Taxonomic and ecological characteristics of algal assemblage in four geothermal springs of Odisha, India, including some new records
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Date
2023
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Abstract
The present investigation conveys a unique diversity of cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae from Atri, Taptapani, Tarabalo and Deulajhari geothermal springs of Odisha, India. The study revealed a floristic account of 48 taxa belonging to 39 cyanoprokaryotes, 5 diatoms, 2 charophytes and 1 each from desmids and euglenoids. One exciting record showed Jaaginema geminatum, as the most dominant cyanobacteria from euthermophilous and mesothermophilous communities. The cyanoprokaryotes, Romeria chlorina, Isocystis messanensis, Trichormus thermalis, Geitlerinema jasorvense and Westiellopsis indica were newly reported from the study area. Interestingly, Isocystis messanensis is newly added to the Indian flora. The physicochemical analysis of the spring water showed high sodium (97.72 mg/L) and calcium (5.5 mg/L) in Deulajhari, whereas high magnesium (0.8 mg/L) in Taptapani. While nitrate and phosphate were high in Deulajhari and Atri hot springs, Tarabalo has the highest sulfate content. While nitrate and phosphate content was high in Deulajhari and Atri hot springs, Tarabalo has the highest sulfate content. The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to see the differences in the physicochemical parameters of the four geothermal springs, and significant differences were found at the bicarbonate value (HCO3). Temperature variations in four thermal springs suggested the presence of euthermophilic and mesothermophilic species. The pH of the four water bodies was moderately basic. In addition, four geothermal springs were compared in terms of anions and cations using the Piper diagram, and it was determined that they showed Na+-K+-HCO3-properties. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed under the CANOCO software to determine the statistical correlation between species and physicochemical parameters. As a result of the PCA, the total variation was 36.2500; the first axis explained 36.84% of the variance. The distribution pattern of all the species found in the four thermal springs has also been studied. A morphotaxonomic study was conducted with the help of microphotographs and line drawings. © 2022 by the authors.