Saleha Khan

Seasonal Cycle of Phytoplankton in Aquaculture Ponds in Bangladesh

A study on the seasonal changes in the phytoplankton community was carried out in four aquaculture ponds of Bangladesh over a period of 16 months from August 2000 to November 2001. Out of 45 phytoplankton species identified, 30 belong to Cyanophyceae, 7 to Chlorophyceae, 5 to Bacillariophyceae and 3 to Euglenophyceae. The highest phytoplankton abundance was observed in spring followed by early autumn, summer, and the lowest was in winter. The annual succession of Cyanophyceae was characterized by spring and early autumn period dominated by Microcystis sp. Anabaena sp. and Planktolymbya sp. with Microcystis sp. as the main blue-green algae represented. Chlorophyceae was characterized by rainy season domination of Chlorella vulgaris, Pediastrum sp. and Scenedesmus denticulatus with maximum abundance of Chlorella vulgaris. Whereas Bacillariophyceae was dominant during the winter period. Navicula angusta and Cyclotella meneghiniana were the most frequently occurring species of Bacillariophyceae throughout the study period. Euglenophyceae was dominant in late autumn and Euglena sp. was the dominant species. The effect of various physicochemical water quality parameters on the seasonal distribution and succession of the above mentioned phytoplankton population as well as the interaction and eutrophication are discussed.

Study of Euglenophytes Bloom and it`s Impact on Fish Growth in Bangladesh

A study was carried out in nine fertilized fish ponds under three treatments (T-I, T-II and T-III) at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to see the bloom of euglenophytes with the intention of observing its impact on the growth of fish in culture condition. Some water quality parameters viz., temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, PO4-P and NO3-N concentration and some biological parameters viz., phytoplankton population and growth of fish were monitored at fixed intervals. Euglenophytes showed a heavy bloom in late August in the ponds of T-II. The bloom was occurred by the genera, Euglena, Phacus and Trachelomonas of which Euglena was the most dominant genus. In relation of water quality parameters with euglenophytes bloom, it was hypothesized that euglenophytes prefers higher temperature and acidic environment with higher nutrient concentrations. Acidic environment and nutrient enrichment enhanced the bloom of euglenophytes which hampered the growth of other beneficial algal groups (chlorophytes and bacillariophytes) and fish. Due to heavy bloom, the fishes breathed with difficulty at the surface. The fishes in the heavy bloom ponds presented the weight values were lower than verified for those in the ponds where the bloom did not occur. Total production (calculated) of fish in different treatments ranged from 1355.89 to1760.63 kg ha–1 with significantly (p

Growth Performance of Pangasiid Catfish, Silver carp and Catla in Polyculture

The growth performance of pangasiid catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and catla (Catla catla) was evaluated in polyculture at varied combinations and stocking ratios in earthen pond for a period of 16 weeks. Combinations of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla with the total density of 30,000 fish per hectare were evaluated. A commercial pelleted feed containing 28% crude protein and 6% lipid was fed only to pangasiid catfish at the rate of 8% of body weight during the first six weeks, 6% during the second six weeks and 4% thereafter twice daily. The growth and feed utilization efficiency of pangasiid catfish were found similar in all treatments. The growth of silver carp was markedly decreased upon the increase of its own stocking density. The highest growth of silver carp achieved in polyculture of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla at 2:1:1 ratio where density of silver carp was lowest. The growth of catla was found to be affected by the presence of silver carp. The growth rate of catla markedly declined with the increase of silver carp density. The highest growth of catla obtained in polyculture of pangasiid catfish only with catla stocked at 1:1 ratio. The highest yield and economic return achieved in polyculture of pangasiid catfish, silver carp and catla at the ratio of 2:1:1 due to higher growth of silver carp and higher market value of catla. The water quality conditions in all different treatment ponds were within optimum ranges throughout the culture period and the values did not show any significant variation (p>0.05) among the treatments.