Phytoplankton

Diatoms are eukaryotic single-celled photosynthesizing algae that have significant ecological and forensic importance. They inhabit practically every aquatic environment, including fresh and salt water bodies they have a siliceous skeleton (frustule). In this review, the diatom reported from water bodies of Rajasthan compied. This review revealed that the most common diatoms reported in the water bodies of Rajasthan are Navicula, Nitzschia, Cyclotella, Synedra, Fragilaria and Gomphonema, whereas some site specific diatom’s species are also reported like Stauroneis in Kaylana lake of Jodhpur, Brachysira in Chambal river, Kota, Achnanthidium in Chambal river, Kota and Maavatha pond (Amer fort) and Anomoene is from Indira Gandhi Canal, Hanumangarh.

Phytoplankton plays an important role in primary organic production in the estuaries and also a source of biologically active components. In order to evaluate the phytoplankton diversity an investigation of eight stations representing central to southern end of Vembanad estuary was conducted. Studies were carried out during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons of 2019.In the present study, a total 42 species of phytoplankton were recorded, among which 18 genera and 28 species belongs to Bacillariophyceae, 7 genera and 9 species to Chlorophyceae, 2 genera and 3 species to Cyanophyceae, and 2 genera to Euglenophyceae. Bacillariophyceae formed the dominant group in both the seasons. Palmer’s algal general pollution index is employed in all the sampling stations. Station S6 (Vayalaar) was found to be with high organic pollution in both pre-monsoon and monsoon with index value of 22 and 21 respectively. From the present study the Palmer's algal pollution index value represent probable high organic pollution in Vembanad estuarine system. The agricultural fertilizers from the Kuttanad rice fields, solid wastes and sewage wastes might be the major source of pollution in Vembanad estuary. Economically important and nutraceutically valuable members like Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesus sp, Oscillatoria sp and Euglena sp were identified during the study period.

Wetlands cover the major area of the earth. Aquatic systems are greatly affected by the environmental conditions and the organisms residing within. Kishore Sagar is a artificial lake located in the centre of the city and its water is mainly used for agricultural purposes through a connecting canal system to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The lake is at a risk by many anthropogenic activities which affect the water quality. It harbours many species of phytoplantons which are mainly responsible for the productivity of any wetland. The present study is an attempt to investigate the water quality of Kishore Sagar in reference of its phytoplankton diversity. The present paper reveals that the phyoplanktonic diversity comprises of 33 species. Total 8 species belonging to 8 genera of Class Chlorophyceae, 17 species belonging to 8 genera of Class Cyanophyceae and 8 species belonging to 6 genera of Class Bacillariophyceae were identified during the study period.