A study on freshwater algal communities of pond ecosystems from southern Assam

Abstract

A short term study was carried out on algal communities in four pond ecosystems from southern Assam, North East India. A total of 74 algal species both filamentous and non-filamentous belonging to Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae were recorded. Overall, the diatom species were observed to be the highest. The occurrence of algal communities was correlated with physico-chemical properties of water and sediment. Pearson’s correlation coefficients among various physico-chemical properties of water and algae revealed a positive correlation of Cyanophyceae species with nitrate and phosphate. The pH showed a positive correlation with Chlorophyceae and Bacillariopheceae species. Dissolved oxygen exhibited a positive correlation with the Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae species. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of different algal groups versus environmental variables suggested the growth of algal communities in these freshwater habitats to be governed by different water and sediment parameters.