Distribution pattern of freshwater algae in and around areas of Mangalore University Campus, Mangalagangothri, Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka

Abstract

In the present study, water samples from different sampling sites in an around areas of Mangalore University campus was collected on seasonal basis during the months from August, 2017 to March, 2018 and analyzed for physico-chemical characteristics. A detailed investigation on the species occurrence of algae, their distribution pattern in these different sampling stations was determined. A total of 60 species of algae were recorded in the eight sampling sites studied, among which 24 species of cyanobacteria, 28 species of diatoms and 8 species of green algae were found out. When the species occurrence of algae was studied, it was revealed that, species of cyanobacteria like, Merismopedia marssonii, Oscillatoria chlorina, Oscillatoria homogenea, Oscillatoria limnosa, Oscillatoria perornata and diatom species namely, Navicula clavata were found to be dominant (with 100% frequency of occurrence). These species were also showed abundance occurrence in most of the sampling sites besides showing 100% frequency. The maximum number of algal count with dominant algae was noticed in a sewage drain site close to boy's hostel with three marker species of cyanobactaria viz., Oscillatoria chlorina, Oscillatoria homogenea and Oscillatoria perornata. The marker species further subjected for FTIR analysis and it revealed the presence of various classes of functional groups such as, hydrocarbons, oxygen compounds, nitrous oxide, carboxylic acid etc. in them.