Performance Characteristics of Ankistrodesmus falcatus in Different Culture Media and Concentration

This study determined the effect of growth media and culture concentration on the growth, proximate, and microelement composition of Ankistrodesmus falcatus. The culture of A. falcatus was done using three media, namely Modified COMBO Medium (COMBO), Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM), and Bristol, at two concentrations (50% and 100%). The results obtained show that the cell density (>3.5 × 107 cells/mL), optical density (>0.24), and specific growth rate (>0.429%/day) were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in BBM and COMBO than in Bristol (<3.1 × 107 cells/mL; <0.23; <0.416%/day, respectively) at both concentrations. However, biomass was higher in BBM (>2.20 g/L) than in COMBO (1.87–2.13 g/L), while Bristol had the lowest value observed (1.70–1.73 g/L). Biochemical and microelement composition showed variations between media and at the different concentrations, with higher values observed in BBM and COMBO. Based on the growth parameters and nutritional composition, it was concluded that BBM and COMBO were better media for the propagation of A. falcatus growth than Bristol. The study also demonstrated that the microalgae can be cultured using half of the media’s concentration to lower production costs.

Species Diversity of selected Flora and Fauna in the river Yamuna at Kalpi (U.P.) India

To evaluate the pollution status species diversity of selected flora and fauna of the Yamuna river at Kalpi stretch was studied for a period of one year. Four sampling stations were selected for sampling purpose. Collected samples are evaluated for flora and fauna specially phytoplankton, aquatic macrophytes, zooplankton and fishes. Selected flora and fauna of studied water are presented by phytoplankton members of Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae, aquatic macrophytes of 8 families, zooplankton members of Protozoa, Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda and fishes of 10 families. In these recorded species of different groups of flora and fauna, some pollution indicator species like Scenedesmus quadricauda, Stigeoclonium tenue,Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Chlorella vulgaris, Euglena viridis, Synedra ulna, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Navicula viridula, Nitzschia, Oscillatoria limosa, O. tenuis, O. chlorina, Phormidium uncinatum,Microcystis aeruginosa of phytoplanton, Eichhornea, Potamogeton and Cyperus species of aquatic macrophytes, Brachionus species and Keratella species of zooplankton and Clarias batrachus fish are also presented along with clean water species. Presence of both pollution indicator and clean water species show that water of Yamuna river at Kalpi stretch is moderately polluted. Sustaining the diversity of flora and fauna it is necessary to maintain living status of this river.

Epilithic Microalgae Isolated from Biofilm on Borobudur Temple Stone

Borobudur Temple is a historical heritage building located in an open area and made of porous building materials (stone materials). This condition makes the Borobudur Temple susceptible to various problems related to degradation and weathering. Biodeterioration of Borobudur Temple may be caused by activities of living organisms present in the biofilm of stone. Continuous monitoring and evaluation need to be carried out by observing and isolating the growth of micro-organisms, including epilithic microalgae. Therefore, this study aims to isolate and identify epilithic microalgae from the biofilm on Borobudur Temple stones. Epilithic microalgae were isolated to obtain a uni-algae and maintained under culture conditions. The morphological of microalgae were observed using light microscopy, while the 18S rRNA gene sequence determined the molecular identification of microalgae for eukaryotic and 16S rRNA sequence for prokaryotic. A total of nine epilithic microalgae were successfully isolated from the biofilm of Borobudur Temple stones. The isolated were identified as Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Tetraselmis cordiformis, Pseudendoclonium arthropyreniae, Anabaena cylindrica, Nostoc gelatinosum, Oscillatoria limnetica, Messastrum gracile, Stigeoclonium aestivale, and Scenedesmus acuminatus. This is the first study for the identification of microalgae from Borobudur temple stones. The isolates will be collected and will be used as a source for further study.

An annual algal diversity of Lakhna, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India

The nature of an ecosystem can be easily assumed by the presence of planktonic diversity, as they have a major role in oxygen amelioration, binding and removal of toxic substances from water body. The present enumeration deals with the annual algal diversity from the Lakhna town of Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. During this one year period, total fifty-four species of Algae recorded viz. Achnanthes minutissima, Amphora ovalis, Anabaena oscillarioides, A. oryzae, Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Aphanocapsa littoralis, Aphanothece microscopica, Arthrospira sp., Calothrix gloeocola, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorococcum humicola, Chroococcus minor, C. minutes, Cladophora glomerata, Closterium venus, Coelosphaerium kuetzingianum, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Cylindrospermum minutissimum, Euglena minuta, Fragilaria crotonensis, Gloeocapsa magma, Gloeotrichia pisum, Gomphonema parvulum, Hydrodictyon reticulatum, Lyngbya contorta, L. epiphytica, L. majuscula, Merismopedia glauca, M. tenuissima, Microcystis aeruginosa, M. flos-aquae, M. robusta, Mougeotia calcarea, Navicula ambigua, N. brebissonii, N. lata, Nostoc commune, N. punctiforme, Oscillatoria formosa, O. subuliformis, O. princeps, Pediastrum boryanum, Phormidium ambiguum, P. fragile, P. lucidum, Rivularia aquatica, Scenedesmus bijuga, S. obliquus, Spirogyra affinis, S. submaxima, Spirulina gigantea, S. major, Ulothrix zonata, Zygnema collinsianum. This information can be used as baseline data and may be further used to assess any change in algal diversity of Gangetic plain after a sufficient gap to understand the impact of changing climate on it.

Allelopathic effects of the aquatic macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum L. on phytoplankton species: contrasting effects between cyanobacteria and chlorophytes

Aim To assess the allelopathic effects of the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum on four strains of phytoplankton species: two cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa - microcystin producing and M. panniformis - non-microcystin producing), and two chlorophytes (Ankistrodesmus falcatus and Raphidocelis subcapitata). Methods A coexistence experiment between C. demersum and the four strains was carried out for six days, with eight treatments and three replicates. The strains were cultivated in ASM1 culture medium, under controlled laboratory conditions. Two treatments were assigned for each strain, one with 6 g.L-1 of the macrophyte, and the control without the plant. Biomasses and growth rates of the strains were evaluated every two days, which were compared through the T-test and two-way ANOVA, respectively. Results The results varied among the strains, with toxic M. aeruginosa being intensely inhibited by C. demersum, with a decrease of 99.5% in its biomass (p<0.001), while non-toxic M. panniformis was less affected by the allelochemicals, with a reduction of 86.2% (p<0.001). Ankistrodesmus falcatus delayed its growth when in coexistence with the macrophyte, decreasing its biomass in 50.4% (p<0.01), while R. subcapitata was not altered (p>0.05). In coexistence with C. demersum, M. aeruginosa exhibited the lowest growth rates (-0.65 d-1), followed by M. panniformis (-0.15 d-1), A. falcatus (0.19 d-1), and R. subcapitata (0.34 d-1), with significant differences between all strains (p<0.001). Microcystis aeruginosa presented higher inhibition rates than M. panniformis (p<0.001), as well as, A. falcatus was more inhibited than R. subcapitata (p<0.05). Conclusions The presence of microcystins could influence the allelopathic responses of C. demersum, that may release more allelochemicals in coexistence with toxic strains of M. aeruginosa. Accordingly, C. demersum can be used in biomanipulation strategies to control toxic and non-toxic cyanobacterial blooms, without damaging other phytoplankton species, like chlorophytes.

Grazing of the copepod Cyclops vicinus on toxic Microcystis aeruginosa: potential for controlling cyanobacterial blooms and transfer of toxins

Grazing of zooplankton on phytoplankton may contribute to a reduction of harmful cyanobacteria in eutrophic waters. However, the feeding capacity and interaction between zooplankton and toxic cyanobacteria vary among grazer species. In this study, laboratory feeding experiments were designed to measure the grazing rate of the copepod Cyclops vicinus on Microcystis aeruginosa and the potential microcystin (MC) accumulation in the grazer. Copepods were fed a mixed diet of the edible green alga Ankistrodesmus falcatus and toxic M. aeruginosa for 10 days. The results showed that C. vicinus efficiently ingested toxic Microcystis cells with high grazing rates, varying during the feeding period (68.9–606.3 Microcystis cells animal-1 d-1) along with Microcystis cell density. Microcystis cells exhibited a remarkable induction in MC production under grazing conditions with concentrations 1.67–12.5 times higher than those in control cultures. Furthermore, C. vicinus was found to accumulate MCs in its body with concentrations increasing during the experiment (0.05–3.21 μg MC animal-1). Further in situ studies are needed to investigate the ability of Cyclops and other copepods to assimilate and detoxify MCs at environmentally relevant concentrations before deciding on the biocontrol of Microcystis blooms by copepods.