The role of salinity and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) to abundance and structure of phytoplankton communities in estuary Saddang Pinrang

Phytoplankton is organisms that have a sensitivity to changes in the characteristics of the waters. Some determining factors of its existence are salinity, total suspended solids (TSS), and other compounds. Research has been conducted on the role of salinity and TSS in the abundance and structure of phytoplankton communities in the estuary of Saddang River Pinrang Regency. Research implementation in September to December 2020. The result of phytoplankton enumeration is found 25 Genera in 4 classes namely Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, and Dinophyceae. Salinity has a real effect and shows a negative relationship to phytoplankton abundance. In contrast, TSS showed no real link to the abundance of phytoplankton in the estuary waters of Saddang Pinrang.