Phytoplankton abundance and diversity in the Northern Banda Sea

Abstract Although phytoplankton of the Banda Sea has been studied since 1970s, its information is still limited. In order to provide a better understanding diversity, during Expedition Jala Citra 2 2022, sampling was done in surface waters at five stations northern Sea. The purpose this study analyze abundance and species composition southeast monsoon season. Phytoplankton samples were taken different mixing layers, kept them into sample bottle identify laboratory Deep Research Centre BRIN Ambon. Chemical physical parameters measured simultaneously. A total 64 found they composed diatom which most diversified group with 48 species, followed by dinoflagellate 16 species. Among diatoms, dominant contributed Thalassionema nitzschiodes (3640-1,266,573 cell/m 3 ) fraunfeldii (2800-288,570 Chaetoceros sp Skeletonema costatum . These from previous reports. Most these chain. For dinoflagellates Ceratium longipes (280-5,231 dan vulvur (280-1.960 identified as cell count varied 280-1,266,573 Spesies diversity index calculated using Shannon’s formula (H’) dominance (D) range 1.089-2.552 0.117-0.418, respectively. Water temperature, salinity, pH dissolved oxygen ranged 26.7-29.5°C, 33-34 ppt, 7.85-8.14, 5.57-7.03 mg/l,