SEASONAL DYNAMIC IN ALGAL DIVERSITY AND PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY OF WETLAND IN GAROBADHA MEGHALAYA, INDIA

Abstract

Wetland undergoes significant changes with changes in the season; it is a habitat for diverse form of microorganism and macrophytes. Therefore, the investigation of the algal diversity and primary productivity was very important. A total of 134 algal species was recorded spreading over 8 classes in Garobadha wetland. Bacillariophyceae, Cyanobacteria and Euglenophyceae were dominant groups and their species diversity was high during spring and monsoon seasons. The wetland was acidic in nature with low dissolved oxygen and high temperature. Many pollution tolerant species (Navicula radiosa, Nitzschia palea, Anabaena subcylindrica, Merismopedia glauca, Microcystis aeruginosa, Euglena acus, Trachelomonas volvocina and Phacus spp.) were recorded from this wetland. Primary productivity and chlorophyll ‘a’ was at peak during spring and minimum during monsoon season.