Periphytic microalgae colonization in mosquito breeding stream puddles of Southern Western Ghats

Abstract

We examined the colonization of microalgae in mosquito breeding stream puddles of Southern Western Ghats, India. In addition, to study the relationship between microalgae and pupal development of mosquito (Aedes aegypti), the laboratory experiment was conducted. For this study, nine different sampling sites from Nilgiri biosphere reserve were selected, Tamil Nadu province, India. As a result, a total of 13 species of microalgae were observed from the field sampling taken for the study. The predominant members of microalgae found were belonging to the class Bacillariophyceae. Among the tested environmental factors, riparian cover influence the diversity and distribution of microalgae in stream puddles revealed by statistical analyses. In the laboratory experiment, six species of microalgae were observed in the container with different combination of leaves. Of these, the cyanobacterial species of Macrocystis had the highest percentage existence during experimental period. Overall, diatomic algae were high in mosquito breeding stream puddles; whereas, cyanobacteria were abundant in the laboratory experiment.