A Preliminary Survey on Freshwater Algal Flora of Garuda Tal, Near Nainital, Uttaranchal, India

2005·2.6 MB·

by  M R Suseela

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 102 (2), May-Aug 2005 176-180
A PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON FRESHWATER ALGAL FLORA OF GARUDA TAL,
NEAR NAINITAL, UTTARANCHAL, INDIA
1
M.R. SUSEELA2
'Accepted May 2004
’Phycology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Email: [email protected]
GarudaTal (lake) is located 23 km from Nainital town ofUttaranchal state in Kumaon division, and situated in the
foothillsoftheHimalaya,atanaltitudeof1450mabovemsl.Anassessmentofthediversityoffreshwateralgalfloraof
Garuda Tal resulted in a total of 19 species, representing 15 genera of which 3 species were Blue-green Algae
(Cyanophyceae),5specieswereGreenAlgae(Chlorophyceae),and 11 wereDiatoms(Bacillariophyceae).Rhizoclonium,
Spirogyra and Gomphonema were abundant in this lake. A preliminary survey and morpho-taxonomic details of
freshwateralgalfloraofGarudaTalhasbeendescribedinthepresentcommunication.
Keywords: freshwateralgalflora,diversity,GarudaTal
INTRODUCTION werepreservedin4%formalinanddepositedinthecollections
of the Phycology laboratory. National Botanical Research
Nainitaldistrict(29°24'Nand79°28'E;area 1 1.73 sq. Institute, Lucknow. The samples were observed under an
km) of Uttaranchal lies in the Kumaon division abutting Olympuslightmicroscopeandcameralucidadiagramswere
m
Himalayanrangestoitsnorth,atanaltitudeof 1938 above drawn. For diatoms, permanent slides were prepared as per
msl. This area is highly mountainous marked with rugged PatrickandReimer(1966).Taxonomicidentificationwasdone
topography, comprising of high ranges, steep hills, deep as per Desikachary (1959), Jeffery et al. (1983), Noda and
valleys, cliffs and sloping meadows. Gola and Kosi rivers Lorin(1985),PrasadandSrivastava(1992),Prescott(1951),
flowthroughthisregionalongwithanumberofsmallstreams andTzanouandEconomou(1995).
andlakes.Thepresentcontributionistheresultofpreliminary
studiescarriedoutonthefreshwateralgalfloraofGarudaTal, RESULTS
aserene lake.
GarudaTal is situated 23 km from Nainital town at an Among the freshwater algal flora, green algae, blue-
altitude of 1450 m above msl. The lake is about 745 mlong, green algaeanddiatomswere identifiedandtheirtaxonomic
300mbroadand 19mdeep(Das2003)andliesatthefoothills descriptions are given below:
of Western Himalaya. This serene lake is not disturbed by
anthropogenic activities; its lush green water is surrounded Cyanophyceae
by thick, tall pine, oak trees along with several herbs and Chroococcusminutus(Kuetz)Naegeli(Fig.2)
shrubs.Thesoilofthishillyregionvariesfromloamytoclay A small amorphous, mucilaginous mass in which
loamy.Theclimateistropicalwithcoolsummersandextremely sphericalorhemisphericalcellsarecompactlyarrangedwithin
coldwinters.Theatmospherictemperaturevariesfrom3-16°C a wide hyaline envelope, individual cell sheaths indistinct
in winter and 10-28 °C in summer; the average rainfall is notlamellate,cellcontentsbluegreen,eitherhomogenousor
260cm(NationalInformationCentre,Dehradun,2000-2005). finelygranular,cells5-10pmindiameter.
Thetemperatureofthewatervariedfrom 14-16°CandthepH
was 5.5 during the study period. GloeothecesamoensisWille(Fig.3)
Cells ellipsoidal, without sheath 4-5 pm broad, 8 pm
MATERIALAND METHODS long,cellsyellowishorbluishgreen,inroundcolonies,mostly
2-4inacommonenvelope,envelopecolourless.
A total of 14 freshwater algal samples were collected
during May 2002 from GarudaTal with the help ofa simple OscillatorianigraVaucher(Fig. 1)
sample collecting spoon with a long handle. Epilithic algal Trichomes aggregated to form a thick, mucilaginous
samples werecollectedby scraping submergedrocks. Some blackish green mass on submerged objects, becomes free
ofthe samples werecollectedby handsqueezingtheaquatic floating, straight or slightly tapering towards the apex and
plants of the lake. Samples stored in 50 ml sample bottles curved, apicalcellrotundnotcapitate withoutcalyptra;cells
) )
PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON FRESHWATER ALGAL FLORA OF GARUDA TAL, UTTARANCHAL
8-10pmindiameter,4.5pmlong,notconstrictedatthecross planeendwalls,chloroplast3 making3 turns.
walls, whichare sometimes granular, cell content darkolive
green. Bacillariophyceae
CocconeispseudomarginataGregory (Fig. 22)
Chlorophyceae Rapheless valves with lanceolate sternum and two
RhizocloniumhookeriKuetzing(Fig. 8) zonesofstriaeseparatedby longitudinalhyalinearea.Valves
Filaments crisp, freely branching, composed of long, 52pmlong,35 pmwidewithdelicateradiatestriae,marginal
cylindricalorregularly inflatedcells,cell68pmindiameter, striae 13in 10pm,axialstriae 16in 10pm. Raphe withpolar
380pm long.An epilithic algafound attached to submerged nodule small extending downwards into an arrow shaped
rocks. Licmophoraflabellata is an epiphyte on its filament. hyalinearea.
BulbochaetedisparWittrock(Fig. 10) Cocconeis diruptagreg \AC.flexella (Janish & Rabenhorst)
Branchedfilamentarisingfromabasalcell,whichhasa Grunow(Fig.23)
holdfast organ. Cells cylindrical, ovoid, having successive Differentiatedfromthenominatevarietybythesigmoid
divisions at the basal cell only, bearing a long seta with a axial ofthe rapheless valve. Valves 40pm long, 24pm wide
bulbous base. Vegetative cells 35 pm in diameter, 30-40 pm with 19-20striaein 10pm, intheraphelessvalve.
long.
Cymbellatnmida (Breb. Vanheurck(Fig. 14)
)
Closterimnpseudodianae Roy, West & West var. curvata Valvesasymmetrical,curved,broadly naviculoidwith
Kant&Gupta(Fig.9) rostrate poles, convex dorsal side and straight or slightly
Cells much longer than the type, curved at both the convex ventral sides having medium expansion, raphe
ends,sickleshaped,chloroplastdivided intotwohalves,end eccentric, axial area narrow, central area large, round with a
pointedorrounded,cells440-450pmlong,50pmindiameter. ventrally placed prominent isolated dot, transverse striation
radiate,punctate,cells 18-20pmindiameter,52pminlength,
Ankistrodesmusfalcatus (Corda)Ralfsvar.radiatus striae 10in 10pm.
(Chodat)Lemrn.(Fig. 1 1
Acicularcells nottwisted aroundeach other, arranged Cymbella ventricosa Kuetzing(Fig. 13)
inradiatingbundles,cells straightorcurved,61-73 pmlong, Valvesasymmetrical,lunatewithdorsalmarginconvex
4.5-5.0pmindiameter. and ventral margin almost straight, ends acutely rounded,
raphethick,eccentric,slightly undulate,central nodulesbent
Cosmarium medioscrobiculatum West & West dorsally, while terminal fissure curved ventrally forming a
var.egranulatumGutw.f.majorPandey& Pandey(Fig. 12) question mark, axial area narrow, linear central area broad,
Granules are uniformly distributed and there are no striaecoarse,lineateradiatethroughoutthe wall,cells 18pm
scrobicutations in the centre ofthe semi cells. Cells 50 pm indiameter,65pminlength,striae 10-11 in 10pm.
broad,90pmlong,andisthmus32pmwide.
AmphoravenetaKuetzing(Fig. 19)
Spirogyrasp.(Fig.4) Frustules oblong, elliptical with truncated rounded
Vegetative cells 260pm long, 38 pm in diameterwith ends, in valve view, linear lunate with constricted, ventrally
planeendwalls,chloroplast2-3 making2.5-3turns. bent, obtusely rounded ends, dorsal side convex but ventral
side somewhat concave, raphe thin, straight, eccentric,
Spirogyrasp.(Fig. 5) terminalfissurebentventrally,axialareanarrow,linear,striae
Vegetative cells 200 pm long, 22 pm in diameter with lineate,radiatethroughout,presentondorsalside. Itis30pm
planeendwalls,chloroplast 1 making4turns. long, 10pmbroad,striae 15 in 10pm.
Spirogyrasp.(Fig.6) AmphoracoffeaeformisAgardh(Fig. 20)
Vegetative cells 210 pm long, 34 pm in diameterwith Valves linear, semi-lanceolate with constricted much
planeendwalls,chloroplast 1 making3 turns. produced rounded ends, dorsal margin broadly arcuate,
ventral margin straight or concave, raphe thin eccentric,
Spirogyrasp.(Fig.7 slightly undulate, central nodule bentdorsally, axial narrow,
Vegetative cells 240pm long, 72 pm in diameterwith gradually widening towards centre, dorsal striae coarse
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 102 (2), May-Aug 2005 177
)
PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON FRESHWATER ALGAL FLORA OF GARUDA TAL, UTTARANCHAL
Figs 1-12: 1. Oscillatorianigra 10x40; 2. Chroococcusmmutus10x40; 3. Gloeothecesamoensis10x40;4. Spirogyrasp. 10x10;
5. Spirogyrasp 10x 10; 6. Spirogyrasp 10x 10;7. Spirogyrasp. 10x 10; 8. Rhizoclomumhookeri10x10;
9. Closteriumpseudodianaevarcurvata10x 10; 10. Bulbochaetedispar10x 10; 11. Ankistrodesmusfalcatusvarradiatus10x40;
12. Cosmariummedioscrobiculatumvaregranulatumf. major10x40
lineate, radiate, parallel throughout the valve, ventral striae lines nearthe ventral marginofthe valve andthetwocurves
very short, fine and close. It is 53 pm long, 20 pm broad, meetingoverthecentral nodule, valves30pmlong, 15pmin
dorsalstriae 1 1-13 in 10pm,andventralstriae20-22in 10pm. diameter.
AmphoracleveiGrun.(Fig. 21 Epithemiaargus(Ehr)Kuetzing(Fig. 18)
Frustulescrescentshapedinvalveview,broadlyelliptic Frustules solitary or in a group, valve arcuate, dorsal
withtruncatedpolesingirdleview,raphepresentstwocurved side convex and ventral planoconvex, ends rounded, raphe
178 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 102 (2), May-Aug 2005
)
PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON FRESHWATER ALGAL FLORA OF GARUDA TAL, UTTARANCHAL
Figs 13-23: 13. Cymbella ventricosa10x40; 14. Cymbettatumida10x40; 15. Hantzschiaamfioxys10x40;
16. Gomphonemahebndense10x40; 17. Gomphonemaconstrictum10x40; 18. Epithemiaargus10x40;
19. Amphoraveneta10x40;20.Amphoracoffeaeformis10x40;21. Amphoraclevei10x40;
22. Cocconeispseudomarginata10x40;23. Cocconeisdiruptavarflexella10x40.
curved,V-shapedontheventralside.Cells62pmlong, 12pm Gomphonemahebridense(Greg.)Her.(Fig. 16)
indiameter,costae3in 10pm. Valvesbroadlyclavate,axialareanotverylarge,central
area defined, median striae not alternately long and short,
Hantzschiaamfioxys(Ehr.)Grunow(Fig. 15 valvesvery slenderandcentral areavery small. Valves 5 pm
Valvesnarrowly linear, lanceolate,dorsalsideconvex, indiameter,striae6in 10pm.
ventral side slightly concave, with deep median depression,
ends slightly attenuated, constricted, rounded capitate, keel DISCUSSION
punctae distinct thick slightly elongated, medium two set
apart, central nodule prominent, striae fine, lineate, parallel The present study documents nineteen taxa of high
throughoutthe valve. It is74pm long,7pmbroad, striae 18- mountainous freshwater algal flora of Garuda Tal.
25in 10pm. Cyanophyceae was represented by three genera and three
species, Chlorophyceae by six genera and five species,
GomphonemaconstrictumEhr.(Fig. 17) Bacillariophyceae by six genera and eleven species;
Valvesbroadlyclavate. broadlyrounded,apexnotvery Rhizoclonium Spirogyra and Gomphonema were abundant,
,
large,central areadefined with more isolatedpunctae, raphe whereas Oscillatoria Chroococcus Cocconeis and
, ,
thick and straight, striae alternately long and short, valves Cymbella were common. Kant and Gupta (1998) have also
45pm long. 12pmindiameter,striae 10-12in 10pm. givendetailedtaxonomicenumerationoffreshwateralgaelike
1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 102 (2), May-Aug 2005 179
:
PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON FRESHWATER ALGAL FLORA OF GARUDA TAL, UTTARANCHAL
Oscillatoria Chroococcus Spirogyra, Cymbella, Mexico. We did not encounter algal forms belonging to
, ,
Gomphonema and Cocconeisfrom thepondsandstreamsof Chrysophyta, DinophytaandXanthophytafromGarudaTal.
Ladakh, Kashmir. Sahin (2003) reported Cymbella, Everincreasing population, agricultural activities and
Fragillaria, Pinnularia and Surirella as common diatoms, industrial pollution are the main threats to ourenvironment.
Oscillatoria was the common blue-green alga and desmids GarudaTal is an ideal example ofa natural system and it is
were the common green algae from the mountain lakes of largely ecologically intact and remote from industrial and
EasternBlackSearegion,Turkey. Diatomswerenumerousin agriculturalcentresofthisregion.Therefore,algalassemblage
boththeGarudaTalandlakesofEasternBlackSea.Theresults ofthis lake canbe ofgreat value in providing baseline data
obtainedfromGarudaTalaresimilartothedataofSahin(2003) for future monitoring and assessing the effects of
fromtheEasternBlackSea. anthropogenic activities.
Medvedeva(2001 recordedCyanophyta,Chlorophyta,
)
BacillariophytaandfewtaxaofChrysophyta,Dinophytaand ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
XanthophytafromtemperatebenthiccommunitiesinSikhote
Alin biosphere reserve in Russia. These forms were also We are grateful to the Director, National Botanical
reportedbyTolotti(2001 fromAdamelloBrentaRegionalPark ResearchInstitute,Lucknowforconstantencouragementand
)
in Italy and by Banderas-Tarabay (1997) from lake E lsol in laboratoryfacilities.
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