Spatial distribution and seasonal abundance of plankton population of Bay of Bengal at Digha sea-shore in West Bengal

Seasonal variations of Phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics were noted both quantitatively and qualitatively at Digha Sea Shore of Bay of Bengal. In total of 72 species of Phytoplankton known, 23 species of Chlorophyta (31.94%), 14 species of Bacillariophyta (19.4%) and 8 species of Cyanophyta (11.1%) were identified. Whereas in species variations of zooplankton, Protozoa (38.70%), Rotifera (25.80%) and Cladocera (22.58%) and Copepoda (12.90%) and constitute 12, 8, 6, and 4 species respectively. Chlorophyta amongst the Phytoplankton and Cladocera amongst the zooplankton imparted the highest numbers.