Abstract
Eighty one algal taxa comprising of 24 species of Cyanophyta, 2 Rhodophyta, 19 Chlorophyta, 6 Euglenophyta and 30 Bacillariophyceae under Heterokontophyta were recorded in Chilika lagoon in different seasons of 2010-2011 in a survey after opening of new mouth to Bay of Bengal. Of these Cyanobacterium diachlloros, Aphanocapsa marina, Microsystis aeruginosa, Microsystis wesenbergii, Pseudanabena limnetica, Arthospira ambiguum, Oscillatoria perornata, Oscillatoria proteus, Oscillatoria simplicissima under Cyanophyta, Scenedesmus bijugatus, Urenema elongatum under Chlorophyata, Trachelomonas abrupt, Trachelomonas hispida under Euglenopyta and Coscinodiscus subtilis, Navicula amphirhynchus, Navicula major, Gomphonema micropus, Gomphonema olivaceu, Gomphonema sphaerophorum, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Pinnularia subsimilis, Pleurosigma javanicum, Stephanophyxis turris, Synendra tabulata, Stauroneis pusilla and Cymbella affinis under Bacillariophyceae of Heterokontophyta recorded in the survey have not been reported in the lake before opening of the mouth. Maximum number of algal species was observed in winter followed by summer and post monsoon seasons. Northern sector showed maximum algal diversity followed by Central, Southern and Outer channel sectors. The Cyanophytes followed by Chlorophytes were rich in Northern, Central and Southern sectors where as the diatoms were abundant in Outer channel sector and Northern sector. The agarophyte Gracilaria verrucosa recorded in the Outer channel sector of the lagoon for the first time showing extended distribution of the species due to increase in salinity coupled with consistent wave action in the lagoon after opening of the new mouth.
Highlights
Chilika lagoon in the east coast of India is the largest brackish water lake with an average depth of approximately 2 m and an area varies from 1165 to 906 km2 during rainy and summer seasons respectively [1]
Of these Cyanobacterium diachlloros, Aphanocapsa marina, Microsystis aeruginosa, Microsystis wesenbergii, Pseudanabena limnetica, Arthospira ambiguum, Oscillatoria perornata, Oscillatoria proteus, Oscillatoria simplicissima under Cyanophyta, Scenedesmus bijugatus, Urenema elongatum under Chlorophyata, Trachelomonas abrupt, Trachelomonas hispida under Euglenopyta and Coscinodiscus subtilis, Navicula amphirhynchus, Navicula major, Gomphonema micropus, Gomphonema olivaceu, Gomphonema sphaerophorum, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Pinnularia subsimilis, Pleurosigma javanicum, Stephanophyxis turris, Synendra tabulata, Stauroneis pusilla and Cymbella affinis under Bacillariophyceae of Heterokontophyta recorded in the survey have not been reported in the lake before opening of the mouth
The Cyanophytes followed by Chlorophytes were rich in Northern, Central and Southern sectors where as the diatoms were abundant in Outer channel sector and Northern sector
Summary
Chilika lagoon in the east coast of India is the largest brackish water lake with an average depth of approximately 2 m and an area varies from 1165 to 906 km during rainy and summer seasons respectively [1]. It was declared as Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance in 1981. In March 2008, a natural mouth was opened near Gabakunda and was subsequently widened [2] Both these new openings to the sea facilitated extensive mixing of saltwater with freshwater resulting in a wide variation in the hydrology of the lake. In the present work algal forms occurring in different seasons at the four sectors of the lagoon was studied and the changes in their diversity were assessed upon comparing with the results published as a check list [15] before opening of the new mouth in 2001
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