Trends1262 in Biosciences 11(7), Print : ISSN 0974-8431,Trends 1262-1269, in Biosciences 2018 11 (7), 2018 An Investigation on the Epidendric Periphyton of Two Mangrove Ecosystems, Asramam and Kandachira of Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam (Dist.), Kerala, India S. JISHA*, B. HARI AND A. NEETHU P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Sree Narayana College, Kollam, Pincode - 691001, Kerala, India *email : [email protected] ABSTRACT components like substrata, extracellular polymeric The diversity and species composition of epidendric substance, and detritus (Wu, 2017) Periphyton periphyton (periphyton attached to submerged tree limbs communities are a significant contributor to primary and roots, or on other wood surfaces) of areal roots of productivity almost comparable to the contributions Bruguiera cylindrica from two mangrove ecosystems of of phytoplankton in environments that are rich in Ashtamudi backwaters, Kollam District, Kerala were organic load (Saikia et al., 2013). Periphyton helps in studied through fortnight samplings for a period of three the nutrient turnover and transfers of energy to months. Qualitative as well as quantitative estimation of the abundance of epidendric periphyton community from successive trophic levels and thus maintains the food both Kandachira (Station 1) and Asramam (Station 2) were web (Saikia, 2011). They also contribute the essential carried out. Systematic positions of periphyton community oxygen to the polluted water bodies and act as were found out. Sampling from Kandachira revealed that cleansers by removing organic contaminants. Class Bacillariophyceae (62.22%) dominated among 45 Planktonic algae enhances the productivity and they species collected and identified. From Asramam, 36 species also act as good indicators of water quality (Palmer, were identified, of which 58.33% comprised of Class Bacillariophyceae. Other classes collected and identified 1980; Odum, 1997). Periphyton community range from Ashtamudi Lake were Coscinodiscophyceae, their habitats from almost all available substrata, natural Zygnematophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Cyanophyceae and and to some artificial substrata. Among them, roots of Chlorophyceae. Atmospheric temperature, water quality mangrove provide an ideal place of colonization and parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, turbidity, also present a unique array of both micro-floral and dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), faunal groups. Mangroves are the most productive acidity, and total alkalinity were analysed on a biweekly basis during the period of study. Soil pH and soil moisture buffer zone that can tolerate wide range of salinity content were estimated. Soil texture at both stations were fluctuations; also contribute to nutritive sediments analysed and were dominated by Silt. The results of the which offers huge primary production which indirectly comparative analysis showed that Asramam seemed to be promotes secondary production (Bardarudeen et al., more polluted with relatively high BOD levels and 1996). represented by a good number of pollution indicator species, especially the presence of Cyanophyceans. The Periphyton communities can reflect the health study revealed the pollution status of the ecosystems and status and nutrient availability in aquatic ecosystems. the chances of using periphyton as good ecological Their assessment may help to estimate the extent of indicators. pollution. Presence and quantity of some species of Keywords Periphyton, epidendric algae, Soil diatoms may give accurate information on the stability parameters, Hydrological parameters, and degree of pollution of aquatic ecosystems (Kiran Kerala, India et al., 2006). Degree of variations in species composition and community structure of periphyton The term Periphyton encompasses a wide variety may be due to the constantly altering ecosystem and of algae, bacteria, micro-invertebrates found intimately it can be regarded as the ecological impact on them. associated with submerged substrata (Stevenson, However, magnitude of impact may vary according 1998). Periphytic biofilms are an integrated micro- to the habitat and the available substratum. Diversity system composed of biotic components which are seen studies on periphyton community from mangroves are in aquatic ecosystems. They composed of algae, fungi, undergoing around the world. Studies on periphyton bacteria, protozoa and metazoan and abiotic JISHA et al., An Investigation on the Epidendric Periphyton of Two Mangrove Ecosystems, Asramam and Kandachira 1263 Table 1. Systematic positions of epidendric periphytic algae collected and identified from stations 1 & 2 during the study period Sl.No. Periphyton Class Order Family 1 Achnanthes xigua Bacillariophyceae Achnanthales Achnanthaceae 2 Achnanthes sp. Bacillariophyceae Achnanthales Achnanthaceae 3 Achnanthidium minutissimum Bacillariophyceae Achnanthales Achnanthidiaceae 4 Amphora sp. Bacillariophyceae Thalassiophysales Catenulaceae 5 Closterium sp. Zygnematophyceae Desmidiales Closteriaceae 6 Cocconeis pediculus Bacillariophyceae Achnanthales Cocconeidaceae 7 Cocconeis placentula Bacillariophyceae Achnanthales Cocconeidaceae 8 Cocconeis sp. Bacillariophyceae Achnanthales Cocconeidaceae 9 Coscinodiscus granii Coscinodiscophyceae Coscinodiscales Coscinodiscaeceae 10 Coscinodiscus sp. Coscinodiscophyceae Coscinodiscales Coscinodiscaecae 11 Cosmarium sp. Zygnematophyceae Zygnematales Desmidiaceae 12 Cyclotella meneghiniana Bacillariophyceae Pennales Naviculoideae 13 Cyclotella sp. Bacillariophyceae Pennales Naviculoideae 14 Cymbella sp. Bacillariophyceae Cymbellales Cymbellaeceae 15 Diploneis sp. Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Diploneidaceae 16 Encyonema sp. Bacillariophyceae Cymbellales Cymbellaceae 17 Euglena acus Euglenophyceae Euglenales Euglenaceae 18 Fragilaria sp. Bacillariophyceae Pennales Fragilariaceae 19 Frustulia sp. Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Amphipleuraceae 20 Gleocapsa sp. Cyanophyceae Chroococcales Chroococcaceae 21 Gomphonema sp. Bacillariophyceae Cymbellales Gomphonemataceae 22 Gyrosigma sp. Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Pleurosigmataceae 23 Lyngbya sp. Cyanophyceae Nostocales Oscillatoriaceae 24 Melosira sp. Bacillariophyceae Melosirales Melosiraceae 25 Merismopedia sp. Cyanophyceae Chroococcales Merismopedioideae 26 Microspora sp. Chlorophyceae Microsporales Microsporaceae 27 Navicula gregaria Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Naviculaceae 28 Navicula transitans Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Naviculaceae 29 Navicula sp. Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Naviculaceae 30 Nitzschia palea Bacillariophyceae Bacillariales Bacillariaceae 31 Nitzschia gracilis Bacillariophyceae Bacillariales Bacillariaceae 32 Nitzschia obtusa Bacillariophyceae Bacillariales Bacillariaceae 33 Nitzschia recta Bacillariophyceae Bacillariales Bacillariaceae 34 Nitzschia reversa Bacillariophyceae Bacillariales Bacillariaceae 35 Nitzschia sigma Bacillariophyceae Bacillariales Bacillariaceae 36 Nitzschia sp. Bacillariophyceae Bacillariales Bacillariaceae 37 Nostoc sp. Cyanophyceae Nostocales Nostocaceae 38 Oscillatoria sancta Cyanophyceae Oscillatoriales Oscillatoriaceae 39 Oscillatoria limosa Cyanophyceae Oscillatoriales Oscillatoriaceae 40 Oscillatoria princeps Cyanophyceae Oscillatoriales Oscillatoriaceae 1264 Trends in Biosciences 11 (7), 2018 Sl.No. Periphyton Class Order Family 41 Oscillatoria sp. Cyanophyceae Oscillatoriales Oscillatoriaceae 42 Oscillatoria tenuis Cyanophyceae Oscillatoriales Oscillatoriaceae 43 Phormidium sp. Cyanophyceae Nostocales Oscillatoriaceae 44 Pinnularia conica Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Pinnulariaceae 45 Pinnularia sp. Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Pinnulariaceae 46 Pleurosigma sp. Bacillariophyceae Naviculales Pleurosigmataceae 47 Spirogyra sp. Zygnematophyceae Zygnematales Zygnemataceae 48 Spirulina major Cyanophyceae Oscillatoriales Oscillatoriaceae 49 Surirella sp. Bacillariophyceae Surirellales Surirellaceae 50 Synedra sp. Bacillariophyceae Fragilariales Fragilariales 51 Zygnema sp. Zygnematophyceae Zygnematales Zygnemataceae diversity in the aquatic ecosystems of Kerala especially Methods Ashtamudi backwaters are scanty. In this context, Qualitative and quantitative estimation of the present study is an attempt to understand the epidendric periphyton from the mangrove, Bruguiera diversity of epidendric periphyton communities in cylindrica were carried out from the samples of both Kandachira and Asramam mangroves and also the stations. Triplicate samples of periphyton, water and water and soil quality parameters. soil were collected fortnightly from both stations for a MATERIALS AND METHODS period of three months and brought to the laboratory for further analysis. Study Sites Qualitative as well as quantitative estimation of An Ashtamudi backwater is known as “Gate the abundance of epidendric periphyton community way of backwaters” and is the second largest wetland from both Kandachira (Station 1) and Asramam ecosystem in Kerala. It is included in the list of (Station 2) were carried out using standard procedures wetlands of international importance. The backwater (Biggs and Kilroy, 1994). The roots of mangroves of supports patches of mangrove ecosystems in sheltered length 10cm were sampled out and the periphytic algae regions. Ashtamudi backwaters support a good were scrapped out and preserved in 4% formalin for number of fishes, birds, crustaceans and molluscans. further analysis. The samples were qualitatively and All the eight arms of the Ashtamudi are seriously quantitatively analysed with the help of a light threatened