Scaled chrysophytes from the Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

Abstract

The Okavango Delta Swamp in Botswana is one of the few, still unspoilt wetlands of the world. An investigation of water quality and plankton was undertaken from November 1991 to March 1994. About 350 plankton samples were collected at 100 different locations in the Okavango Delta The phytoplankton nora of the Delta was extremely diverse. About 20% of the samples contained scaled chrysophytes. Selected samples were examined with SEM and species belonging to the genera Chrysosphaerella (I), Mallomonas (18), Paraphysomonas (1), Spiniferomonas (I) and Synura (3) were recorded. Most common were species within the Mallomonas series Mangoferae, Matvienkoanae and Peronoides. The records of scaled chrysophytes were correlated to certain chemical and physical parameters. Mostly eutrophic species were found.