Relationship between water quality and phytoplankton distribution of aquaculture areas in a tropical lagoon

Aquaculture activities can affect water quality and phytoplankton composition. Our study estimated phytoplankton density and composition relating to aquaculture-impacted environmental factors. We analyzed water quality and phytoplankton at 35 sites in a tropical brackish lagoon, including inside aquaculture ponds (integrated farming of fish, shrimp, and crab), at wastewater discharge points, within 300 m of these points, and farther out in the lagoon. Measurements were taken after aquaculture activities started in March and again in July. In both periods, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and turbidity decreased from the aquaculture ponds to the farther lagoon areas. Principal component analysis showed that nutrients, turbidity, and Chl-a were critical factors in aquaculture ponds, while salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and water depth influenced water quality outside the ponds. Phytoplankton density was higher in July than in March due to aquaculture characteristics. Redundancy analysis indicated that phytoplankton, typical of inorganic, turbid, shallow lakes, was present throughout, whereas marine phytoplankton characterized the open water area (OWA). Marine phytoplankton caused a higher Shannon-Wiener index in July compared to March for OWA. Phytoplankton in aquaculture ponds was dominated by Oscillatoria spp., while Thalassiosira spp. dominated outside the ponds. We also identified indicator genera for two connected lagoons. Although constant water exchange prevented identifying specific indicator phytoplankton groups for aquaculture, this revealed the impact of wastewater from aquaculture ponds on the natural environment in the lagoons. Research on phytoplankton communities is necessary for the sustainable development of aquaculture and environmental management in coastal lagoons.