Diversity of Aquatic Macrophytes of Muthirai Kulam, Midalam, in Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, S

DIVERSITY OF AQUATIC MACROPHYTES OF MUTHIRAI KULAM, MIDALAM, IN VILAVANCODE TALUK, KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT, TAMILNADU, S. INDIA.

JESPIN IDA. C1 AND MARY KENSA V2 1 Department of Botany, Holy cross college, (autonomous), Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India 2 P.G. Department of Botany and Research Center, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil -629 002, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract A detailed survey of aquatic macrophytes in muthirai kulam, midalam, in vilavancode taluk. kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu was made during the period of one year (January-2011 to December-2011). A total of 50 species belonging to 34family and 44 genera under 3 classes were identified, 22 species under the class dicotyledons, 24 species under the class monocotyledons, 4 species under the class Pteridophytes are recorded in this pond. Further the aquatic macrophytes classified in morphological group viz., classified under floating (10), submerged (3), and submerged anchored (2), floating leaved anchored (9) and emergent anchored (26). Keywords: aquatic, dicotyledons, monocotyledons, Pteridophytes and submerged

I. INTRODUCTION

In aquatic biodiversity, the density and diversity of organisms depend on availability and quality of water. As water is an essence and elixir of life on the earth, it totally dominates the chemical composition, abundance, productivity and physiological conditions especially, the indigenous population of aquatic organisms. Therefore, the nature and health of any aquatic community is an expression of quality of water. The term “aquatic macrophytes” refers to a diverse group of aquatic photosynthetic organisms, all large enough to see with the naked eye. Aquatic plants are key components for the well functioning of wetland ecosystem for biological productivity and support diverse organisms and there by provide lots of goods and services for the dependent people. The aquatic plants are the most important component of the aquatic ecosystem. Several works have been done on the phytosocialogy of different macrophytic species in different freshwater bodies of India and abroad [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. Previous surveys of macrophytes have shown that they can be key components for bio monitoring of aquatic habitats [12]. Surveys of macrophytes are vital for identifying both the diversity and integrity of the ecological systems operating within a watershed [13].The survey of aquatic macrophytes adds to the body of knowledge regarding the watershed and may be useful to other scientists and resource managers within the region. Macrophytes could also be used in evaluating the functional typology of a watershed or streams [14]. The climatic characteristic influences the water quality and quantity affects the biodiversity [15]. Many studies have correlated the distribution of different aquatic macrophytes with water chemistry in lakes [16, 17]. All living organisms have tolerable limits of water quality parameters in which they perform optimally. A sharp drop or an increase within these limits has adverse effects on their body functions [18].There is very little literature is available about the aquatic macrophytes of our study area. The present investigation was, therefore, undertaken to study the species composition of aquatic macrophytes in different ponds.

II. MATERIAL AND METHODS

STUDY AREA: This is a small pond with an area of 0.476 ha situated in an isolated ares, a little away

@IJAPSA-2016, All rights Reserved Page 173 International Journal of Applied and Pure Science and Agriculture (IJAPSA) Volume 02, Issue 12, [December- 2016] e-ISSN: 2394-5532, p-ISSN: 2394-823X from hamlets. It lies in the village Midalam, in Vilavancode taluk. The boundaries in the east, west and south of the pond are bordered by coconut groves and paddy fields, whereas the northern side has a narrow village road. This pond collects water during rain. There is also a small stream which has its entry into the pond. The pond is mainly used for agriculture. There is no entry of any drain carrying pollutants into the pond, The Kanyakumari district region is blessed with a good number of fresh water ponds and dams harboring a great variety of aquatic macrophytes. The present survey was carried out at Muthirai kulam, Midalam, in Vilavancode taluk monthly intervals during January 2011- December 2011. Collection of specimens with the help of hook are thoroughly washed and excess water soaked with a filter paper, kept in polythene bag and brought to the laboratory. Identify and classify the macrophytes with the help of literature [19].

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 50 species belonging to 34 family and 44 genera under 3 classes were identified, 22 species under the class dicotyledons, 24 species under the class monocotyledons, 4 species under the class Pteridophytes are recorded in this pond. Further the aquatic macrophytes classified in morphological group viz., classified under floating (10), submerged (3), submerged anchored (2), floating leaved anchored (9) and emergent anchored (26) (Table -1). Species richness appears to be influenced by seasonal variations. Five members are most dominant in this pond during the study period. Lemna gibba, Pistia statiotes, Eichhornia crassipes and Salvinia molesta showed the seasonal appearance in this study area, the same trend was observed by [19]. Marsilea quadrifolia, Cyperus rotundus, mostly grow during summer in low depth areas in study area. The most abundant aquatic macrophyte is Lemna gibba, Pistia statiotes, Eichornia crassipes, Vallisneria spiralis, Hydrilla verticillata, Ipomoea aquatica, and Salvinia molesta. This is followed by Ceratophyllum demersum L., Vallisneria spiralis L. which belonging to shallow water submerged species category based on the life form classification. Of these Eichornia crassipes, Vallisneria spiralis, Hydrilla verticillata, Ipomoea aquatica, occurs throughout the year. During monsoon, floating species likes viz. Eichornia crassipes, Vallisneria spiralis, Hydrilla verticillata, Ipomoea aquatic. Conversely, the monsoon varieties of aquatic macrophytes were succeeded by the winter emergent species viz. Lemna minor, Ottelia alismoides. Significant phytosocial association had been recorded among the different aquatic macrophytes. Hydrilla verticillata, Vallisneria spiralis, was found to be association with others. Ottelia allismoides, Vallisneria spiralis, Ceratophyllum demersum were found to be associated with other. Aquatic macrophytes show some advantages like, they maintain O2 – CO2 balance, provide food to some herbivorous fishes and they also provide protection to tiny fishes from aggressive verities. A few macrophytes are indicator of the availability of particular nutrients. The high value of nitrate time the Ceratophyllum demersum dense growth of in this tank the same result observed by [20, 21]. The pollution indicator species such as Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia statiotes also recorded which indicate eutrophication. The main source of pollution due to runoff water from agriculture fields in the rainy season carrying inorganic fertilizers, toxic pesticides and other chemicals enter in the study area. [22] have been concluded that the physico-chemical characters influence the growth of species, distribution, indicator group and pollution tolerant species. The influence of water chemistry in aquatic plant richness was analyzed in several studies. [23] found that the vegetation responses to environmental factors are not always linear. While [24] did not find any relationships between nitrates and phosphorus concentrations and the diversity of aquatic plants in pond. [25, 26] found that the highest macrophytes diversity was observed in mesotrophic to slightly eutrophic lakes. In the present study neither phosphorus nor nitrate had any effect on the macrophyte richness above results are concluded that the study area was slightly eutrophic condition. Among the submerged genus, Hydrilla verticillata was observed to be the most dominant genus throughout the year. The

@IJAPSA-2016, All rights Reserved Page 174 International Journal of Applied and Pure Science and Agriculture (IJAPSA) Volume 02, Issue 12, [December- 2016] e-ISSN: 2394-5532, p-ISSN: 2394-823X year-round growth of the genus indicates its ability to adapt in diverse conditions. It was also found [27]) this species in a study area characterized by high silt and organic load. Similar findings regarding Hydrilla sp are reported by [28]. Among the growth forms, rooted floating-leaved genus were the least dominant during the study period. It was pointed out certain aquatic plants like Lemna sp, Eichhornia sp, Myriophyllum sp and Potamogeton sp as pollution indicators [29]. It is also reported Potamogeton sp, Trapa sp, Marsilea sp and Cyperus sp as pollution indicators [30]. Their presence in the study area detected pollution significantly during survey which might be attributed to the increase in heavy organic matter. It was studied [31] populations of Myriophyllum aquaticum L. as bioindicator of pollution in acidic to neutral rivers in the Limousin region, France. It was studied [32] submerged aquatic plants as environmental indicators of ecological condition in New Zealand lakes. Macro vegetation in and around a water body plays an important role in determining the hydro biological and trophic status. According to a study [33] eutrophic conditions can be generally characterized by increasing number of aquatic plants in water body. The presence of lower numbers of macrophytes in our study renders its oligotrophic status. It was highlighted the differences [34] in vegetation patterns in response to different ecological conditions of riverine tracts and during monsoon, due to heavy precipitation, much of river belts became water saturated which was conducive for the plant species to grow and propagate and they opined seasonal flourishing of plant biomass ultimately leads to enrich the soil and water. It was found [35] a general relationship between trophic status of a water body and the aquatic plants. They also observed alteration of water quality due to presence of various aquatic plants. The dominance of emergent anchored among other growth forms indicates the encroachment of littoral vegetation, reducing the core area of the pond and showing the trend of succession towards marsh meadow condition. When a study area becomes choked by water hyacinth, the number of birds and other animals in the upper strata of the food chain decreases significantly[36] Accumulation of silt and detritus from the catchment area and decomposition of macrophytes reduces the water quality as well as the core area of the lake and promotes the encroachment of littoral vegetation, a familiar succession trend as the oxbow lake is transformed into marsh meadow [37] In conclusion the present study revealed that the biodiversity of aquatic macrophytes distribution and population of the species depend upon the physico-chemical parameters of the water and environment factors. It is clear from the results that the study area was mesotrophic to going towards eutrophication, therefore, aimed to evaluate the study area on the basis of various community features of macrophytes. Table 1: Diversity of Aquatic macrophytes of Muthirai kulam, Midalam, in Vilavancode taluk, Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, S.India. SL. PLANTS NAME FAMILY COMMON NAME MORPHO-ECOLOGICA NO L GROUP

1 Aeschynomene aspera L. Fabaceae Netti Emergent anchored

Ponnanganni/ 2 Alternanthera sessilis Amaranthaceae joyweed and dwarf Emergent anchored (L.)R.Br.ex Dc. copperleaf

3 Aponogeton natans (L) Aponogetonaceae Floating lace plant Floating

@IJAPSA-2016, All rights Reserved Page 175 International Journal of Applied and Pure Science and Agriculture (IJAPSA) Volume 02, Issue 12, [December- 2016] e-ISSN: 2394-5532, p-ISSN: 2394-823X Engl.& K.Kranse.

Asteracantha longifolia 4 Nees. Acanthaceae Gokulakanta Emergent anchored

5 Azolla pinnata R.Br. Azollaceae Water velvet Floating

6 Bacopa monnieri scrophulariaceae Brahmi/herb of Emergent anchored (L.)Pennell. grace

7 Centella asiatica Apiaceae Indian pennywort Emergent anchored (L.)Urban.

Ceratophyllum Ceratophyllaceae Soft hornwort Submerged 8 demersum (L.)

Ceratopteris 9 thalictroides (L.) Pteridaceae Water horn fern Floating leaved anchored Brongniart

10 Colocassia esculenta Elephant ear Emergent anchored (L)schoot Araceae

11 Commelina benghalensis Commelinaceae Wandering jew Emergent anchored L.

12 Cyperus rotundus L. Cyperaceae Nut grass Emergent anchored

13 Eclipta alba (L.)L. Asteraceae Karisalankanni Emergent anchored

14 Eclipta prostrate (L.)L. Asteraceae False daisy Emergent anchored

15 Eichhornia crassipes Pontederiaceae Water hyacinth Floating (Mart.) Solms.

16 Eleocharis fistulosa Emergent anchored schult. Cyperaaceae Acute spike rush

17 Cyperus alternifolius L. Cyperaceae acute spike rush Emergent anchored

18 Eleusine indica Poaceae Finger millet/ Emergent anchored (L.)Gaertu. Indian goose grass

Eriocaulon pectinatum Emergent anchored 19 Ruhland. Eriocaulaceae Pipeworts

20 Hydrilla verticillata Hydrocharitaceae Water thyme (L.f.)Royle Submerged anchored

Ipomaea aquatica Water spinach/ Floating leaved 21 Forsk. Convolvulaaceae swamp morning anchored glory

22 Ipomaea carnea Jace. Convolvulaceae Pink morning Emergent anchored glory

23 Jussiaea repens Hook Onagraceae Water primrose Floating leaved anchored

24 Lemna minor L. Lemnaceae Duckweed Floating

25 Limnanthemum critata Menyanthaceae Floating heart Floating (Roxb.)Griseb.

26 Lipia nodifolia Tildsoan Verbenaceae Frog fruit Emergent anchored

27 Ludvigia pessium L. Onagraceae Marshy rooted Emergent anchored

28 Lymnophylla Plantaginaceae. Marsh weeds Emergent anchored heterophylla L. Druce). 29 Marsilea quadrifolia L. Marsileaceae four leaf clover/ Marshy land rooted aalaik keerai

30 Marsilea quadrifolia L. Marsileaceae Water clover Emergent anchored

31 Monochoria vaginalis (Burm.f.) C. Pres. ex Pontederiaceae Heart shape false Emergent anchored kunth pickere

32 Myriophyllum Haloragaceae parrot's-feather Emergent anchored aquaticum (verl.)Verdc.

33 Najas marina L. Hydrocharitaceae Spiny water hymph Floating

34 Nelumbium speciosum Nelumbonaceae Lotus Floating leaved anchored Willd

35 Nymphaea nouchali Nymphaceae Blue lotus Floating leaved anchored Burm.f.

36 Nymphoides cristata Nymphaceae Crested floating Floating leaved anchored Morrison. heart

37 Ottelia alismoides Hydrocharitaceae Duck lettuce Floating leaved anchored (L.)Pess.

38 Pandanus odoratissimus Pandanaceae Screw pine Emergent (L.)

Water cabbage/water Floating 39 Pistia stratiotes L. Araceaae lettuce/ Nile cabbage, or shellflower. 40 Polygonum glabrum (Willd.)M.Gome. Polygonaceae Dense flower Emergent anchored knotweed

41 Sagittaria latifolia Alismataaceae Indian potato Floating leaved Willd. anchored

42 Salvinia auriculata Salviniaceae butterfly fern Floating Aubl.

46 Stachytarpheta Verbenaceae Blue snakeweed Emergent anchored amaicensis (L.)Vahl. 43 Trapa natans L. Lythraceae Water caltrop Floating

44 Typha angustifolia L. Typhaceae Cattail Emergent anchored

Common Submerged 45 Utriacularia vulgaris L Lentibulariaceae bladderwort

46 Vallisneria spirallis L. Hydro charitaceae Tape grass Submerged

47 Wolfia arrhiza Araceae Rootless duckweed Floating (L)Horkel ex Wimm.

Dactyloctenium Poaceae Uppu pullu Emergent anchored 48 aegypticum (L)

49 Jussiaea repens Ktse. Onagraceae creeping Floating leaved primrose-willow anchored

50 Hydrocharitaceae large-flowered Submerged Egeria densa (L.) waterweed

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Unni, K. S. 1971. Hydrabol. 37:139-155. [2] Mishra, K. C. 1974. Manual of plant ecology, oxford and IBH publishing co. New Delhi, pp. 491. [3] Shah, G. L. 1978. Flora of Gujarat state, Vol. I & II V. V. Nagar (S. P. University). [4] Billore, D. K. and Vyas, I. N. 1981. Dnt. J. Ecol. Env-sci., 7:45-54. [5] Biswas, K. and Calder, L. C. (1984). Handbook of common water and marsh plants of India and Burma, pp.216. [6] Bhat, F. A, Mahdi, M.D, Yousuf, A.R. 2007. J. Res. Dev. 7:59-66. [7] Dabgar, P. J. 2006. Adv. in Bio. Sci. 5:79-82. [8] Dhote, S. and Dixit, S. 2007. Asian J. Env.sci., 21(2): 427-430. [9] Siraj, S, Yousuf A. R. and Parveen M. 2011. Aquat. Bot ,1(4) pp. 084-088. [10] Kar, D. and Barbhaiya, M.H. 2007. Proc. Indian Sci. Cong. New Delhi.76. [11] Kauramb, M. 2007. Bakrol, Gujarat. [12] Small, A. M., Adey, W. H., Lutz, S. M., Reese, E.G. and Roberts, D. L. 1996. Restoration Ecology, 4:124-45. [13] Angermeier, P. L. and Karr, J. R. 1994. BioScience 44:690-7. [14] Haury, J. 1996. Hydrobiologia, 340:43-9. [15] Boyd, C. E. and Tucker, C. S. 1998. Cong. New Delhi.pp.76. [16] James, C., Fishe, J., Russeli, V., Collings, S. and Moss, B. 2005. Water. Poll, 178-86. [17] Davenport, Y. 1993. Tropical Ecology. 23(2): 141–146. [18] Gamble, J.S. and Fischer, C.E.C. (1921-1935). Flora of Presidency of Madras. Vol. 1-3, Adlard and Son Ltd., London, 1-2017. [19] Udayakumar, M. and Ajithadoss, K. 2010. Checklist, 6(2): 270-274. [20] Heegaard, E., Birks, H. H., Gibson, C. E., Smith, S. J., Wolfemurphy, S. (2001). Aquat. Bot., 70: 175-223. [21] Tracy, M, Montante, J.M., Allenson, T.E. and Hough, R. A. 2003. Aquat. Bot., 77: 43-52. [22] Narayana, J. and Somashekar, R. K. 2002. ABD Publishers, Jaipur, India. [23] Nichols S, S., Weber, B. and Shaw, A. 2000). Environ. Management, 26: 491-502. [24] Jones, J. I, Li, W. and Maberly, S.C. (2003). Ecography, 26: 411-420, [25] Rorslet, B. 1991. Aquatic Botany, 39: 173-193. [26] Murphy, K. J. 2002. Aquatic Botany, 73:287-324. [27] Shinghal, P. K. and Singh, J. S. 1978. Trop Ecol .,1978.19(2): 178-86. [28] Burlakoti, C. and Karmacharya, S. B. 2004. Water. Poll.,Osmnia University. [29] Varshney, C. K.1981. In: WHO Workshop on Wetzel RG. Limnology, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing. [30] Oommachan, M., Hafeez, A., Khan, S. and Khan, S. 1980. J. Sc. Res. 1980.2(2):14-143. [31] Chatenet, P., Froissard, D., Cook-Moreau, J., Hourdin, P., Ghestem, A., Botineau, M.and Haury, J. 2006. Hydrobiologia. 11 (2):111-121. [32] Clayton J and Edwards T. 2006. In: J.M. Caffrey, A. Dutartre, J. Haury, K.J.Murphy & P.M.Wade (eds), Macrophytes in Aquatic Ecosystems: From Biology to Management, Hydrobiologia. [33] Agarkar, M. S, Goswami, H. K, Kaushik, S, Mishra, S. N, Bajpai, A. K. and Sharma, U. S. 1994. Bionature, 14 (2):1-119. [34] Pradhan, P, Mishra, S.S, Chakraborty, S.K and Bhakat, R.K. 2005. Tropical Ecology . 46(2): 193–202 [35] Das, S. M. 2005. Ukkaz Publication, Hyderabad, 42-51. [36] Sah, J. P. and Sah, S. K. 1999. Nepal nature’s paradise. Gwalior: M. Devi. p 569-94. [37] Wetzel, R. G. 1983. Limnology, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing.