A STUDY ON PHYTOPLANKTON AND SPECIES DIVERSITY IN HAFLONG LAKE, DIMA HASAO DISTRICT OF ASSAM, INDIA

The role of freshwater phytoplankton in the biogeochemical cycle is immense and it holds a diverse area in taxonomy. Phytoplankton is a major source of producer for all other aquatic consumers. Phytoplankton is a key component of the trophic level of the aquatic ecosystem, as they play an essential role in the absorption of nutrients and in the food chain to balance the ecosystem. This case study is based on the examination of species diversity of freshwater phytoplankton samples from the Lake of Haflong town of District Dima Hasao of the State Assam. We examined and documented 27 phytoplankton species, which includes 13 species from Bacillariophyceae, 08 species from Chlorophyceae, 05 species from Cyanophyceae and 01 species from Euglenophyceae. Thus, the present study finds the intense dominance of Bacillariophyceae followed by Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Euglenophyceae.