Cyanobacterial biodiversity from different freshwater ponds of Thanjavur, Tamilnadu (India).

Resumen

ABSTRACT. Cyanobacterial biodiversity from different freshwater ponds of Thanjavur, Tamilnadu

(India). Studies on the cyanobacterial biodiversity of 5 different freshwater ponds in and around

Thanjavur, Tamilnadu during summer month (June, 2004) has been made and compared their variations

among five different ponds. In addition, certain physico-chemical parameters of pond waters such as

dissolved oxygen, net productivity, pH, carbonate, bicarbonate, nitrate, nitrite, total phosphorus,

inorganic phosphorus etc. were also analyzed and statistically compared with the cyanobacterial

diversity. Totally 39 species of 20 genera of cyanobacteria were recorded in all 5 different ponds.

Only 6 species of cyanobacteria were identified in Pond 1 (Dabeerkulam), where a massive bloom of

Microcystis aeruginosa was recorded, which had a significant effect in reducing the other

cyanobacterial population. As many as five species namely Aphanothece microscopica, Synechocystis

aquatilis, Merismopedia glauca, Oscillatoria limnetica and O. subbrevis were common in all the

ponds surveyed except in Pond 1.

Key words. Biodiversity, ecosystem, cyanobacteria, Oscillatoria, Microcystis.

RESUMEN. Biodiversidad de cianobacterias en diferentes charcas de agua dulce de Thanjavur,

Tamilnadu (India). Se ha inventariado, y comparado entre sí, la biodiversidad de cianobacterias de 5

charcas de agua dulce de Thanjavur, Tamilnadu (India); el estudio se llevó a cabo en junio de 2004.

En paralelo, también se determinaron los valores de ciertos parámetros físico-químicos que podrían

explicar las variaciones en los valores de biodiversidad: oxígeno disuelto, productividad neta, pH,

carbonato, bicarbonato, nitrato, nitrito, fósforo total, fósforo inorgánico, etc. Un total de 39 especies

de 20 géneros de cianobacterias se identificaron entre las 5 charcas. En la charca 1 (Dabeerkulam) se

detectaron 6 especies, pero cuando tuvo lugar una flor de agua de Microcystis aeruginosa las restantes

especies apenas se pudieron detectar. Cinco especies (Aphanothece microscopica, Synechocystis

aquatilis, Merismopedia glauca, Oscillatoria limnetica y O. subbrevis fueron comunes en todas las

charcas con excepción de la número 1.

Palabras clave. Biodiversidad, cianobacterias, ecosistema, Oscillatoria, Microcystis.