<![CDATA[This study aimed to characterize phytoplankton community structure in Lake Gedang and whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) ponds, compare community characteristics between the two ecosystems, and identify phytoplankton taxa detected in the shrimp digestive tract as preliminary candidates for natural feed. A survey was conducted from September to November 2025 at five stations in Lake Gedang and three stations in shrimp ponds in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia. Phytoplankton were identified microscopically, and community structure was assessed using abundance, the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′), evenness (J′), and Simpson’s dominance index (C). Differences in abundance were tested using the Mann–Whitney U test, while relationships between abundance and environmental variables were evaluated using Spearman’s correlation. A total of 40 species were recorded in Lake Gedang and 92 species in the shrimp ponds, with Bacillariophyta showing the highest species richness (67.50% and 65.22%, respectively). Mean abundance was 95.80 ind/L in Lake Gedang and 239.33 ind/L in the shrimp ponds, with a significant difference between ecosystems (U = 0.000; p = 0.036). Mean H′, J′, and C values were 2.360, 0.929, and 0.109 in Lake Gedang and 3.560, 0.933, and 0.036 in the shrimp ponds, respectively. No significant correlations were found between phytoplankton abundance and temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, or total dissolved solids in Lake Gedang. Four taxa—Anabaena sp., Cosmarium pseudoconnatum, Golenkinia sp., and Ulothrix sp.—were detected in the shrimp digestive tract. These findings indicate distinct phytoplankton community characteristics between the two ecosystems and provide preliminary evidence that the four detected taxa may be ingested by L. vannamei. However, their occurrence does not demonstrate feeding preference or confirm their suitability as natural feed.]]>
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