`

ESSENC
CE - Interna
ational Jourrnal for Envvironmentaal Rehabilitaation and Conservation
n
Volume VI: No. 2 2015 [01
[ – 08] [ISS
SN 0975 - 62722]
[ww
ww.essence-jouurnal.com]

Biodiveersity and distributiion of Bacillariophyyceae floraa of the Vin

ndhyan River
R of
Indian Subcontin nent

1
Verma, Jyoti
J ; Gopesh, Anita1 and Nautiyyal, Prakash
h2

Received: August 28, 2015

2  Accep
pted: October 28, 2015  Online: Deceember 31, 20115

Abstractt
Investigaations were undertaken on freshwaater howwever nine w
were d
different;
diatom epilithic
e diaatoms of thhree Vindhyyan Gom mphocymbellopsis in thee Ken and Paisuni,
Rivers, the
t Ken, Tons and Paaisuni (Centtral Anoomoeneis inn the Paisuuni and Toons and
Highlandd, India). Thirty three eppilithic sampples ppodonta in the Ken annd Tons, Frustulia,
Hipp Fr
were obtained by scrraping 3x3 cm c surface arrea Masstogloia andd Stauroneiis in the KenK only
of cobblees at the 11 sampling staations betweeen whiile Amphhipleura, Aneumastuss and
2 o30' to 26o N and longgitude 78o30' to
latitude 23 Scoliopleura inn the Paisunii only. The species-
82o30' E.E In all 29 93 diatom taxa (speciies, richh genera weere Naviculaa sensu striccto (32),
varieties and forms)) belonging to 49 genera Cym mbella sensuu stricto (331), Nitzschia (22),
were ideentified, alon ng with somme unidentiffied Synedra (19), Gommphonema (15),
forms. The diatom flora
f belongeed to three sub
s Achhnanthidium (14), Cym mbopleura (14) and
orders one
o centric,, two pennnate and nine Ampphora (12).
families, two ceentric (Thaalassiosiraceeae, Keyywords: Centrale | Central Highland
H
Meloseriiaceae) and
a seveen pennnate Diaatom | Indiann Subcontineent | Pennate
(Fragilariiaceae, Eun notiaceae, Achnanthace
A eae, Intrroduction
Naviculaaceae, Epith hemiaceae, Bacillariaceeae, Diaatom flora haas been studiied scantily in
i India,
Surirellacceae). Naviculaceae was representted mosstly from soouthern partts of the Peeninsular
by one hundred
h eigh
hty three taxaa of 30 geneera, Indiia, its islandds Andamann and Nicoobar and
constitutiing the bullk of flora. Twenty one o somme from Him malaya (Cartter, 1926; Gosh
G and
genera were
w similar amonga the Vindhya
V rivers, Gauur, 1991; Rout
R and Gaaur, 1994; Gandhi,
For corresp
pondence:
19998; Nautiyal and Nautiyaal, 1999 a, b; b Khan,
1
Departmennt of Zoology, Un
niversity of Allaahabad, Allahabaad (U.P.) 20002; Nautiyall et al., 20004 a, b). Hence,
H a
2
Departmennt of Zoology, H.N.B. Garhwal University,
U Srinaagar,
Uttarakhandd, studdy was madde to generrate informaation on
Email: diatoombuster@gma ail.com florristic compossition of diattoms in the Vindhya
V

1 
 Meshram et al. /Vol. VI [2] 2015/67 – 70
region for the first time. The present study also
assumes significance in light of the river
linking programmes like the Ken - Betwa link,
especially in view of the climate change threat.
The knowledge on their floristic composition
and distribution will help to understand their
use as environmental indicators.
Study area
The rivers selected in Vindhya were located
between 23o30’ to 26oN, 78o30’ to 82o30’E
(Table 1). The Vindhya rivers Ken, Paisuni and
Tons flow north from low (north of Narmada,
around Tropic of Cancer) to high latitude along
southern fringe of the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
The Ken and Paisuni are right-bank tributaries
of the Yamuna River, while Tons that of the
Ganga. Ken (340 km) and Tons (305 km) were
relatively larger drainage compared to the
Paisuni (100 km) having an average gradient of
0.91 m km-1, 2.0 m km-1 and 1.02 m km-1,
respectively. The land is primarily used for
agriculture along the banks of the Ken and the
Tons River. Patches of forest (Shorea robusta)
occur in case of the Ken River. In case of the
Paisuni river the headwaters is covered by
forest and only lower stretch of the river is
used for agriculture. Cement and stone
quarrying industry exist in the Vindhya region
though none were located in the immediate
vicinity of the sampling stations. Except for the
mouth zone these rivers vary topographically.
The Physico-chemical characteristics were also
studied from these rivers (Table1 &2).
Materials and method
One time intensive sampling during stable flow
(November to May) was deemed suitable for
present study as the rivers are in floods during
 
monsoon; mid June to mid September. Benthic
diatoms were obtained from 11 stations on 3
rivers (from source to mouth) in the Central
highland region. Diatom samples were
collected by scraping the cobble surface with a
brush from an area of 3 x 3 cm2 and preserved
in 4% formaldehyde. Samples were treated
with Hydrochloric acid-peroxide, washed
repeatedly and mounted in Naphrax. Each slide
was examined under bright field by
PLANAPO x100 oil immersion objective to
record the flora. Identifications were made
according to standard literature (Schmidt 1874-
1959, Hustedt 1931-1959, Krammer & Lange-
Bertalot 1991, 1999, 2004, Lange-Bertalot
2001, Metzeltin & Lange-Bertalot 2002,
Krammer 2003, Lange-Bertalot et al. 2003,
Werum & Lange-Bertalot 2004, Metzeltin et
al. 2005). The permanent mounts have been
adequately stored at the Aquatic Biodiversity
Unit, Department of Zoology, H. N. B.
Garhwal University, Srinagar where
preparation of the slides and their microscopic
examination was undertaken.
Results
The diatom flora of Vindhya rivers consisted
of 293 species and 49 genera. The Vindhyan
rivers examined during present study consisted
largely of Pennale elements. Centrale species
were few and belonged to the suborder
Coscinodiscineae, Family Thalassiosiraceae
(Aulacoseira 1 species; Cyclotella 2 species)
and Melosiraceae (Melosira 1 species). Rest 46
genera and 289 taxa were Pennales.
Numerically, suborder Araphidineae
comprising family Fragilariaceae (6 genera, 38
taxa) and Raphidineae consisting family
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 Meshram et al. /Vol. VI [2] 2015/67 – 70 

Achnanthaceae (4 genera, taxa), Naviculaceae belonged to Eunotiaceae, Epithemiaceae and

(30 genera, 183 taxa) and Bacillariaceae (4 Surirellaceae. The study on floral composition
genera, 35 taxa) accounted for a large has thrown up some broad regional and local
proportion (Table 3). The remaining few taxa patterns of distribution.

Rivers/ Stations Altitude Distance from

River system Latitude (N) Longitude (E)
with acronym (m asl) source (Km.)
Yamuna Ken River
(lower Shahnagar K1 23°59´ 80° 15’ 45” 400 ca.10
stretch) Panna K2 24°43´18" 80° 11’ 25” 200 142.5
Banda K3 25°29´24" 80° 19’ 16” 140 267.5
Chilla K4 25° 46´ 54 80° 32’ 08” 100 340
Paisuni River
Anusuya P1 25° 08´ 14 80° 51’ 01” 160 10
Chitrakut P2 25° 13´ 54 80° 54’ 36” 140 26
Purwa P3 25° 16´ 17 80° 52’ 28” 100 42
Ganga Tons River
(middle Amdara T1 24° 00’ 80° 26’ 21” 400 20
stretch) Maihar T2 24° 16´ 35 80° 48’ 53” 400 56
Satna T3 24° 34´ 07 80° 54’ 36” 323 98
Chakghat T4 25° 03´ 28 81° 42 ‘21” 100 232.5
Table 1: Geographical co-ordinates of the sampling stations in
different rivers of the Central Highland Rivers

Stream/ River AT (oC) WT (oC) C V (cm s-1) pH C (µmho cm-1) DO (mg l-1)
Ken 11 - 32 15 – 31 0-42 7.0-7.5 165-420 8.6-10.7
Paisuni 10 - 40 16 – 30 2.8-40 7.0-7.7 170-440 8-11.5
Tons 17 - 33 18-33 1.5-35 7.0-7.8 160-420 8.2-10.5
Table 2: Physical and chemical characteristics (minimum
and maximum) at different stations of the Central
Highlands region (AT, Air temperature; WT Water
temperature; CV, Current velocity; C, Conductivity;
DO, Dissolved oxygen).

GENERA K P T
THALASSIOSIRACEAE
1.Aulacoseira 1 1
2.Cyclotella 1 1 2
Genera/Species 2/2 2/2 1/2
FRAGILARIACEAE
3.Diatoma 2 1 4
4.Fragilaria 1 1 2
5.Staurosira 1 2 1

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 Meshram et al. /Vol. VI [2] 2015/67 – 70 

6.Synedra 13 14 15
7.Tabellaria 1 1
Genera/Species 5/28 4/18 5/23
EUNOTIACEAE
8.Eunotia 3 4 4
Genera/Species 1/3 1/4 1/4
ACHNANTHACEAE
9.Achnanthes 1 1
10.Achnanthidium 8 11 10
11.Planothidium 3 5 3
12. Cocconeis 6 3 3
Genera/Species 4/18 4/20 4/16
NAVICULACEAE
13.Amphipleura 1
14.Amphora 10 8 8
15.Anomoeoneis 1 1
16.Brachysira 1 2 2
17.Caloneis 5 3 5
18.Cymbella 21 22 20
19.Cymbopleura 12 6 10
20.Encyonema 4 4 4
21.Diploneis 5 5 4
22.Frustulia 1
23.Gomphocymbelopsis 1 1
24.Gyrosigma 2 2 3
25.Gomphonema 11 10 12
26.Mastogloia 1
27.Navicula 27 28 29
28.Navicula sensu lato 3 4 3
29.Adlafia 1 1 2
30.Aneumastus 2
31.Craticula 4 3 3
32.Diadesmis 1 2 1
33.Fallacia 1 1 2
34.Geissleria 1 1 1
35.Hippodonta 1 2
36.Luticola 6 3 7
37.Placoneis 2 1 2
38.Sellaphora 5 5 5
39.Neidium 2 4 2
40.Pinnularia 3 7 3
41.Scoliopleura 1
42.Stauroneis 2

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 Meshram et al. /Vol. VI [2] 2015/67 – 70 

Genera/Species 26/133 26/128 23/131

EPITHEMIACEAE
43.Epithemia 1
44.Rhopalodia 1 2
Genera/Species 0/0 1/1 2/3
BACILLARIACEAE
45.Bacillaria 1
46.Denticula 1 1 1
47.Hantzschia 1 1
48.Nitzschia 21 20 25
Genera/Species 3/23 3/22 3/26
SURIRELLACEAE
49.Surirella 8 7 5
Genera/Species 1/8 1/7 1/5
TOTAL Genera/Species 42/205 42/202 39/211
Table 3: The number of species occurring in various genera
recorded from the Vindhyan Rivers

Discussion India (20 spp. Krishnamurthy 1953) compared

The centric diatoms comprise just 1% of the
total flora (3 taxa). The araphids accounted for
10.5% (38 spp.) and the raphids (mono and
biraphids) accounted for fourty two genera
with two hundred fifty eight taxa (80%)
however monoraphids accounted for 8% (26
spp.). The major share in floristic composition
was family Naviculaceae (62%), Bacillariaceae
(12%) and Fragilariaceae (9.5%) from Central
Highland. Navicula (32), Cymbella (31),
Gomphonema (15) and Cymbopleura (14) were
species rich genera in family Naviculaceae,
Synedra (19) in family Fragilariaceae and
Nitzschia (32) in family Bacillariaceae. The
Vindhya was richer in Navicula sensu stricto,
Nitzschia and Cymbella sensu stricto. Navicula
sensu lato had highest number of species in the
flora reported from Bombay and Salsette (24
spp. Gonzalves and Gandhi 1952-1954),
Mysore State (11 spp. Gandhi 1958) and south
to only few (9 spp.) from U. P. in the Gangetic
Plains (Singh 1961-62). However, flora was
quite different in these regions as Bombay and
Salsette in the west had more species of
Neidium and Stauroneis in case of
Naviculaceae, while Achnanthes in case of
Achnanthaceae and Eunotia in case of
Eunotiaceae, the dominant families. In south
India including the Mysore State and U. P.
most of the flora belonged to Naviculaceae.
Nitzschiaceae was conspicuously absent from
Bombay and Salsette Islands. Investigations in
the Central Highland revealed 293 diatom taxa
and 49 genera from 11 sites. Naviculaceae
(62%), Bacillariaceae (12%) and Fragilariaceae
(9.5%) dominate the flora, respective genera
being Navicula sensu stricto, Nitzschia and
Synedra. This flora was quite different from
the flora from other parts of the India.

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 Meshram et al. /Vol. VI [2] 2015/67 – 70 

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