Sample of water & identification of algae

Sample for water algal bloom

1. Algal identification in the sent sample

2. many algae which are found inhabiting in a variety of habitats, like terrestrial, cryophytic , parasitic, endophytic, thermophytic , halophytic etc. So, according to the habitat, we may classify algae as aquatic algae, terrestrial algae and algae of specialized habitats. A. Aquatic algae- Majority of algae are aquatic and found either completely submerged or free floating on the surface of water. These algae occur on pools, ponds, ditches, river, streams, tanks, salt water, etc. Aquatic algae can be further divided into fresh water forms and marine forms. Fresh water forms- Numerous types of algae are found in fresh water habitats like pool, ponds, lake, ditches or slow running river. Chlamydomonas, Volvox and Hydrodictyon are found in stagnant water, whereas Cladophora, Oedogonium, Ulothrix and few species of Vaucheria occur in slow running water bodies. The members of Xanthophyceae , Euglenophyceae , Cyanophyceae , Chrysophyceae , Conjugales and Diatoms are common in fresh water. (ii) Marine forms- Marine algae are found in salty water of sea and oceans. Generally, the members of phaeophyceae , Rhodophyceae and some Chlorophyceae ( Enteromorpha, Caulerpa. Ulva, Codium , etc.) are found in marine water. Marine algae have macroscopic thalli and are generally considered as ‘sea weeds’. The free floating and free swimming microscopic algal forms together with other similar organisms constitute the planktons of water bodies, plankton forming algae may either be free floating from the beginning and never attached are called Euplantons (e.g., Microcystis, Chlamydomonas, Scenedesmu , Cosmarium etc.) or attached in the beginning but later becomes free floating are called as Tychoplanktons such as Cladophora, Cylindrospermum , Rivularia etc. Some unicellular and filamentous forms of algae grow luxuriantly on the surface of water and make the place leathery called water blooms that give fishy smell and water is not considered for drinking purpose. Water blooms are generally formed by solitary alga, rarely by few algae. The colour of the algae determines the colour of the bloom. Water blooms are generally formed by the rapid growth and multiplication of algae. They generally belong to class Cyanophyceae . However, some members of Chlorophyceae, Chrysophyceae , Pyrrophyceae and Euglenophyceae are also known to cause water blooms. In the salt lake of Sambhar, Anabaenopsis forms bloom.

3. B. Terrestrial algae- Those algae which are found in soil are termed as terrestrial algae. These algae are either found on the surface of the soil (saprophytes) or beneath the soil surface (cryptophytes). Vaucheria , Botrydium, Fritschiella and Oedocladium are some examples of saprophytes while Nostoc, Ananbaena are cryptophytes. C. Specialized algae- Such algae are found in habitats other than water or soil. There are several types of specialized habitats: Thermophytic algae- The algae occurring in hot water springs at a very high temperature (70 degree or above) are thermophytic algae. Oscillatoria brevis, Synechococcus elongates, Mastigocladus , Haplosiphon lignosum , etc. are some of the examples of thermophytes . Cryophytic algae - These algae are found on snow clad mountains and impart attractive colours to the snow. Haematococcus nivalis imparts red colour to the snow, whereas Chlamydomonas yellowstonensis is responsible for the green colour of the snow particularly in Arctic region. Certain species of Protoderma and Scotiella cause yellow or yellow green colour , whereas Ancyclonema nordenskioldii imparts brown or purple tinge to the snow. Halophytic algae- These algae are found in saline water containing high percentage of salts e.g., Dunaliella , Stephanoptera and Chlamydomonas ehrenbergii . Lithophytic algae- Some algae grow on moist rocks, wet walls and other rocky surfaces. e.g., Rivularia and Gloeocapsa . Epiphytic algae- These algae grow on other aquatic plants e.g., Oedogonium, Aphanochaete , Bulbochaete , etc. Endophytic algae - These algae are found inside the higher plants. Nostoc is found in the thallus of Anthoceros, and Anabaena grows inside the coralloid roots of Cycas . Epizoic algae- Many algae grow on the shells of mollusks, turtles and fins of fishes and are known as epizoic algae. Cladophora is found on snails and shells of bivalves, Protoderma and Basicladia are found growing on back of turtles. Endozoic algae- Endozoic algal cells are found inside the body of aquatic animals. E.g. Zoochlorella is found inside the Hydra .

4. Parasitic algae- The best example of parasitic algae is Cephaleuros virescens causing red rust of tea ( Camelia sinensis ). Polysiphonia festigata is reported as semiparasite on Ascophyllum nodosum. Symbiotic algae- Several members of Cyanophyceae (Cyanobacteria) grow in association with other plants. Lichen serves as the best example of symbiosis in which fungi from Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes grow together with members of Cyanophyceae . The algae which had been appear in the intake of the plant:

5. Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms) Occurrence: In all kind of fresh water, sea, soil and terrestrial habitats. Pigments: Chromatophores are yellow or golden brown. Nature of accessory pigments is not very definite. Surirella spp. Dimensions: Cells are 16-120 μ m long and 12-45 μ m wide.

6. Occurrence: Found in sea and fresh water, Myxophyceae ( Cyanophyceae or Blue green algae) Dimensions: Cells vary from 0.5-9 μ m in diameter. Microcystis SPP Ecology: Microcystis is usually part of the phytoplankton, but may also form granular clumps on bottom substrates. Colonies are common in enriched lakes, ponds and reservoirs or in slow-flowing eutrophic rivers. Microcystis, like many other cyanobacteria, prefers high water temperatures and usually form blooms during the summer periods under conditions of adequate nutrient supply.

7. Order Mysidacea : Holmesimysis ,marine (10–20 mm)

8. Chlorophyta Green algae Occurrence: Most forms are fresh water and a few are marine. Dimensions : Cells are 2-50 μ m long (mostly 5-20 μ m ) and 8-22 μ m wide. Chlamydomonas Spp. Members of the genus are widely distributed, being found in every kind of aquatic habitat. Species of this genus are the most likely green swimming algal cells to be encountered . Chlamydomonas is a vast genus, with a very large number of species described , but many are probably not true species. Species are difficult to identify .

9. Chlorophyceae (Green Algae) Occurrence: Most forms are fresh water and a few are marine. Coelastrum colonies are cosmopolitan and planktonic in freshwater habitats (ponds, lakes and slow-flowing rivers) from arctic to tropical environments. Coelastrum is often abundant in mesotrophic to eutrophic conditions. Coelastrum Spp. Dimensions: Cells are 2-30 μ m in diameter and colonies are up to 100 μ m across . Species of Coelastrum are generally less widespread than those of Scenedesmus Meyen .

10. Algal Bloom indicate a high rate of contamination and organic waste that help algal growth