Diversity of Micro-algae and Cyanobacteria on Building Facades and Monuments in India

Abstract

Fifty seven taxa of Cyanobacteria and 15 taxa of Chlorophyta were recorded from the exterior of buildings and rock surfaces of monuments in different regions in India. Four cyanobacteria, e.g. Chroococcidiopsis kashayi, Pseudophormidium indicum, Plectonema puteale and Scytonema geitleri, and the green alga Trentepholia abietina var. tenue occur on the sub-aerial habitats throughout the year. In addition, five other green algae: Chlorococcum infusionum, Scenedesmus arcuatus, Trentepholia aurea, Gloeocystis polydermatica and Printzina effusa, and 18 other cyanobacteria taxa of the genera Chroococcus (5), Asterocapsa (1), Cyanosarcina (2), Gloeocapsa (7), Gloeothece (2) and Scytonema (1) occur on the sub-aerial surfaces enduring extreme temperature and desiccation during summer months of the tropics. During the rainy season, the warm and humid climatic regime coupled with availability of moisture supported an additional ten green algae and 29 cyanobacteria in eight and 17 genera, respectively. The green algal genera Klebsormidium, Stichococcus and Trebouxia, which are dominant in temperate regions, did not occur on the sub-aerial habitats in India, however, species of Gloeocapsa, Chroococcus, Chroococcidiopsis, Phormidium, Leptolyngbya, Nostoc, Scytonema, Chlorella and Trentepholia showed global occurrence in similar habitats.