Fresh water Algal diversity of Central India

http://dx.doi.org/10.21276/IJRDPL.227 8-0238.2018.7(4).3039-3049 ABSTRACT: Fresh water microalgae has drawn much attention due to their primary productivity in the water food chain of water ecosystem diversity, their biological assessment of water quality, pollution abatement capacity and as a source of structurally novel and biologically active metabolites with antimicrobial capacity etc. Distribution of fresh water microalgae of unexplored localities of some parts of central India has been investigated. A total of thirty fresh water algal samples were collected from different unexplored sites of central India. Thirty-four algal taxa comprising twenty-five genera in which eighteen unicellular, nine colonials and nine filamentous algae were identified based on microscopic observation and characters such as average filament length, colonial diameter, shape and cell dimensions. Results revealed that these microalgae belonging to three major classes Chlorophyceae (green algae), Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) and Cyanophyceae (blue green algae). Maximum algal taxa belonged to green algae followed by bluegreen algae and diatoms. The occurrence of fresh water algae, their diversity and distribution was interpreted with water quality and its physico-chemical characteristics. The present study not only discusses the basic information of fresh water algal presence, distribution but also helps for future environmental monitoring studies.


INTRODUCTION
Fresh water ecosystems vary in size and composition and contain a large variety of organism. Microalgae are vast group of prokaryotic and eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms found in many different forms viz. individual cells, colonies or extended filaments and exhibit vast diversity in the ecosystem [1]. They are cosmopolitan in nature found everywhere like oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds, puddles, moist surfaces and fresh water etc. [2].
These organism's potential can be utilized in various fields such as food, feed, fine chemicals, bio energy and bioremediation. They are also rich source of proteins and other nutrients, like higher plants [3,4]. They play an important role as primary producers of water ecosystem for various consumers of aquatic fauna and rich source of protein, carbohydrates and especially essential fatty acids. They are one of the most helpful indicators of water quality due to their rapid response to environmental changes related to larger animals and plants [5,6].
Thus, microalgae are used for biological assessment of water quality and bioindicators of eutrophication. The algal community both planktonic and benthic are important among other micro taxa which are found at different depths, where physicochemical properties of water influence the algal population and its occurrence [7][8][9].
The dominance of green algae and diatoms presence in relatively clean and oligotrophic water bodies, whereas bluegreen algae bloom formation indicates that the water body is polluted or eutrophic [10][11][12].
There are few survey reports on the assessment of water quality based on physico-chemical and biological parameters in India [13,14] but fresh water algal floristic identification and water quality monitoring in aquatic bodies of Bundelkhand region of central India is absolutely neglected [15][16][17]. Therefore, the present investigation has been carried out to assess fresh water algal diversity along with the physico-chemical parameters of the water to interpret water quality. i) Jhansi district-A total of 10 algal samples and water samples were collected from Atiyatal lake in Jhansi which is situated in 24⁰11´ and 25⁰57´ N latitude and 78⁰10´ and 79⁰ 25´ E longitude. Lake is situated in the heart of Jhansi, having an area of about 15.41 hectares, with an average depth of 3.1m. Atiyatal is a typical urban lake. ii) Banda district-A total of 5 algal samples and water samples were collected from two localities in Banda district. 2 algal samples were collected from River Ken and another 3 algal samples were collected from pond Chabbi. In which Ken River situated in 25⁰46´ and 25.767⁰N latitude 80⁰31´ and 80⁰80.517⁰ E longitude whereas Chabbi pond situated in 25⁰28'27" N latitude 80⁰19'36" E longitude. Ken river arising from Vindhya hill ranges in the Central India reveals a significantly higher density in semi-natural compared with other two land use. iii) Chitrakoot district-A total of 6 algal samples and water samples were collected from river Mandakani in Chitrakoot district which is situated in 25⁰25'24" N latitude 81⁰8'55" E longitude. It is a holy river, at each new moon day a lot of people visit to Chitrakoot and take holy dip in the river and make worship offering to the river. It is called as mini Ganga. iv) Jalaun district-A total of 9 algal samples and water samples were collected from two localities in Jalaun district. Six algal samples were collected from Ramkund and another 3 algal samples were collected from Mahil pond in which Ramkund situated in25⁰29'15" N latitude 79⁰33'28" E longitude whereas Mahil pond situated in 25⁰59'10" N latitude 79⁰26'58" E longitude. Ramkund is one of the important pond of this town due to its proximity to Thadeshwari temple, devotees flock to this place to take a holy dip after visiting temple. Mahil pond situated on the south-east part of the city Orai, U.P. Orai city is also known as city of king Mahil who was the ruler of this region during 18 th century A D.

Physico-chemical analysis of water samples
Physico-chemical parameters of water samples were tested in the field itself. Parameters such as pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, sulphate, iron and silica were measured by HACH instrument. Parameters such as pH, Conductivity, DO and Temperature were recorded on the spot by using different probes attached to the instrument whereas nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, sulphate, iron and silica were measured as per the standard protocol given in HACH manual of the laboratory. Collected algal samples were preserved in 4% formalin for further microscopic identification in the laboratory and voucher specimens deposited at the Phycology laboratory of National Botanical Research Institute Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh India.

Morphological analysis
Microscopic observation of algal samples was done by Lieca DM. 500 research microscope and microphotography was done with attached camera EC-3 [18][19]. Morphological observation for green algae presence of chloroplast, shape and size of cells and filaments, for diatoms presence of straie, raphe, presence and absence of centriole, presence of silica, and for blue green algae presence and absence of sheath, heterocysts, shape and size of cells were taken into consideration. The identification of taxa was done by referring standard taxonomic manuals of (2), (12), (13), (19).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A total of 34 algal taxa belonging to 25 genera were identified ( Figure 2 and 3) from 30 samples of 6 water bodies. These microalgae belonging to three major classes Chlorophycae (green algae), Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) and Cyanophycae (blue green algae). Maximum algal taxa belong to green algae followed by blue green algae and diatoms. Among the green algae dominant forms were Scenedesmus at Mandakani river, Chlamydomonas and Chlorella at Chabi pond and Spirogyra in Atiyatal, where ascommonly found green algae were Chaetophora, Ulothrix, Nannochloropsis and Oedogoniumin Atiyatal. Rarely found green algae were Caracium at Mandakini river,Cosmarium, Geminella and Pediastrum atAtiyatal. Among the blue green algae Microcystis was dominant and only alga at Mahil pond whereas Oscillatoria, Phormidium were dominant and Spirulina was very common in Ramkund and in Atiyatal Merismopedia was a very rare form. Among the diatoms Fragillaria was dominant form found in Ramkund, whereas Navicula, Gamphonema, Synedra were common in Chabi pond, Ramkund and Mandakini river respectively and Cymbella, was found rarely in Ramkund.

Scenedesmusabundans (Kirchner) Chodat
Colonies usually 2-4 celled, rarely eight-celled, and arranged in a linear series. Cells ovoid to oblong-ovoid. External cells with one or more median lateral spines from the outer face in addition to spines from the four corners of the colony. Internal cells with 1-2 spines from their poles, or rarely without spines.

Scenedesmusquadricauda (Turpin) Brebisson
Colonies usually four-celled, sometimes 2-or 8-celled. Cells oblong-cylindrical with rounded ends and arranged in a linear series. Poles of terminal cells with a long, straight or curved spine. Cell wall smooth and without ridges.

Scenedesmusarmatus (Chodat) G. M. Smith
Colonies usually four-celled, rarely two-or eight-celled. Cells oblong-ellipsoid with acute spices and arranged in a linear series. Terminal cells with a single long spine from each pole. All cells with a median lateral longitudinal rib which is sometimes indistinct or distinct only at either and of the cell.

Scenedesmus caudate-aculeolatus Chodat
Colony four-celled, cells loosely connected in a linear series. Cells oblong with rounded poles. Terminal cells slightly curved and with a long-recurved spine from each pole. Two to three short spines also present on the poles of terminal as well as internal cells. Collection Site: Mandakani river (Chitrakoot) and Atiya Tal (Jhansi)

Scenedesmusarcuatus (Lemmermann) Lemmermann
Colonies usually eight-celled, rarely four-or 16 celled, curved and with small intercellular spaces. Cells in eight-celled colonies in two series, oblong-ovoid, sometimes slightly angular at the base due to mutual pressure. Cell wall smooth, without teeth or spines. Cells broadly ovoid to cylindric, often turuncated anteriorly and with a prominent papilla. Contractile vacuoles 2, below the flagella, which are as long as or slightly longer than the cell body. Chloroplast a massive, parietal cup with a large angular pyrenoid in the base; pigment-spot anterior and lateral. Forming attached, firm, gelatinous globules, 2-5 mm in diameter, having radiating, nearly parallel, erect branches from numerous basal, rhizoidal processes. Filaments usually dichotomously (some-times trichotomously) branched, ending in sharply pointed, setiferous cells; branches not fasciculate, but loose and evenly developed from the main axis and much elongated. Cells very small, a little longer than broad, deeply constricted, sinus narrow and linear, semi-cells hexagonal with sharp angles and parallel sides, apex narrow and slightly retuse; cell wall smooth. Cells straight and lanceolate with a short hyaline apical beak. Stalk short and thick with a colorless disc-shaped basal thickening.

OscillatoriaVaucher ex Gomont
Trichome single or forming a flat or spongy free-swimming thallus, sheath absent, rarely with a very delicate sheath, motile, mostly by a creeping movement causing rotation on the longitudinal axis; end of trichome distinctly marked, pointed, bent like a sickle or coiled more or coiled like a screw. Hormogones formed by the division of the trichome. Thallus bright blue-green, compact, filaments straight, mostly unconstructed at the cross-walls, not attenuated at the ends, not capitates, straight, 4.5-12 µm broad, dull blue-green; sheath thin, firm or mostly diffluent, not coloured violet by chlor-zinciodide; cells shorter or longer than broad, 4-9 µm long, septa not granulated; end cells truncated, with a thickened outer membrane, calyptras absent. Thallus expanded, bright blue-green, dark or yellowish green; filaments flexuous, variously entangled; trichomes slightly constricted at the cross-walls, at the ends not attenuated, not capitates, 4-6 µm broad, blue-green; sheath thin, firm or diffluent sometime thick and more or less lamellated, colored violet by chlor-zinc-iodide; cells shorter than broad, 1.5-2.7 µm long, rarely granulated at the cross-walls, sometimes with gasvacuoles; end cell rounded, calyptras absent.

Relation of the physico-chemical parameters on the distribution of algal community:
Physico-chemical parameters of all the water bodies (  2 and 3). In the collected algal samples the highest pH was 9.93 (Mahil pond) whereas lowest pH was 7.87 (Mandakani river). The alkaline pH supported the growth of blue green algae. Higher value of pH attributes the higher growth rate of blue green algal population which utilized CO2 through the photosynthesis (1). Highest conductivity (2083 µs/cm) highest nitrate (16.9 mg/L) nitrite (0.916 mg/L) phosphate (8.4 mg/L) and sulphate (49mg/L) led to alkalinity of the water in turn support excessive blue green algal growth.
Therefore, Mahil pond infected with blue green alga Microcystis aeruginosa and water is polluted not useful for consumption.
In the collected algal samples, the highest temperature was 18.1⁰c (Jhansi) whereas lowest temperature 14.4⁰c (Ramkund) as they were collected during winter months of January. In Atiya Tal maximum no. of Chlorophyceaen algae were present like Scenedesmus, Cheatophora, Ulothrix, Cosmerium and Spirogyra. Atiya Tal supports maximum no. of green algae with three types of diatoms and one blue green alga.
Verma et al., 2011 reported 16 species of Chlorophyceae 8 species of Bacillariophyceae and 6 species of Cyanophyceae from Bundelkhand region [20]. The dynamic and heterogeneous relationship gain varied physico-chemical and biological elements in the ecosystem, which can be recorded by regular monitoring to maintain the integrity and conserve the ecosystem [20][21].