A systematic study of diversity and distribution of green algal family Selenastraceae from Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, India

Um estudo sistemático da diversidade e distribuição de algas verdes da família Selenastraceae do distrito de Chandrapur, Maharashtra, Índia

ABSTRACT

The family Selenastraceae belongs to the order Chlorococcales of Class Chlorophyceae. It contains elongated cells, which may be straight or variously warped. The present study was conducted in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra State, India to find out the algal diversity in the major rivers Wardha, Painganga, and wain ganga. The paper reveals the diversity and distribution of twenty-four taxa of six genera of the family Selenastraceae in these major rivers of the Chandrapur district.

Keywords:
Chandrapur district; Chlorococcales; green algal diversity; major rivers; Painganga; Waineganga; Wardha

RESUMO

A família Selenastraceae pertence à ordem Chlorococcales da classe Chlorophyceae. Ela contém células alongadas, que podem ser retas ou deformadas de várias maneiras. O presente estudo foi conduzido no distrito de Chandrapur, no Estado de Maharashtra, Índia, para descobrir a diversidade de algas nos principais rios Wardha, Painganga e Wain Ganga. O artigo revela a diversidade e distribuição de vinte e quatro táxons de seis gêneros da família Selenastraceae nesses principais rios do distrito de Chandrapur.

Palavras-chave:
distrito de Chandrapur; Chlorococcales; diversidade de algas verdes; grandes rios; Painganga; Waineganga; Wardha

Introduction

Algae are the producers in the aquatic ecosystem and form the base of its ecological pyramid. The stability of an ecosystem is dependent on the diversity of organisms. The greater the diversity of organisms greater will be the stability of the ecosystem. For understanding the ecosystem and to increase the productivity of an ecosystem, it is very necessary to understand the diversity and the distribution of organisms.

There are several published records of green algae from the country, and more than 7300species of algae have been reported from India (ENVIS 2021). Several researchers worked on algal diversity of the state and the country and published several new reports and new taxa of algae (Jain & Srivastava 2008, Das & Adhikary 2012, Satpati et al. 2013,Toppo &Suseela 2013, Baruah et al. 2013, Rajeshwari & Krishnamurthy 2015, Srivastava et al. 2018, Dash et al. 2021 a , b). But still, the algal flora of the Chandrapur district is under-explored, and only a few taxonomic records of algal diversity are available from the district (Kamat 1975, Reddy & Chaturvedi 2015, 2017, Reddy 2020, 2021).

Chandrapur is the eastern district of the Maharashtra state, located between 18°41' to 20°50' North Latitudes and 78°48' to 80°55' East Longitudes. The present paper is a part of the taxonomic study of micro and macro flora of major rivers of Chandrapur district, Maharashtra. While the study period, the major rivers Wardha, Painganga and Wainganga were explored for their biological wealth. Present paper deals with the diversity and distribution of a green algal family Selenastraceae in these major rivers of the district.

The Selenastraceae members are common and widely distributed among the freshwater bodies. They are either solitary or in loose colonies, cells held together by specific adhesion at certain points or by mucilaginous envelope. Cells are generally elongated, either straight or variously bent or twisted.

Material and methods

Samples were collected from 21 sites (Table 1) of three major rivers during May, August, November and February months for two consecutive years. From every site, approximately 50 liters of running water is filtered through a phytoplankton net of 20 μ mesh size made of bolting silk. The filtrate was preserved in a 4% formaldehyde solution. Microphotography was done with the help of a Coslab camera inbuilt trinocular microscope.

Plants were identified with the help of standard books, floras, monographs and research publications (Kim 2013, Korshikov 1953, Prescott 1962, Philipose 1967, John et. al. 2002, Ramos et al. 2012).

Table 1.
Sampling sites along with GPS coordinates, India.

Site	Place	Coordinates
S1	Pardi	19°44'28.2"N 78°54'46.6"E
S2	Bori	19°48'23.5"N 78°59'58.9"E
S3	GadegaonWirur	19°51'48.5"N 79°07'25.5"E
S4	Dhanora	19°54'13.1"N 79°11'02.3"E
S5	Kadoli	19°52'30.8"N 79°17'16.5"E
S6	Sasti	19°50'01.5"N 79°20'06.9"E
S7	Rajura	19°48'48.5"N 79°22'29.6"E
S8	Koipara	19°45'59.5"N 79°29'24.9"E
S9	Arvi	19°38'01.0"N 79°29'21.5"E
S10	Polsa	19°30'28.9"N 79°35'18.7"E
S11	Tatepalli	19°34'55.0"N 79°42'13.2"E
S12	Gugus	19°57'19.7"N 79°05'56.6"E
S13	Patala	20°07'39.3"N 78°59'48.0"E
S14	Soit	20°16'45.0"N 78°49'05.5"E
S15	Gondpipri	19°40'38.5"N 79°47'07.7"E
S16	Gangapur	19°50'28.0"N 79°45'14.1"E
S17	Saoli	20°00'28.8"N 79°47'10.4"E
S18	Saoli	20°08'05.6"N 79°55'25.0"E
S19	Kudesawali	20°19'24.7"N 79°56'58.1"E
S20	Brahmapuri	20°28'59.0"N 79°56'47.2"E
S21	Brahmapuri	20°37'09.7"N 79°56'24.6"E

Taxonomic enumeration

In present study total 24 Selenastraceae taxa were isolated from the rivers. Their taxonomic details, characters and distribution details are as follows.

1.Actinastrum aciculare Playfair 1917.

[Kim 2013, p. 434, f. 17]

Figure 1.1

Colony 8 celled, cells arranged radially from the center. Cells small, needle like, broad at base and gradually taper in to sharp pointed tip. Cells may be straight or slightly curved.

Size: Cells 2µ-4µ X 10µ-20µ. Occurrence: S1, S2, S5-S7, S9, S10, S15-S20

Figure 1.
1. Actinastrum aciculare. 2. A. fluviatile. 3. A. gracillimum. 4. A. gracillimum var. elongatum. 5. A. hantzschii. 6. Ankistrodesmus densus. 7. A. falcatus. 8. A. fusiformis. 9. A. gracilis. 10. A. spiralis.

2.Actinastrum fluviatile (J.L.B.Schröder) Fott 1977.

Basionym: Actinastrum hantzschii var. fluviatile J.B.L.Schröder 1899.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 374; Prescott 1962, p. 282, pl.65, f.1]

Figure 1.2

Colony 8 celled, cells arranged radially from the center. Cells fusiform, cylindrical fusiform with dilated center and pointed tip.

Size: Cells 3µ-5µ X 25µ-35µ. Occurrence: S6, S7, S10, S11, S19-S21

3.Actinastrum gracillimum G.M.Smith 1916.

[Prescott 1962, p. 281, pl.64, f.5; Philipose 1967, p.318]

Figure 1.3

Colony 4, 8 celled, cells arranged radially from the center. Cells cylindrical with truncated ends. Cells with slight or no dilation in the center.

Size: Cells 2µ-3µ X 20µ-26µ. Occurrence: S4-S8, S15-S17

4.Actinastrum gracillimum var. elongatum (G.M.Smith) B.Fott 1977.

Basionym: Actinastrum hantzschii var. elongatum G.M.Smith 1918.

[Prescott 1962, p. 282, pl. 65, f. 2; Philipose 1967, p.218, f.125d]

Figure 1.4

Colony 8 celled, arranged radially from the center. Differs from the type, having long cells.

Size: Cells 4µ-5µ X 30µ-35µ. Occurrence: S4-S8, S16-S21

5.Actinastrum hantzschii Lagerheim 1882.

[Korshikov 1953, p.374, f.361; Prescott 1962, p. 281, pl.64, f.10, 11; Philipose 1967, p.217, f. 125 a-c]

Figure 1.5

Colony 8 celled, cells arranged radially from the center. Cells fusiform with truncated or somewhat rounded ends. Width at the center is almost double as the width at the tip.

Size: Cells 4µ-6µ X 15µ-25µ. Occurrence: S4-S21

6.Ankistrodes musdensusKorshikov 1953.

Synonym: Ankistrodesmus spiralis var. fasciculatus G.M.Smith

[Korshikov 1953, p.300, f.262]

Figure 1.6

Colony 2, 4, 8 or many celled, cells twisted around or overlapping each other. Cells cylindrical at their maximum length and suddenly narrow into acute apices.

Size: Cells 3µ-5µ X 50µ-60µ. Occurrence: S4, S5, S10-S13

7.Ankistrodes musfalcatus (Corda) Ralfs 1848.

Basionym: Micrasterias falcatus Corda 1835

Synonym: Ankistrodes muslundbergii Koshikov 1953.

[Korshikov 1953, p.306, f.269 & p. 305, f. 268; Prescott 1962, p. 253, pl.56, f. 5, 6]

Figure 1.7

Colony 2 to many celled, cells arranged in bundle by touching their convex sides. Cells long, acicular, gradually narrow into acute apices. Cells either straight or slightly curved.

Size: Cells 2µ-3µ X 50µ-70µ. Occurrence: S1-S3, S6-S8, S12-S14, S16-S18, S20, S21

8.Ankistrodes musfusiformis Corda 1838.

[Korshikov 1953, p.300, f.263; Philipose 1967, p.211, f. 121a as A. falcatus]

Figure 1.8

Colony 2, 4, 8 celled, cells arranged cross wise or right angle to each other. Cells needle like, fusiform, broad in the center and gradually narrowing into acute apices.

Size: Cells 2µ-4µ X 20µ-40µ. Occurrence: S1-S3, S8-S16, S19-S21

9.Ankistrodes musgracilis (Reinsch) Korshikov 1953.

Basionym: Selenastrum gracile Reinsch 1866.Synonym: Selenastrum westii G.M.Smith 1920.

[Korshikov 1953, p.305, f.267; Prescott 1962, p. 257, pl. 57, f. 10, 12; Philipose 1967, p.221, f. 129]

Figure 1.9

Colony 2 or 4 celled, cells strongly arched and joined in the center by convex sides. Cells fusiform, broad at middle and gradually narrow into pointed apices.

Size: Cells 3µ-5µ X 40µ-60µ. Occurrence: S5-S7, S13, S14, S18-S21

10.Ankistrodesmus spiralis (W.B.Turner) Lemmermann 1908.

Basionym: Rhaphidium spirale W.B.Turner 1893.

[Korshikov 1953, p.300, f.261; Prescott 1962, p. 254, pl.56, f. 11, 12; Philipose 1967, p. 210, f. 119a-c]

Figure 1.10

Colony two to many celled, cells spirally twisted in the middle and apices apart. Cells fusiform, gradually taper into acute apices.

Size: Cells 3µ-5µ X 40µ-60µ. Occurrence: S1-S3, S6-S8, S10-S14, S18-S20

11.Kirchneriella aperta Teiling 1912.

Synonym: Kirchneriella obesa var. aperta (Teiling) Brunthaler.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 314, f. 283; Prescott 1962, p. 259, pl. 58, f. 6, 7]

Figure 2.1

Cells nearly circular in outline present single or in colony. Inner cavity ‘V’ shaped, apices rounded or bluntly pointed.

Size: Cells 8µ-12µ in diameter. Occurrence: S5-S7, S10, S11S19-S21

Figure 2.
1. Kirchneriella aperta. 2. K. incurvata. 3. K. obese. 4. Raphidocelis contorta. 5. Selenastrum bibraianum. 6. Monoraphidium arcuatum. 7. M. circinale. 8. M. contortum. 9. M. convolutum. 10. M. minutum. 11. M. mirabile.

12.Kirchneriella dianae (Bohlin) Comas Gonzalez 1980.

Basionym: Kirchneriella lunaris var. dianae Bohlin 1897.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 314, f. 285; Prescott 1962, p. 258, pl. 58, f. 3]

Figure 3.2

Cells elongate lunate arranged in irregular colony. Inner cavity ‘U’ shaped or oval, sides either parallel or slightly curved. Apices sharply pointed and in different planes.

Size: Cells 10µ-15µ in diameter. Occurrence: S4-S6.

Figure 3.
1. Monoraphidium griffithii. 2. Kirchneriella dianae. 3. K. lunaris.

13.Kirchneriella incurvate J.H.Belcher & Swale 1962.

[John et. al. 2002, p.361, f. 98G]

Figure 2.2

Colony is of 4 or 8 celled, cells nearly spherical in outline. Sides curved strongly and slightly bent inside, apices rounded.

Size: Cells 7µ-9µ in diameter. Occurrence: S9-S11

14.Kirchneriella lunaris (Kirchner) Möbius 1894.

Synonym: Rhaphidium convolutum var. lunare Kirchner 1878.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 314, f. 284; Prescott 1962, p. 258, pl. 58, f. 2; Philipose 1967, p. 222, f. 131]

Figure 3.3

Colony many celled, Cells almost circular in outline. Sides strongly curved but never bent inside, apices pointed.

Size: Cells 7µ-9µ in diameter. Occurrence: S16-S19

15.Kirchneriella obesa (West) West &G.S.West 1893.

Basionym: Selenastrum obesum West 1892.

Synonym: Kirchneriella lunaris var. obesa (G.S.West) Playfair.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 313, f. 282; Prescott 1962, p. 259, pl. 58, f. 5; Philipose 1967, p. 224, f. 132]

Figure 2.3

Colony is of 4 or 8 nearly circular cells arranged irregularly in gelatinous envelope. Sides not curved, outer margin convex and sides parallel with ‘U’ shaped inner cavity. Apices rounded or bluntly pointed.

Size: Cells 8µ-12µ in diameter. Occurrence: S1-S4, S6, S7, S9-S11, S16-S17, S20-S21

16.Monoraphidium arcuatum (Korshikov) Hindak 1970.

Basionym: Ankistrodesmus arcuatusKorshikov 1953.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 296, f. 257; John et. al. 2002, p. 366, f. 90I; Ramos et. al. 2012, p. 427, f. 2g]

Figure .62

Cell fusiform, arched, gradually tapers into sharply pointed apices. Sometime slightly twisted.

Size: Cells 2µ-4µ X 40µ-60µ. Occurrence: S3, S4, S8-S16, S19-S21

17.Monoraphidium circinale (Nygaard) Nygaard 1979.

Basionym: Monoraphidium capricornutum var. circinale Nygaard 1977.

[Ramos et. al. 2012, p. 428, f. 2i, 2j]

Figure 2.7

Cells arcuated, slightly twisted. Gradually narrows in to pointed apices.

Size: Cells 1µ-2µ X 8µ-10µ. Occurrence: S8-S10, S12-S14, S16, S17

18.Monoraphidium contortum (Thuret) Komarkova 1969.

Basionym: Ankistrodes muscontortus Thuret in Brébisson 1856.

Synonym: Ankistrodesmus pseudomirabilis var. spiralisKorshikov 1953; Ankistrodes musfalcatus var. spirilliformis G.S West 1904.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 297, f. 298; John et. al. 2002, p. 366, f. 90J; Ramos et. al. 2012, p. 428, f. 3a]

Figure 2.8

Cells spindle shaped, sigmoid or spirally twisted. Broad at middle and tapers in to pointed apices.

Size: Cells 2µ-4µ X 20µ-30µ. Occurrence: In all sites

19.Monoraphidium convolutum (Corda) Legnerova 1942.

Basionym: Ankistrodesmus convolutus Corda 1838.

[Prescott 1962, p. 253, pl. 55, f. 3; Philipose 1967, p. 213, f. 122; John et. al. 2002, p. 366, f. 90M]

Figure 2.9

Cells spindle shaped, mostly sigmoid or sometimes spirally twisted. From the center gradually narrows into pointed apices.

Size: Cells 2µ-3µ X 8µ-10µ. Occurrence: S13

20.Monoraphidium griffithii (Berkeley) Komarkova 1969.

Synonym: Ankistrodesmus acicularis (Braun) Korshikov 1953; Ankistrodesmus falcatus var. acicularis (A.Braun) G.S.West 1904.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 291, f. 252; Philipose 1967, p. 213, f. 121c; John et. al. 2002, p. 366, f. 90K; Ramos et. al. 2012, p. 429, f. 3c]

Figure 3.1

Cells fusiform, long, much longer than broad. Cells always straight with short spine like pointed apices. Sometimes aggregate to form bunches.

Size: Cells 3µ-5µ X 40µ-60µ. Occurrence: S6, S7, S11, S12

21.Monoraphidium minutum (Nägeli) Komarkova 1969.

Basionym: Rhaphidium minutum Nägeli.

[John et. al. 2002, p. 368, f. 91C; Ramos et. al. 2012, p. 432, f. 3g]

Figure 2.10

Cells reniform or crescent shaped. Slightly attenuated to rounded apices.

Size: Cells 3µ-5µ X 10µ-17µ. Occurrence: S1, S3, S4, S6-S8, S12-S14, S16, S17, S20, S21

22.Monoraphidium mirabile (West &G.S.West) Pankow 1976.

Basionym: Rhaphidium polymorphum var. mirabile West & G.S.West 1897.

Synonym: Ankistrodesmus acicularis var. mirabilis (West & G.S.West) Korshikov 1953.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 293; John et. al. 2002, p. 368]

Figure 2.10

Cells spindle shaped, arched or sickle shaped. Broad in the middle and gradually narrows in to pointed apices.

Size: Cells 4µ-6µ X 80µ-100µ. Occurrence: S4, S5, S7, S8, S12-S14

23.Raphidocelis contorta (Schmidle) Marvan, Komarek & Comas 1984.

Basionym: Kirchneriella obesa var. contorta Schmidle 1894.

Synonym: Kirchneriella contorta (Schmidle) Bohlin 1897.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 317, f. 288; Prescott 1962, p. 258, pl. 57, f. 7, 8; Philipose 1967, p. 224, f. 133]

Figure 2.4

Colony 4 celled, cells vermiform, twisted cylindrical with rounded apices.

Size: Cells 2µ broad and up to 14µ long. Occurrence: S2, S21

24. Selenastrum bibraianum Reinsch 1866.

Synonym: Ankistrodesmus bibraianus (Reinsch) Korshikov 1953; Kirchneriella bibraiana (Reinsch) E.G.Williams 1965.

[Korshikov 1953, p. 302, f. 264; Prescott 1962, p. 256, pl. 57, f. 9; Philipose 1967, p. 219, f. 127]

Figure 2.5

Colony 4 celled, cells crescent shaped and joined in the center by convex sides. Apices are pointed.

Size: Cells 5µ-7µ X 30µ-38µ. Occurrence: S9-S11, S15, S16, S19-S21

Results

In the present work, 24 taxa of Selenastraceae were successfully isolated and identified from the three major rivers of the district. From the same rivers of Chandrapur district, Reddy and Chaturvedi (2017) reported six taxa of Selenastraceae, such as Chlorolobion obtusum, Monoraphidium caribeum, M. irregulare, M. komarkovae, M. nanum, and M. obtusum. The present investigation comprises five taxa each of Actinastrum, Ankistrodesmus, Kirchneriella; seven taxa of Monoraphidium, and one taxon each from Selenastrum and Raphidocelis. Among these isolated taxa, the Monoraphidium contortumis widely distributed and constantly present in all the sites, whereas Chlorolobion obtusum, Monoraphidium convolutum and M. obtusumare restricted in their distribution and present at one site only.

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Edited by

Associate Editor:

Bárbara Dunck

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  13 Nov 2023
• Date of issue
  2023

History

• Received
  17 June 2022
• Accepted
  30 Aug 2023