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Journal of Environmental Biology September, 2008 Online Copy Online Copy Online Copy Online Copy Studies on phytoplankton diversity in response to abiotic factors in Veeranam lake in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu R. Senthilkumar and K. Sivakumar* Department of Botany, Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar - 608 002, India (Received: September 01, 2006; Revised received: May 15, 2007; Accepted: June 05, 2007) Abstract: The phytoplankton samples were collected from the Veeranam lake for a period of one year from March-2005 to February-2006. The physico- chemical parameters of water such as air-temperature, water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids were observed and their ranges were: 30.1-36.5 o C, 29.0-34.4 o C, 7.9-8.4, 1.2-2.5 mgl -1 , 7.6-9.2 μS and 2.5-5.2 mgl -1 . Totally 160 species of phytoplankton belonging to different taxonomic groups were identified. Among these 74 species to belong to Bacillariophyceae, 43 species to Chlorophyceae, 38 species to Cyanophyceae and 5 species to Euglenophyceae. The phytoplankton density was high (1705 cells l -1 ) during the summer season and low (760 cells l -1 ) during the winter season. Bacillariophyceae formed the dominant group. Species diversity index (H’), species richness (SR) and species evenness (J’) were calculated. Key words: Phytoplankton, Physico-chemical parameters, Veeranam lake PDF of full length paper is available with author (*[email protected]) Introduction The Veeranam Lake is oldest and largest lake of Tamilnadu. This is a very significant lake in south India, and nearly 45,000 acres of agricultural land areas are irrigated by this lake and in addition since-2004 the lake supplies the large quantity of water for Chennai metropolitan city for drinking purpose. Phytoplankton forms the vital source of energy as primary producers and serves as a direct source of food to the other aquatic plants and animals. Assessment of water quality by algal community used for of Harambaeredam and Mossam rivers of Maharashtra were made by Nandan and Ahur (2005). Systematic and ecological studies on Chlorophyceae of North India and their relationship with water quality was made (Dwivedi et al., 2005). Algal biodiversity in fresh water and related physico-chemical factors were studied by Veereshakumar and Hosmani (2006), which dealt substantially for the organic production of waters ways. They will give information about the productivity of the environment. In India, many such lakes and reservoirs have been studied for the water quality and fisheries (Nautiyal et al., 1988; Kartha and Rao, 1992; Pandey, 1993; Ravikumar et al., 2006; Nurulalom and Zaman, 2006; Tiwari and Shukla, 2007; Tiwari and Chauhan, 2006; Sridhar et al., 2006; Tas and Gonulol, 2007). But still there are many such aquatic ecosystems that remains unexplored. The Veeranam lake is one among them which has not received due attention. Hence, the present work is an attempt to study the influence of physico-chemical parameters of water on phytoplankton population, species composition and community organization. History and morphometric of Veeranam lake: The Veeranam lake (Lat. 11 o 17’N); Long. 79 o 32’E) is situated in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu state, India (Fig. 1). It was formed by the Prince Rajathithar son of Paranthaga Cholan during the 9 th century and as on date its age is 1038 years. The lake is located in the western half of Chidambaram taluk and southern half of Kattumannarkoil taluk in the Cuddalore district. The lake is being used for multipurpose utility such as irrigation, fish catching washing and bathing. This lake is one of the major water resource supply to the Chennai metropolitan city corporation. The lake covers on water spread 15 sq miles (38.85 sq km) area of length 15 km from North-South, 5 km width from East-West, minimum depth 5.43 m, water storing capacity 45.50, ft = 990 mct (0.99 TMC) (mean sea level), = 990 mct (0.99 TMC) with 34 sluices irrigated land area approximately 45,000 acres. Materials and Methods Water samples were collected from Veeranam lake at monthly intervals for a period of one year from March-2005 to February- 2006 for the analysis of air temperature, water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids. The physico-chemical parameters were analyzed by water and soil analysis kit model 1160-E. Phytoplankton samples were collected by towing a plankton net (mouth diameter 0.35 mm) made up of bolting silk (no.30; mesh size 48 μ) for half an hour. The samples were collected in black polythene bags and immediately preserved with 4% formalin for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Plankton counting was made by drop method. Some of the specimens were fixed in 3% glutaroldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at (pH 6.8) for scanning electronmicroscopic studies. Specimens were then dehydrated through a graded series of acetone 12-15 min interval at 4 o C upto 70% of acetone. Then dehydrated phytoplanktons treated with critical point drier (CPD) were on a stub and the specimens were coated they were examined with Joel JSM-56010 LV with INSA-EDS, photomicrographs were taken selectively from the computer screen (Hayet and Falk, 1980). Phytoplankton was identified by consulting the workers of Desikachary (1959), Prescott (1964), Anand (1998), Cox (1996). Species diversity index (H’) was calculated using Shannon and Weiner’s (1949) and Pielous Journal of Environmental Biology September 2008, 29(5) 747-752 (2008) ©Triveni Enterprises, Lucknow (India) For personal use only Free paper downloaded from: ww w. jeb.co.in Commercial distribution of this copy is illegal

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Page 1: Studies on phytoplankton diversity in response to …Journal of Environmental Biology September, 2008 O n l i n e C o p y Studies on phytoplankton diversity in response to abiotic

Journal of Environmental Biology �September, 2008 �

Online Copy

Online Copy

Online Copy

Online Copy

Studies on phytoplankton diversity in response to abiotic factors in

Veeranam lake in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu

R. Senthilkumar and K. Sivakumar*

Department of Botany, Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar - 608 002, India

(Received: September 01, 2006; Revised received: May 15, 2007; Accepted: June 05, 2007)

Abstract: The phytoplankton samples were collected from the Veeranam lake for a period of one year from March-2005 to February-2006. The physico-

chemical parameters of water such as air-temperature, water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids

were observed and their ranges were: 30.1-36.5oC, 29.0-34.4oC, 7.9-8.4, 1.2-2.5 mgl-1, 7.6-9.2 µS and 2.5-5.2 mgl-1. Totally 160 species of phytoplankton

belonging to different taxonomic groups were identified. Among these 74 species to belong to Bacillariophyceae, 43 species to Chlorophyceae, 38 species to

Cyanophyceae and 5 species to Euglenophyceae. The phytoplankton density was high (1705 cells l-1) during the summer season and low (760 cells l-1) during

the winter season. Bacillariophyceae formed the dominant group. Species diversity index (H’), species richness (SR) and species evenness (J’) were

calculated.

Key words: Phytoplankton, Physico-chemical parameters, Veeranam lakePDF of full length paper is available with author (*[email protected])

Introduction

The Veeranam Lake is oldest and largest lake of Tamilnadu.

This is a very significant lake in south India, and nearly 45,000 acres

of agricultural land areas are irrigated by this lake and in addition

since-2004 the lake supplies the large quantity of water for Chennai

metropolitan city for drinking purpose. Phytoplankton forms the vital

source of energy as primary producers and serves as a direct

source of food to the other aquatic plants and animals. Assessment of

water quality by algal community used for of Harambaeredam and

Mossam rivers of Maharashtra were made by Nandan and Ahur

(2005). Systematic and ecological studies on Chlorophyceae of

North India and their relationship with water quality was made

(Dwivedi et al., 2005). Algal biodiversity in fresh water and related

physico-chemical factors were studied by Veereshakumar and

Hosmani (2006), which dealt substantially for the organic production

of waters ways. They will give information about the productivity of

the environment. In India, many such lakes and reservoirs have

been studied for the water quality and fisheries (Nautiyal et al.,

1988; Kartha and Rao, 1992; Pandey, 1993; Ravikumar et al.,

2006; Nurulalom and Zaman, 2006; Tiwari and Shukla, 2007; Tiwari

and Chauhan, 2006; Sridhar et al., 2006; Tas and Gonulol, 2007).

But still there are many such aquatic ecosystems that remains

unexplored. The Veeranam lake is one among them which has not

received due attention. Hence, the present work is an attempt to

study the influence of physico-chemical parameters of water on

phytoplankton population, species composition and community

organization.

History and morphometric of Veeranam lake: The Veeranam

lake (Lat. 11o17’N); Long. 79o32’E) is situated in the Cuddalore

district of Tamil Nadu state, India (Fig. 1). It was formed by the Prince

Rajathithar son of Paranthaga Cholan during the 9th century and as

on date its age is 1038 years. The lake is located in the western half

of Chidambaram taluk and southern half of Kattumannarkoil taluk in

the Cuddalore district. The lake is being used for multipurpose utility

such as irrigation, fish catching washing and bathing. This lake is

one of the major water resource supply to the Chennai metropolitan

city corporation. The lake covers on water spread 15 sq miles

(38.85 sq km) area of length 15 km from North-South, 5 km width

from East-West, minimum depth 5.43 m, water storing capacity

45.50, ft = 990 mct (0.99 TMC) (mean sea level), = 990 mct (0.99

TMC) with 34 sluices irrigated land area approximately 45,000 acres.

Materials and Methods

Water samples were collected from Veeranam lake at monthly

intervals for a period of one year from March-2005 to February-

2006 for the analysis of air temperature, water temperature, pH,

salinity, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and total dissolved

solids. The physico-chemical parameters were analyzed by water

and soil analysis kit model 1160-E. Phytoplankton samples were

collected by towing a plankton net (mouth diameter 0.35 mm) made

up of bolting silk (no.30; mesh size 48 µ) for half an hour. The

samples were collected in black polythene bags and immediately

preserved with 4% formalin for quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Plankton counting was made by drop method. Some of the specimens

were fixed in 3% glutaroldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at (pH

6.8) for scanning electronmicroscopic studies. Specimens were then

dehydrated through a graded series of acetone 12-15 min interval

at 4oC upto 70% of acetone. Then dehydrated phytoplanktons treated

with critical point drier (CPD) were on a stub and the specimens

were coated they were examined with Joel JSM-56010 LV with

INSA-EDS, photomicrographs were taken selectively from the

computer screen (Hayet and Falk, 1980). Phytoplankton was

identified by consulting the workers of Desikachary (1959), Prescott

(1964), Anand (1998), Cox (1996). Species diversity index (H’)

was calculated using Shannon and Weiner’s (1949) and Pielous

Journal of Environmental Biology September 2008, 29(5) 747-752 (2008)

©Triveni Enterprises, Lucknow (India) For personal use only

Free paper downloaded from: www. jeb.co.in Commercial distribution of this copy is illegal

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Journal of Environmental Biology �September, 2008 �

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R. Senthilkumar and K. Sivakumar

Tamil Nadu

India

Cuddalore district

Sampling stations

of Veeranam lake

(1966) formulae respectively. Species richness (SR) was calculated

as described by Simpson index (Simpson, 1949).

Results and Discussion

Monthly variations in physico-chemical parameters of

Veeranam lake are depicted in Table 1. The seasonal variation of

productivity is related to variation in temperature and the photic

conditions. Similar findings were also reported by Sondergaard and

Sand Jensen (1979) and Spencer and King (1989). Temperature is

an important factor, which regulates the biogeochemical activities in

the aquatic environment. Maximum temperature was recorded during

May and June and minimum in September and October. The variation

in the water temperature in present investigation may be due to the

difference in sampling time and the effect of season (Jayaraman et

al., 2003; Tiwari et al., 2004). Water temperature influences aquatic

weed, algal blooms (Zafer, 1968) and surrounding air temperature

(Gupta and Sharma, 1993). All metabolic and physiological activity

and life processes such as feeding, reproduction, movements and

distribution of aquatic organisms are greatly influenced by water

temperature. The pH varied from 7.9 to 8.4 (alkaline range) with a

minimum in August and maximum in April. Wani and Subla (1990),

reported that the pH values above 8 in natural waters were

produced by photosynthetic rate that demands more CO2 than

quantities furnished by respiration and decomposition. pH is one of

the most important factors that serves as an index of the pollution.

The water body registered an alkaline pH with the values ranging

from 7.45 to 8.1 (Ranjan et al., 2007). pH value of majority of

lakes and reservoirs in India has been found between 6 to 9. The

higher range of pH indicates higher productivity of water (Khan

and Khan, 1985).

Salinity acts as major ecological factor controlling the

phytoplankton population of freshwater as well as brackish water

species, which appeared or disappeared depending upon the salinity

condition. The range of salinity during the present study was maximum

in summer season and minimum in monsoon period.

The maximum electrical conductivity was observed in

January and minimum in May. A sudden rise in conductivity in water

during monsoon and post monsoon season indicates addition of

some pollutants (Trivedy and Goel, 1984). High value EC designates

pollution status of the lake (Kadam, 1990). The maximum dissolved

oxygen was recorded in November (monsoon period) and minimum

in June (summer). Dissolved oxygen is governed by the

Fig. 1: Location map of Veeranam lake

748

Indian Ocean

Bay of Bengal

Arabian sea

Karnataka

Andhra Pradesh

Pondicherry

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Phytoplankton biodiversity in lake

photosynthetic activity and aeration rate (Gautam, 1993). It appears

that the distribution of dissolved oxygen in the reservoir water is

governed by a balance between input from the atmosphere, rainfall

and photosynthesis and losses by the chemical and biotic oxidations.

The values of total dissolved solids in water varied from a minimum

of 2.5 mgl-1 (January-2006) to a maximum of 5.2 mgl-1 (June). The

highest average value for total dissolved solid might be due to

accumulation of the anthropogenic activity which hampered the quality

of water.

A total of 160 species of phytoplankton were represented by

diverse groups Bacillariophyceae (74), Chlorophyceae (43),

Cyanophyceae (38) and Euglenophyceae (5). The percentage

composition showed marked variation with Bacillariophyceae

occupying dominant position of 46.25%. Some species of

phytoplankton were observed by scanning electronmicroscopy (Fig. 3)

such as (a) and (b) Oscillatoria sancta (higher magnification), (c)

and (d) Syndra ulna (upper view), (e) Pinnularia microstauron, f.

Nitzschia palea, (g) Stauroneis sp and (h) Cyclotella meneginiyana

and population density ranged between 760 and 1705 cellsl-1

(Fig. 2a) with maximum production in summer. Species such as

Chlamydomonas globosa, Scenedesmus dimorphus, Pediastrum

simplex and Closterium acerosum occurred in all the seasons.

During summer season Euglena spirogyra and Phacus acuminatus

were observed abundantly.

Species diversity of the area ranged between 1.14 and

1.52 (Fig. 2b). The maximum diversity was during post-monsoon

Table - 1: Physio-chemical parameters of Veeranam lake during March 2005 to February 2006

Parameters Summer Pre-monsoon Monsoon Post-monsoon

Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb.

Air-T (oC) 32.1 34.2 36.3 36.5 35.1 34.3 31.0 32.1 32.1 30.1 31.5 32.3

Water-T (oC) 32.1 32.2 34.3 34.4 33.1 33.1 29.0 29.0 30.1 29.0 30.0 30.3

pH 8.3 8.4 8.2 8.2 8.2 7.9 8.0 8.1 8.0 8.3 8.4 8.3

Salinity (gl-1) 2.3 2.4 2.5 1.7 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.6

DO (mgl-1) 3.53 3.45 4.01 2.62 3.41 3.47 4.15 4.20 4.34 4.15 4.10 4.07

EC (µS) 7.8 7.8 7.6 8.5 8.5 9.1 8.2 8.5 9.0 9.0 9.2 9.1

TDS (mgl-1) 4.0 4.1 5.0 5.2 4.5 4.5 3.5 3.0 3.0 2.8 2.5 2.6

All the parameters are in triplicate values - DO = Dissolved oxygen, EC = Electrical conductivity, TDS = Total dissolved solids

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

[ c ]

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

[ d ]

1

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

[ b ]

0

400

800

1200

1600

2000

[ a ]

Density Diversity

Richness EvennessFig. 2: Monthly variations in phytoplankton

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

749

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R. Senthilkumar and K. Sivakumar

a = Oscillatoria sancta (Kuetz.) Gom

b = Oscillatoria sancta (Luetz.) Gom (higher magnification)

c = Syndra ulna (Nitz.) Ehr.

d = Syndra ulna (Nitz.) Ehr. (upper view)

e = Pinnularia microstauron (Ehr.) Cl.

f = Nitzschia palea (Kuetz.) W. Sm

g = Stauroneis sp

h = Cyclotella meneginiyana (Kuetzing)

Fig. 3: Some phytoplankton species as seen under electron microscope

750

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Phytoplankton biodiversity in lake

Bacillariophyceae

Order: Centrales

1 Cyclotella meneghiniana Kuetzing

2 C. stelligera c.l.u. Grun

3 Sceletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve

4 Chaetoceros orientalis Schiller

5 Thalassiosira marginata Sp. Nov.

Order: Pennales

6 Fragillaria brevistriata Grun

7 F. ratonensis Grun

8 F. intermedia Grun

9 Synedra ulna (Nitz)

10 Mastogloia exigua Lewis

11 M. dolosa Venkataraman

12 M. brauni Grun

13 M. smithii Thwaites

14 M. apiculata Wm. Sm.

15 Achnanthes hauckiana Grun

16 A. inflata Kuetz.

17 Cocconeis placentula Cleve

18 Diploneis subovalis Cleve

19 D. ovalis (Hilse)

20 D. interrupta (Kuetz.)

21 Anomoeneis sphoerophora (Kuetz.)

22 A. serians (Breb.) Celve

23 Stauroneis anceps Ehr.

24 Navicula cuspidate Kuetz.

25 N. peregrina Kuetz.

26 N. lacustris Greg

27 N. cincta Kuetz.

28 N. rostellata Kuetz.

29 N. laterostrata Hust

30 N. radiosa Kuetz.

31 N. pycmae Kuetz.

32 N. rectangularis Kuetz.

33 N. acicularis Kuetz.

34 N. capitatoradiata Kuetz.

35 N. mutica Kuetz.

36 N. hasta Pant.

37 Pinnularia gibba Ehr.

39 P. acrosphoeria Breb.

40 P. interrupta W. Smith

41 P. braunii (Grun)

42 P. viridis (Nitzsch) Ehr.

43 Amphora coffoeformis Ag.

44 A. ovalis Kuetz.

45 Gomphonema intricatum (Kuetz.)

46 G. lanceolatum Ehr.

47 G. parvulum (Kuetz.)

48 G. vibrio Ehr. C.G. Augur Ehr.

49 G. herculeana (Ehr.) Cleve

50 G. acuminatum Ehrench

51 Calonies silicula (Ehr.) Cleve

52 Actinella punctata Lewis

53 Frustulia rhomboids (Ehr.) De Toni

54 Pleurosigma delicatulum W. Smith

55 P. salinarum Grun

56 Cymbella naviculiformis Auersward

57 C. alpina Grun

58 C. turgida (Greg) Cleve

59 C. cymbiformis Kuetz.

60 C. tumida (Breb.)

61 Nitzschia vitrea Norman

62 N. plana Wm. Sm.

63 N. amphibia Grun

64 N. palea (Kuetz.)

65 N. palaceae (Kuetz.)

66 Nitzschia brebissonii W. Smith

67 Gyrosigma acuminatum (Kuetz.) Rabh.

68 Neidium iridis (Ehr.) Pfitzer

69 Tabellaria fenestrata

70 Melosira granulata (Ehr.) Ralfs

71 Stauroneis parvula var. Prominula Grun

72 Surirella elegans Ehr.

73 Eunotia pectinalis (Kuetz.) Rabenh.

74 E. monodon Ehr.

Chlorophyceae

Order: Volvvocales

1 Chlamydomonas globosa Snow.

2 C. fasciata

3 C. reinhardi (Dang)

4 C. polypyrenoideum Presc.

5 Pendorina morum Bory

6 Eudorina elegans Ehr.

7 Haematococcus lacustris (Girod.) Rostaf.

8 Palmella miniata Lieb.

9 Tetraspora lubrica (Roth) Ag.

10 Chlorosarcina consociate (Klebs) G.M. Smith

Order: Chlorococcales

11 Coleochaete suluta (Breb.) Pringsheim

12 Chlorococcum humicola (Naeg.) Rabenh

13 Coelastrum microporum Naeg.

14 Chlorella ellipsoidea Gerneck.

15 C. protothecoids

16 C. vulgaris Beyernick

17 C. pyrenoidosa Chick

18 Westella botryoides (W. West)

19 Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Corda) Ralfs

20 Selenastrum gracile Reinsch

21 S. biraianum Reinsch

22 Tetraedron trigonum (Naeg.) Hansg

23 Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turp.) Breb.

24 S. dimorphus (Turp.) Kuetz.

25 S. bijiuga (Reinsch)

26 S. armatus (Chodat) Smith

27 Pediastrum boryanum (Turp.) Menegh

28 P. biradiatum Presc.

29 P. simplex Meyen

30 P. tetras (Ehr.) Ralfs

31 P. duplex Meyen

Order: Cladophorales

32 Cladophora crispate (Roth) Kuetzing

33 C. glomerata (L.) Kuetz.

Order: Conjucales

34 Closterium acerosum (Schrank) Ehr.

35 C. purvulum Nageli

36 C. tumidum Gay

37 Cosmarium botrytis Menegh

38 C. subcostatum Nordst

39 C. depressum (Naeg.) Lund

Order: Zygnematales

40 Spirogyra varians

41 Netrium digitus (Ehr.) Itz & Rothe

42 Staurastrum hexaserum (Ehr.) Wittr.

43 Euastrum insulare (Wittr.) Roy

Cynophyceae

Order: Chroococcales

1 Microcystis flos-aquae (Wittr.) Kirchner

2 Aphanocapsa litroralis Hansgirg

3 A. banaresensis Bharadwaja

4 A. pulchra (Kuetz.) Rabenh

5 A. grevillei (Hass.) Rabenh

6 Chroococcus disperses (V. Keissler) Lemm.

7 C. tenax (Kirchn) Hieron

8 C. prescottii Drouet & Daily

9 C. turgidus (Kuetz.) Naeg.

10 Gloeocapsa magma (Breb.) Kuetz.

11 G. nigrescens Naeg.

12 Synechocystis aqualis Saun

13 S. crassa Woromich

14 Polycystis aeruginosa Naeg

15 P. incerta

16 Synechococcus aeruginosus Naeg.

17 Merismopedia elegans G.M. Smith

18 M. glauca (Ehr.) Naeg.

19 Tetrapedia reinschiana

20 Coeolophaerium dubium Grun

21 Gomphosohaeria aponina (Kuetz.)

22 Marssoniella elegans Lemm.

Order: Hamaesiphonales

23 Mixosarcina amethystine J.J. Copeland

24 Stichosiphon regularis Geitler.

Order: Oscillatoriales

25 Spirulina major (Kütz) Gomont

26 S. meneghiniana Zanard ex Gomont

27 S. princeps West. et West

28 S. subsalsa Oerst. ex Gom.

29 Oscillatoria subbrevis Schmidle F. Crassa

30 O. curviceps Ag. ex Gomont

31 O. chlorina Kuetz. ex Gomont

32 Arthrospira platensis (Nordst)

33 A. jenneri Stizenb. et Gomont

Order: Nostocales

34 Anabaena spiroides Klebahn

35 A. circinalis Robenhorst ex Born et Flah.

36 A. constricta

37 Nostoc pruniforme Ag.

38 N. carneum Ag. ex Born et. Flah

Euglenophyceae

1 Euglena spirogyra Ehr.

2 E. viridis Ehr.

3 Phacus acuminatus Stokes

4 P. longicauda Ehr.

5 P. pleuronectes Dujardin

Table - 2: List of recorded phytoplankton species at Veeranam lake

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season and minimum diversity was observed in pre-monsoon

season. The ranges of species richness and evenness were:

0.45-0.60 and 0.57-0.76 respectively (Fig. 2c, 2d). The population

density trend showed gradual increase during post-monsoon and

summer season and attained the peak during the month of April-

2005 which was due to nutrient richness and the moderate

temperature (Sukunan, 1980).

The population condition was stable during the months of

April and May. The density slowly declined during June and pre-

monsoon period and the lowest value was observed during the

month of December-2005. In the present study, the phytoplankton

production was coinciding with the optimum water depth of 1 m. This

is an agreement with the earlier works of Sukumaran and Das

(2001) in some freshwater reservoir of Karnataka.

From the present investigation it could be noted that the

phytoplankton population of the reservoir is closely related with

seasonal variations in hydrography. The composition, distribution,

richness and diversity of the phytoplankton remained similar to that of

other major Indian reservoirs.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the University Grants

Commission providing financial support (Grant F.No.30-148/

2004) and Authorities of Annamalai University, Annamalainagar

for providing all facilities and encouragement to carry out the

research work.

References

Anand, N.: Indian freshwater microalage. Bishen Sing Mahendrapal Singh

Publishers. p. 94 (1998).

Cox, E.J.: Identification of freshwater diatom live material. Chapman and

Hall, London. p. 158 (1996).

Desikachary, T.V.: Cyanophyta, ICAR, New Delhi (1959).

Dwivedi, S., P.K. Misra, R.D. Tripathi, U.N. Rai, C.P. Dwivedi, V.S. Baghal,

M.R. Suseela and M.N. Srivastava: Systematic and ecological studies

on Chlorophyceae of North India and their relationship with water

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