Extended distribution and conservation of the rare seaweed Tydemani expeditionis Weber Van Bosse (Chlorophyceae) in the Indian region

2 Pages·1998·1.5 MB·

by  P S N Rao

144 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 95 (1998)
genera ofCladocera have beenreported fromthis longitudinal striations on the postero-ventral
We
region so far. describe a rare cladoceran edge. Entire ventral margin of valves with long
Leydigia acanthocercoides (Fischer), forthe first cilia. Labral keel rhomboidal with rounded
time from this locality. corners and provided with cilia. Ocellus
L. acanthocercoides is awidely distributed pentagonal and larger than rounded eye. Post-
species in India (Nayar, 1971; Sharma, 1978; abdomen large with numerous cilia, while
Michael and Sharma, 1988) and Sri Lanka expanded post-anal part with a number of large
(Rajapaksa and Fernando, 1982). In a study of spines ofvarying lengths. Claws long and slender
Cladocera of the Indian subcontinent extending without basal spine. Colour pink in living
from 6°N (Sri Lanka) to 37°N (Kashmir) Lat. specimen.
Fernando and Kanduru (1984) have included L.
acanthocercoides in a group of cladocerans Acknowledgment
N
which occurred at all latitudes over 32-20°
We
except Srinagar. are thankful to the Chairman,
The species inhabits aquatic weeds in Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim
pollutedponds. Specimens were preserved in 5% University, Aligarh, for providing working
formalin, sketched with the help ofcamera lucida facilities.
and measured. The species was identified after
Battish (1992). November 28, 1997 AFTAB ALAM
mm
Female: Body measures 0.64 in ASIF A. KHAN
length. Main features include oblong, oval Limnology Research Laboratory,
shaped, compressed shell without crest with Department ofZoology,
small extended head. Dorsal margin ofthe shell Aligarh Muslim University,
not evenly rounded. Shell valves with Aligarh-202 002, India.
References
Battish, S.K. (1992): Freshwater Zooplankton ofIndia. thelimnologyofaperennialfishpondatAligarh.Indian
Oxford &IBH PublishingCo. Pvt. Ltd. NewDelhi,pp J. Fish., 21(2): 463-478.
&
232. Michael, R.G. B.K. Sharma (1988): Fauna of India:
Fernando, C.H. &A. Kanduru(1984): Someremarkson IndianCladocera(Cr.: Br.: Cl.)ZSI, Calcutta,pp. 1-26.
the latitudinal distributionofCladoceraonthe Indian Nayar, C.K.G. (1971): Cladocera of Rajasthan.
subcontinent. Hydrobiologia, 113 69-76. Hydrobiologia, 37: 509-519.
:
Haque, N. & A.A. Khan (1994): Temporal and spatial Rajapaksa, R. & C.H. Fernando (1982): The Cladocera
distribution of Cladoceran population in a fresh- ofSri Lanka (Ceylon)withremarks on some species.
water pond at Aligarh. J. Freshwater Biol. 6(3): 225- Hydrobiologia, 94: 49-69.
229. Sharma,B.K.(1978): Anoteonthefreshwatercladocerans
&
Khan, A.A. A.Q. Siddiqui (1974): Seasonalchanges in fromWestBengal. BangladeshJ. Zool., 6: 149-151.
EXTENDED DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION OF THE RARE SEAWEED
36.
TYDEMANIA EXPEDITIONS WEBER VAN BOSSE (CHLOROPHYCEAE) IN THE
INDIAN REGION
The genus Tydemania WeberVanBosse is archipelago, Philippines, Marshall Islands, Liu-
representedby only two species viz. T. gardineri Kiu Islands, Caroline Islands, Nancowry Island
and T. expeditionis in the world, with their in the Bay of Bengal and Chagos Archipelago,
principal centres of distribution in Malayan Amirante Islands. From the Indian region,
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 145
Srinivasan (1954) has reported this species from broad. On drying, the alga takes on an ash colour,
Nancowry Island of the Andaman-Nicobar because of the feeble calcification of the
A
archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. perusal of glomerules.
the literature on Indian marine flora shows that Conservation: The natural habitats from
no further collection of this species was made where the authors and Srinivasan (1954) have
anywhere in the Indian region in the last four reported T. expeditionis are known to show only
decades, thereby indicating its restricted a few patches of the alga and its collection is
distribution on the Indian coasts (Anonymous, attended with a certain amount of risk. The
1983; Jagtap, 1985; Anonymous, 1987). coralline rocks on which this rare green alga
The authors, while studying the Marine grows are constantly dashed by waves, and are
Algal Flora of Andaman-Nicobar Islands, almostalways completely submergedbythe swell
collected this taxon from Red Skin Island of of the tide. The recent spurt in quarrying of
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near coralline rocks for limestone has threatened rare
Port Blair, South Andaman, confirming its marine flora. The declaration of the habitat of
extended distribution in the Indian region. It is T. expeditionis as the Marine National Park near
seen growing attached to coralline rocks in a Port Blair is aimed at conserving many such
shelteredbay, forming clumps below the low tide species ofrare occurrence and marine biological
mark. Sometimes the alga may be mistaken for diversity.
some marine animal with its thick caterpillar-
like form, owing to the presence ofcharacteristic Acknowledgements
sub-spheroidbranchedstructures, the glomerules
contiguously placed on the upright shoots. The authors are thankful to Dr. P.K. Hajra,
Taxonomic Description: Coenocyte Director, Botanical Survey ofIndia, Calcutta for
slightly calcified. Prostrate system thick encouragement; and Dr. D.V. Rao, Zoological
branched, creeping rhizome, monosiphonous, Survey ofIndia, PortBlair forassistance rendered
constricted at shorter or longer intervals, up to in the collection of specimens.
550 p or more across. Rhizoids constricted at
RAO
base, torulose. Flabella rare. Erect system with February 13, 1997 P.S.N.
several erect shoots. Shoots with a series of MARCEL TIGGA
glomerules giving a characteristic appearance to Botanical Survey ofIndia,
the alga. About 16 glomerules on each axial Andaman & Nicobar Circle,
filament, each measuring 1 cm high and 1 cm Port Blair-744 102
References
Anonymous,(1983): MariculturepotentialofAndamanand Islands, pp 43-50, In: V. Krishnamurthy & A. G.
Nicobarislands-Anindicativestudy, CMFRI Bulletin, Untawale(eds.)MarinePlants SeaweedResearch and
pp 47-51. Utilisation, Madras.
Anonymous, (1987): SeaweedResearchandUtilisationin Srinivasan, K.S. (1954): On a rare and little known alga
India, CMFRIBulletin, 41,pp 100-111. (Tydemania expeditionis Web. V. Bosse) new to
Jagtap, T.G. (1985): Studiesonlittoral floraofAndaman Nancowry,Phytomorphology, 4(1-2): 249.
NOMENCLATURAL NOTES ON OEDOGONIALES
37.
I received a copy of a book entitled A. Gonsalves (Retd.), during a visit to her
oedogoniales as a gift from the author, Prof. Ella residence in August 1996. While going through