First generic record of aero-terrestrial algae Apatococcus lobatus (Chodat) J.B.Petersen for algal flora of Nepal

Short note

Chloroplast Genome Traits Correlate With Organismal Complexity and Ecological Traits in Chlorophyta

A positive relationship between cell size and chloroplast genome size within chloroplast-bearing protists has been hypothesized in the past and shown in some case studies, but other factors influencing chloroplast genome size during the evolution of chlorophyte algae have been less studied. We study chloroplast genome size and GC content as a function of habitats and cell size of chlorophyte algae. The chloroplast genome size of green algae in freshwater, marine and terrestrial habitats was differed significantly, with terrestrial algae having larger chloroplast genome sizes in general. The most important contributor to these enlarged genomes in terrestrial species was the length of intergenic regions. There was no clear difference in the GC content of chloroplast genomes from the three habitats categories. Functional morphological categories also showed differences in chloroplast genome size, with filamentous algae having substantially larger genomes than other forms of algae, and foliose algae had lower GC content than other groups. Chloroplast genome size showed no significant differences among the classes Ulvophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, and Chlorophyceae, but the GC content of Chlorophyceae chloroplast genomes was significantly lower than that of Ulvophyceae and Trebouxiophyceae. There was a certain positive relationship between chloroplast genome size and cell size for the Chlorophyta as a whole and within each of three major classes. Our data also confirmed previous reports that ancestral quadripartite architecture had been lost many times independently in Chlorophyta. Finally, the comparison of the phenotype of chlorophytes algae harboring plastids uncovered that most of the investigated Chlorophyta algae housed a single plastid per cell.

Lichens, bryophytes and terrestrial algae of the Lake Untersee Oasis (Wohlthat Massiv, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica)

Lake Untersee is the largest ice-covered freshwater lake in the interior of East Antarctica. The mountain oasis is situated around it in the Gruber Mts. of the Wohlthat Massif. For approximately 7,000 years the area has been free of ice and the local climate relatively stable. It is very severe, cold, and windy and dominated by intense evaporation and sublimation but with little melt. Relative humidity averages only 37%. Vegetation is sparse in the oasis and previously only poorly investigated. Two lichen species and no bryophytes were known from the area. In November-December 2018, a survey of terrestrial flora and vegetation was made. The list of lichens was completed for the area, bryophytes were found for the first time, and some terrestrial algae were collected. In total, 23 lichen species, 1 lichenicolous fungus, 1 moss, and 18 terrestrial algae were discovered for the locality. The abundance of each species within their habitats was also evaluated. The lichen flora of the Untersee Oasis is typical for continental oases and similar to other previously investigated internal territories of Dronning Maud Land, except for the very rich lichen flora of the Schirmacher Oasis.

Observation of Taxonomic Features of A Terrestrial Algae Oedocladium Terrestre Biswas (Chlorophyceae) With Soil Analysis From West Bengal, India

In the present paper, a brief description along with valuable information of Oedocladium terrestre Biswas, a member of Oedogoniales of Chlorophyta, has been provided. This species was collected from a velvety green patches on damp soil at Jirat of Hooghly district, West Bengal, India. The bending of mature oogonium downwardly was an interesting feature that might be due to easy entry for gametes within this female structure. This character is appeared to be an ecological adaptation for terrestrial habitat. In addition to that, presence of narrower rhizoids in the thallus that helps penetrating, anchoring and absorbing water and mineral contents from soil also supported the terrestrial adaptation of this taxon. This is a rare algal taxon. The soil analysis of the algal distribution site showed the following features as: sand (36.1%), silt (28.1%), clay (35.8%), pH (7.1), EC (0.154 dSm-1), OC (6.7 mgkg-1), Ca2+ (4.8 cmol+kg-1), Na+ (0.72 cmol+kg-1), K+ (0.16 cmol+kg-1), WHC (47%) and total S (98.2 mgkg-1).J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 29, 2015,, Page: 1-8