Taxonomy and distribution of desmids in Karapuzha Dam, Western Ghats, Kerala

This study deals with the exploration of freshwater placoderm desmids from the sacred rivers of Achankovil and Pamba, Southern Western Ghats located in Kerala, South India during the post-monsoon and monsoon season (2021-2022). The floristic survey documented seventy-four taxa of desmids belonging to sixteen genera, viz. Actinotaenium (2 species), Cosmarium (13 species), Closterium (12 species), Desmidium (1 species), Euastrum (2 species), Gonatozygon (2 species), Hyalotheca (1 species), Micrasterias (4 species), Penium (1 species), Pleurotaenium (2 species), Sphaerozosma (1 species), Spondylosium (1 species) Staurastrum (24 species), Staurodesmus (5 species), Teilingia (1 species) and Xanthidium (2 species). Genus Staurastrum Meyen ex Ralfs was the most diverse genus observed, indicating its adaptive capabilities in the lotic habitat. The study which solely focused on the planktic desmids of rivers revealed sixteen species of desmids new to India. The present research in desmids provides significant basic data for future taxonomic and ecological studies in similar habitats.

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Diversity of Desmids in the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala, India: A Comprehensive Exploration

Bibina,

Praseetha,

Ammini

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Desmids are a group of exclusively freshwater green algae known for their remarkably diverse and captivating forms. Desmids are valued organisms due to their exceptional sensitivity to environmental changes, so they are considered to be potential tools for effective aquatic conservation management. The present study tries to account for the diversity of desmids in Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, situated in Ernakulam District, the first Bird Sanctuary in Kerala and lies within the geographical limits of 10°08′ N 76°41′ E and 10.13° N 76.68° E. The study was carried out over a period of one year, from March 2022 to April 2023, and identified a total of seventy-four taxa, which are distributed under four families and 18 genera. Predominant genera included were Cosmarium (21), Euastrum (12), and Staurastrum (8). Notably Heimansia pusilla (L. Hilse) Coesel, Euastrum praemorsum (Nordstedt) Schmidle, Euastrum jenneri W. Archer, Staurastrum saltans Joshua var. javanicum Scott and Prescott, Cosmarium clepsydra Nordstedt var. bicardia (Reinsch) Croasdale are new reports to India, five species are new reports to Kerala and all species being novel to Thattekkad Bird sanctuary.

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Taxonomy and distribution of desmids in Karapuzha Dam, Western Ghats, Kerala

Cited by 3 publications

References 46 publications

Diversity of desmids in the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala, India: a comprehensive exploration

Diversity of desmids in the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala, India: a comprehensive exploration

Diversity of Placoderm Desmids from the Sacred Rivers of Southern Western Ghats, India

Diversity of Desmids in the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala, India: A Comprehensive Exploration

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