Qualitative study of epilithic algal diversity spectrum in Lidder stream of Lidder Valley (Kashmir Himalayas)

Abstract

The present study was carried out in Lidder stream in Lidder Valley of Kashmir Himalayas, to show a typical taxonomic composition of epilithic algae. The epilithic algal community was represented by 144 taxa belonging to four classes namely, Bacillariophyceae with104 species (72%), Chlorophyceae with 19 species (13%), Cyanophyceae with 12 species (8%), Euglenophyceae with 4 species (3%) and Phylum Protozoa with 3 species (2%) while classes Chrysophyceae and Dinophyceae contributed 1 species (1%) each. Bacillariophyceae was represented by some dominant forms like Navicula (16 species), Nitzschia (11 species), Cymbella (9 species) and Gomphonema (7 species). Among blue green algae (Cyanophyceae), genus Spirulina recorded 3 species and Merismopedia registered 2 species. While in Chlorophyceae, the highest number of species was documented by genus Cosmarium (3 species), moreover Closterium, Euastrum and Ulothrix registered 2 species each. Bacillariophyceae was the predominant class at all the sites with the highest contribution of 104 species at sites S1c, S2d, S2g and S4 (first year) and S1a, S1b, S2d, S2e, S2f, S2g, and S4 (second year) while the lowest of 98 species was recorded at site S3 during the entire study, the rest groups were moderately to least represented. Key words: Taxonomic, epilithic algae, Lidder Valley, Kashmir, Himalayas.