The annual cycle of phytoplankton biomass was investigated at 8 sampling stations in the Nozha Hydrodrome fish farm during the period August 2000–September 2001. The phytoplankton community consisted of 116 species with a clear dominance of six species:
Cyanophyceae had the highest biomass (43.2%), followed by Chlorophyceae (41.1%), the former dominated in summer and mid autumn and the second in winter, while diatoms were dominant in early spring.
Comparing with the previous record, the present study indicated that the unadjusted method of fertilizer applications, the low N: P values and the increased densities of zooplankton had a strong influence on the biomass and structure community of phytoplankton.
Phytoplankton biomass, fish farm, Egypt
