Algal flora of barks of tropical forests of Western Ghats-Perspectives of research

Abstract

The bark algae constitutes epiphloeic algae which occur on the tree barks. Along with epiphyllic algae which occur on leaves together called epiphytic algae (Haffmann 1989). The epiphytic algae are terrestrial algae found in extreme environments characterized by humidity or by low/high temperature or light intensity. Being in habitats frequently fluctuations of environmental conditions, occur in contrast with the mostly stable aquatic environments. Having exposed to stress situations terrestrial algae develop morphological and physiological adaptations. The prokaryotic blue green algae along with eukaryotic green algae shared major constituents of terrestrial algal populations and the group exists diversity. However the terrestrial algal diversities poorly understood, though they play important role in biodiversity, ecological and economic values. Among the terrestrial algal flora, the algal flora of barks are one of the important components of terrestrial subaerial habitat of tropical region in general and tropical rain forests in particular. The details of investigation on bark algae of tropical forests of India are not available till date except a few scattered reports which deal with occurrence and systematics (Fristch 1907, Haffmann 1989, Fremy 1930). Though the research on bark algae of tropical ecosystem were initiated during the latter part of the 19th century, till date no comprehensive research papers on bark algae of the tropical rain forests are available. An attempt is made to review the potential prospective of investigations on bark algae of tropical ecosystems, based on the earlier literatures with reference to India and neibouring countries. The research paper is also discussed in relation to contemporary research which has carried out in the South Western regions of the India, where lies Western Ghats, which is one of the hot spots of biodiversity.