.  
The load input will be the source of additional nutrients for waters that can also cause a variety of water  
problems, such as eutrophication [2]. This process occurs when the the load input are excess and then causing the  
decline in water quality. The declining of water quality will also disrupt the lives of phytoplankton as primary  
producers waters. In addition, the burden of these inputs can also cause sedimentation resulting decline in the  
productive layer of water and can shorten the life of the reservoir [3, 4]. Changes in water conditions will also  
cause changes in community structure of phytoplankton in particular biological component [5].  
The purpose of this study was to determine the phytoplankton community structure vertically so it can be  
used to predict the fertility level of the water in the Gondang Reservoir.  
MATERIAL AND METHODS  
The sample collection was conducted from January to February 2016. The phytoplankton community were  
taken vertically in Gondang Reservoir and the water quality that were measured including brightness,  
temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, nitrate and orthophosphate.  
Gondang Reservoir is located in 113°15’56’’ East Lon - 7°12'18" South Lat. The location map can be  
observed in Figure 1. This research was conducted by taking samples of water and phytoplankton samples  
vertically at three observation stations and 5 depth observations (0 cm, 50 cm, 100 cm, 150 cm and 200 cm).  
Station I is located in the area of the river water intake (inlet), station 2 is located in the middle of Gondang  
Reservoir and station 3 is located in the outlet of Gondang reservoir (Figure 1). Determination of the depth were  
To cite this paper: Cahyanurani A’B and Mahmudi M. 2016. Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton Communities in Gondang Reservoir, Lamongan, East Java,  
Indonesia. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (2): 37-43.  
Journal homepage: http://jlsb.science-line.com/  
37  
conducted based on the preliminary studies using secchi disk at all three stations with the average brightness was  
1.54 cm (based on the depth of the photic zone). Observations were conducted 2 times with an interval of the first  
and second observation was one week and the sampling time is at 9:00 to 12:00 pm. Sampling was done by  
filtering phytoplankton 25 liter of reservoir water at any depth. Water quality parameters measured include  
physical parameters such as temperature (thermometer Hg) and brightness (secchi disk), while chemical  
parameters were measured such as dissolved oxygen (DO meter Lutron DO-5510), pH (pH paper), nitrate and  
orthophosphate (titration).  
Figure 1. Location of study  
area and sampling stations  
Station 1 (Inlet), Station 2  
(Middle) and Station 3  
(Outlet)  
Data analysis included the abundance of phytoplankton were observed using the "Lackey drop" method.  
The abundance of phytoplankton value (N) is calculated using the following formula with slight modification [6]:  
where :  
T = area of cover glass (20 x 20 mm2)  
L = area of the visual field in microscopy (mm2)  
V = Volume of plankton concentrate in the bottle container  
v = Volume of plankton concentrate under the cover glass (ml)  
W = Volume of filtered water with a plankton net (liter)  
P = Total field of view (5)  
n = number of phytoplankton present in the visual field  
N = The abundance of phytoplankton (individuals/liter)  
The relative density (KR) is calculated using the formula:  
where :  
ni : number of individuals in the genus  
N : total number of individuals  
The values of relative density (KR) are between 1% to 100%. Low density percentage indicates the number  
of organisms that live in waters have little value.  
Analysis of the value of individual plankton diversity (H') used the Diversity Indices formula adapted from  
Shannon - Weaver as follows:  
H’ = -  
Pi =  
where :  
Pi : The proportion of species to the I to the total number  
To cite this paper: Cahyanurani A’B and Mahmudi M. 2016. Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton Communities in Gondang Reservoir, Lamongan, East Java,  
Indonesia. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (2): 37-43.  
Journal homepage: http://jlsb.science-line.com/  
38  
ni : Number of cells / head of taxa biota i  
N : Number of cells / head of taxa biota in the cell  
Based on the above formulation, the diversity index range is categorized as follows [7]:  
H ' ˂ 2.3  
2.3 ˂ H ' ˃ 6.9  
H ' ˃ 6.9  
: Low diversity, low community stability  
: moderate diversity, medium community stability  
: high diversity, high community stability  
RESULT AND DISCUSSION  
The abundance of phytoplankton  
Based on observations of phytoplankton in Gondang Reservoir in January - February 2016, we found 4  
divisions of phytoplankton, consist of Chlorophyta, Chrysophyta, Cyanophyta and Pyrrhophyta. Phytoplankton  
that are classified in Chlorophyta found as many as 31 genera, namely Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Tetraedron,  
Pediastrum, Asterococcus, Genicularia, Ulothrix, Uronema, Granulochloris, Roya, Eramosphaera, Schizochlamys,  
Actinastrum, Staurastrum, Golenkinopsis, Oocystis, Chlorococcum, Cylendrocystis, Closterium, Triploceras,  
Planktospaeria, Crucigenia, Closteridium, Dicellula, Groenbladia, Cosmarium, Gloeocystis, Raphidonema,  
Ankistrodesmus, Mesotaenium, and Polytoma. Division of Chrysophyta were found that as many as 14 genera,  
consist of Navicula, Frustulia, Chrysosphaera, Achanthes, Epithemia, Mastogloia, Cymbella, Ellipsoidon,  
Chlorobotrys, Tetradriella, Synedra, Cylindrotecha, Nitzchia, and Surirella. Division Cyanophyta found as many as 7  
genera, among others, Gomphosphaeria, Microcystis, Anabaena, Merismopedium, Synechococcus, Spirulina, and  
Synechococystis. Division Pyrrophyta found as many as 3 genera namely Ceratium, Cystodinium, and Gymnodinium.  
Total genus of phytoplankton found as many as 55 genera. The high composition of phytoplankton allegedly  
caused by the organic and inorganic input materials to Gondang reservoir, that is able to fertilize waters and  
contain enough nutrients for phytoplankton. The composition of phytoplankton community reflects the  
environmental conditions of the ecosystem, among which nutrient availability plays a significant role [8, 9].  
The total abundance of phytoplankton ranged between 111-2557 individuals/liter. The lowest total  
abundance of phytoplankton was found at Station 2 in the second observation at a depth of 200 cm and the  
highest was found at Station 3 on the second observation at a depth of 50 cm. The pattern of vertical distribution  
of phytoplankton was shown in Figure 2 as follows:  
Station 2  
Station 1  
0
50  
0
50  
100  
150  
200  
250  
100  
150  
200  
250  
Observatio  
Observatio  
Observatio  
Observatio  
0
500  
1000  
1500  
2000  
0
500  
1000  
Station 3  
0
50  
100  
150  
200  
250  
Observatio  
Observatio  
Figure 2. The pattern of vertical distribution of  
phytoplankton in Stations 1, 2 and 3  
0
1000  
2000  
To cite this paper: Cahyanurani A’B and Mahmudi M. 2016. Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton Communities in Gondang Reservoir, Lamongan, East Java,  
Indonesia. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (2): 37-43.  
Journal homepage: http://jlsb.science-line.com/  
39  
Based on the observations, it shown that the highest phytoplankton abundance in all the stations are at a  
depth of 50 cm where the light intensity is optimum and the abundance were decreased with the increasing of  
water depth. Phytoplankton need sunlight to life, so that the area where the light intensity is very low, the  
phytoplankton cannot live and breed well [10]. Light is in greatest supply at the top of the water layer and  
phytoplankton are hypothesized to exist there when there is adequate nutrient supply [11, 12].  
The Composition of Phytoplankton based on Division  
The composition of phytoplankton is the percentage of the phytoplankton, which occupies a body of water.  
In this study showed that the composition of the phytoplankton at each station with five different depths with  
different genus (Figure 3). Overall, the percentage of the abundance of phytoplankton in Gondang Reservoir are  
most commonly found at each station and depth respectively are Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, Chrysophyta and  
Pyrrophyta. In the tropics lake in the Philippines, it was found that Chlorophyceae, Dinophyceae, Cyanophyceae  
has a higher abundance due to high lighting conditions [13]. Gondang Reservoir waters, which are in the tropics  
area also have optimum solar lighting. Thus expected if the Chlorophyceae, Dinophyceae and Cyanophyceae  
division were more often found in greater numbers.  
The Composition of Phytoplankton by Division Station 1, Depth (0-200cm)  
100  
Chlorophyta  
Chrysophyta  
Cyanophyta  
Pyrrophyta  
80  
60  
40  
20  
0
0
50  
100  
Observation 1  
150  
200  
0
50  
100  
150  
200  
Observation 2  
Depth (cm)  
The Composition of Phytoplankton by Division Station 2, Depth (0-200 cm)  
100  
Chlorophyta  
Chrysophyta  
Cyanophyta  
Pyrrophyta  
80  
60  
40  
20  
0
0
50  
100  
Observation 1  
150  
200  
0
50  
100  
150  
200  
Observation 2  
Depth (cm)  
To cite this paper: Cahyanurani A’B and Mahmudi M. 2016. Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton Communities in Gondang Reservoir, Lamongan, East Java,  
Indonesia. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (2): 37-43.  
Journal homepage: http://jlsb.science-line.com/  
40  
The Composition of Phytoplankton by Division Station 3, Depth (0-200cm)  
100  
80  
60  
40  
20  
0
Chlorophyta  
Chrysophyta  
Cyanophyta  
Pyrrophyta  
0
50  
100  
Observation 1  
150  
200  
0
50  
100  
Observation 2  
150  
200  
Depth (cm)  
Figure 3. The composition of phytoplakton based on Division in Station 1, 2 and 3  
The Composition of Phytoplankton based on Genus  
The most common genus that has been found were Chlorella, Spirulina, Staurastrum, Ulothrix, Genicularia,  
Achnanthes and Ceratium. In some depth also found Closterium, Nitzchia, Synedra and Gleocystis genus at a depth  
of 150 cm and 200 cm at Station 1 (inlet) and 3 (outlet).  
Overall, the percentage of the highest genus that has been found at the most depth in 3 stations (inlet,  
middle and outlet) owned by Chlorella on the first observation and the second observation, this is because  
Chlorella is a cosmopolitan organism or can live everywhere during the environmental conditions are appropriate  
and supportive for their life. Chlorella is cosmopolitan genus that can grow everywhere, except in a very critical  
environment for life [14]. The highest percentage of the genus in 3 stations and 5 depth is 39%. This result shows  
that no species is dominates. The percentage of composition of phytoplankton can be determined as follows, if the  
percentage more than 70% the species are dominance, 50-65% are spread domination and <50% there is no  
domination [15].  
Analysis of Diversity Index  
Based on analysis of the diversity index of phytoplankton, in Station 1 first observation, the diversity index  
ranged from 4.11614 to 5.90092 and the second observation between 5.44641 to 6.21286. At station 2 the first  
observation, the diversity index ranged from 5.46581 to 7.82316 and the second observation between 4.37093 to  
7.8062. At station 3 first observation, the diversity index ranged from 4.05097 to 6.87702 and the second  
observation between 3.31755 to 6.65959 (Figure 4).  
Overall, the value of phytoplankton diversity index (H') in Gondang Reservoir ranged from 3.31755 to  
7.82316. The result showed that the diversity of waters were moderate to high or it can be said that the Gondang  
Reservoir have a degree of order or stability of the organisms were quite good (moderate).  
Analysis of Water Quality Parameters  
Waters parameters such as brightness, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, nitrate and  
orthophosphate have been measured. The results of waters brightness measurement ranged from 1.34 to 1.64  
meters. Brightness values during the study is still good for phytoplankton to perform photosynthesis.  
Water temperature at 3 stations and 5 depths ranging between 27-32C. Temperatures tend to be high in  
the surface (at a depth of 0 cm) and a concomitant with the increasing of water depth, the water temperature  
were decreases. This is due to the increasing depth then the light intensity wil also decrease so that the water  
temperature will decline as well. Usually, the deeper water has the lower temperature [16]. The water  
temperature that is good for phytoplankton growth ranged between 20 - 30C. Each type of phytoplankton has its  
own optimum temperature [17]. Overall, the water temperature in Gondang Reservoir are optimal for the growth  
of phytoplankton at a depth of 50 cm - 200 cm is 27-30C.  
The levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) in this resent study were ranged from 4.91 to 6.86 mg/l. Good water  
quality is water that the contains of dissolved oxygen levels between 5-7 mg/l [18]. The values obtained that  
dissolved oxygen in waters Gondang Reservoir is still within the normal range and good to support life of aquatic  
organisms. Based on the observations, dissolved oxygen levels decline rapidly with depth. It is strongly related to  
the abundance of phytoplankton and their influence direct diffusion of oxygen into the water thereby affecting the  
levels of dissolved oxygen in waters Gondang Reservoir.  
To cite this paper: Cahyanurani A’B and Mahmudi M. 2016. Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton Communities in Gondang Reservoir, Lamongan, East Java,  
Indonesia. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (2): 37-43.  
Journal homepage: http://jlsb.science-line.com/  
41  
The degree of acidity (pH) in Station 1, 2 and 3 either on the first or second observation observation are 7.  
During the observation the pH value was stable at 7 and was good for phytoplankton. Most aquatic biota are  
sensitive to changes in pH and the optimum pH value are about 7 to 8 [18].  
The levels of nitrate ranged from 0.033 to 0.214 mg/l, the values are still optimum for the growth of  
phytoplankton. Based on further review the nitrate levels which are good for the growth of phytoplankton is 0.01  
to 0.43 mg/l [19] if the values are more than a preset range, it can lead to eutrophication. The result indicated that  
Gondang Reservoir waters including in mesotrophic water.  
The levels of phosphate which are good for the growth of phytoplankton is ranged from 0.02 to 0.16 mg/l  
[20]. The levels of phosphate were obtained during the study ranged from 0.018 to 0.098 mg/l, in this case the  
phosphorus content is obtained that the Gondang Reservoir pertained mesotrophic. Overall the water quality  
parameters such as temperature, brightness, pH, DO, nitrate and orthophosphate classified as good for supporting  
the phytoplankton life.  
Phytoplankton Diversity Index  
Phytoplankton Diversity Index  
Station 2  
Station 1  
8.00000  
7.00000  
6.00000  
5.00000  
4.00000  
3.00000  
2.00000  
1.00000  
0.00000  
7.00000  
6.00000  
5.00000  
4.00000  
3.00000  
2.00000  
1.00000  
0.00000  
0
50 100 150 200  
Observation 1  
0
50 100 150  
Observation 2  
0
50 100 150 200  
Observation 1  
0
50 100 150 200  
Observation 2  
Diversity Index  
4.664 5.453 5.900 4.377 4.116 5.545 6.212 6.042 5.446 5.668  
Diversity Index  
5.725 6.444 7.823 6.768 5.465 7.623 7.806 6.596 6.468  
Depth (cm)  
Depth (cm)  
Phytoplankton Diversity Index  
Station 3  
7.00000  
6.00000  
5.00000  
4.00000  
3.00000  
2.00000  
1.00000  
0.00000  
0
50 100 150 200  
Observation 1  
0
50 100 150 200  
Observation 2  
Diversity Index  
4.27 5.737 6.877 4.051 5.085 5.447 6.66 4.71 4.297 3.318  
Figure 4. Phytoplankton Diversity Index in Station  
1, 2 and 3  
Depth (cm)  
CONCLUSION  
The vertical distribution of phytoplankton in Gondang Reservoir showed that the the water quality is still  
good for phytoplankton and classified as mesotrophic water. In the future, the observation of vertical distribution  
of phytoplankton can be used as a one of parameter to evaluate the water quality.  
Recommendation  
For future researches we suggest to use another parameter from phytoplankton such as chlorophyll a as  
water indicator quality.  
Competing interests  
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.  
To cite this paper: Cahyanurani A’B and Mahmudi M. 2016. Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton Communities in Gondang Reservoir, Lamongan, East Java,  
Indonesia. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (2): 37-43.  
Journal homepage: http://jlsb.science-line.com/  
42  
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To cite this paper: Cahyanurani A’B and Mahmudi M. 2016. Vertical Distribution of Phytoplankton Communities in Gondang Reservoir, Lamongan, East Java,  
Indonesia. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (2): 37-43.  
Journal homepage: http://jlsb.science-line.com/  
43