Algal Biodiversity Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The present paper represents the first record of phytoplankton and
microcrustacean taxa from Lake Zoreni, located in the Transylvanian Plateau,
Romania. The scarcity of the data about the lake could be explained by the fact
that it was formed only about 40 years ago, due to land slides. More than 180 algal
taxa and 15 microcrustacean species were identified in May, July and October
2012 in Lake Zoreni, from two sampling sites characterized by different habitat
conditions with respect to macrophyte abundance. Species richness and diversity
of both phytoplankton and microcrustaceans differed depending on the season and
sampling site. Based on indicator values of numerous algal, cladoceran and copepod
taxa, the lake can be included in a moderate water quality class, with moderate loads of
decomposing organic matter. An on-going process of eutrophication was identified in
the lake, caused either by natural processes or by human activities.

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- Aquatic Ecology, Water quality, Cladoceran Ecology, Algal Biodiversity

This article summarizes the potential of fresh water microalgae Acutodesmus dimorphus (A. dimorphus) for commercial scale cultivation. Recent studies on this alga are discussed. A recently concluded field trial of genetically modified strain of this alga, when cultivated outdoor in natural environment, demonstrated that the alga was able to express the modified phenotype with no observed adverse effect on native algal species in surrounding medium. Being first such US EPA approved evaluation of a genetically modified algae, this study has projected A. dimorphus as a promising GM alga that may now be taken up for industrial scale production. The article concludes by highlighting certain issues that need to be focused in order to make GM A. dimorphus a desirable strain for commercial scale cultivation.

- by Srishti Jha
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- Algae Culture, Algae Biotechnology, Algal Biofuels, Algal Biodiversity
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Botany, Landscape Ecology, Conservation Biology, Biology
- by Cüneyt Nadir Solak and +1
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- River Ecology, Diatoms, Algal Biodiversity, Fresh water algal ecology
- by Dmitry Kapustin
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- Phycology, Algal Biodiversity
- by Dr. Sukumar Bhakta
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- Algal Biodiversity
- by Dmitry Kapustin
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- Phycology, Algal Biodiversity
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Water Pollution, Bioindication, Groundwater Quality, Algal Biodiversity
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Freshwater Ecology, River Ecology, Bioindication, Algal Biodiversity
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Quality, Water, Water quality, Arid environments
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Quality, Water, Water quality, Rivers
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Quality, Water, Water quality, Rivers
- by Sophia Barinova and +1
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- Quality, Water, Water quality, Rivers

The Lower Jordan River stretches from the outlet of Lake Kinneret till the Dead Sea and is one of the most polluted rivers in Israel. In order to estimate the aquatic ecosystem of the northern part of the Lower Jordan River we used algal communities as biological indicators in the rainy and dry seasons of 2005 and 2007. We found 152 species of algae and cyanoprokaryotes from seven taxonomic divisions, which were mostly dominated by diatoms accompanied by the greens, blue‐greens and euglenoids. The xanthophycean species Heterococcus viridis, a red freshwater alga Audouinella hermannii, and a cyanobacterium Microcrocis marina were found for the first time in Israel. In the ecological analysis we revealed groups of freshwater algae according to pH, salinity, and saprobity as well as temperature, streaming and oxygenation. Quantitative information on the relationship between species and environmental variables was obtained using CCA analysis, emphasizing the major seasonal parameters. The extent of association of species with the environmental variables vector allowed us to determine the bio‐sensors and bio‐indicators, which may be relevant for monitoring of pollutants in the Lower Jordan River. The combination of bio‐indicational methods and statistics were effective in the determination of the main factors influencing algal diversity, as well as in revealing the indicators or bio‐sensing species for the most important environmental variables.

- by Sophia Barinova
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- River Ecology, Water Pollution, Bioindication, Algal Biodiversity
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Stream ecology, Taxonomy, Systematics, River Ecology
- by Sophia Barinova
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- River Ecology, Diatoms, Biomonitoring, Algal Biodiversity

In 59 samples of periphyton and phytoplankton collected in 2002 - 2003 from the Nahal Qishon (Qishon River), northern Israel, we found 178 species from seven divisions of algae and cyanoprocaryotes. Diatoms, clorophytes, and cyanoprocaryotes prevail. Nitzschia and Navicula (Bacillariophyta) are the most abundant. Most of the species are cosmopolitan or widespread, except Lagynion janei (Chrysophyta), which is endemic for the Mediterranean Realm. About 17% of species (26) are new for Israel and five of them represent the first recorded genera: Crinalium endophyticum Crow, Actinocyclus normanii (Gregory) Hustedt, Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum (Agardh) Kütz (Chlorophyta), Lagynion janei Bourelly, and Stylococcus aureus Chodat. Most of them come from a rare riverine assemblage with red alga Audouinella pygmea, as well as from the estuarine assemblage. Alkaliphiles predominate among the indicators of acidity, with few acidophiles confined to the communities under the impact of industrial wastes. Among the indicators of salinity, most numerous are the oligohalobien-indifferents and species adapted to a moderate salinity level. The relative species richness of ecological groups and the indices of saprobity are correlated with changes in conductivity, pH, and N-nitrate concentration. Indicators of organic pollution fall in the range of betameso- to alfamesosaprobic self-purification grades. Our studies show ecological significance of the Nahal Qishon as a model for a strongly disturbed aquatic ecosystem in the coastal zone of eastern Mediterranean.

- by Sophia Barinova
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- River Ecology, Bioindication, Algal Biodiversity, Fresh water algal ecology
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Freshwater Ecology, Algal Biodiversity
- by Jai Prakash Keshri and +1
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- Diversity, Ecology, Freshwater Ecology, Phytoplankton
- by Sophia Barinova and +1
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- Quality, Water, Water quality, Rivers
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Botany, Landscape Ecology, Conservation Biology, Biology
- by Moti Tavasi
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- Quality, Rivers, River Ecology, Diatoms

An environmental study conducted on diatoms in Al Yusifiya river beyond its branching from Euphrates river. Four sites were selected along the river for the period from march 2013 to September 2013. The present study involved the measurement of physicochemical parameters, also the qualitative and quantities of diatoms. The studied parameters values ranged as follows: 19-44Cº and 16-30 Cº for air and water temperature respectively, 6.9-8.7, 595-1248 μS/cm, 6.4-8.0 mg/l for pH, electric conductivity and dissolved oxygen respectively. A total of 74 taxa were recorded for diatoms, where the pinnate diatom was the predominant and recorded 64 taxa while 10 taxa for centric diatoms. The total number of diatoms was 1197.55*104 cell /l. The total number values were ranged as follows:( 28.3-48.6) *104 cell /l in the first site ,( 33.6-51.5) *104 cell /l in the second site,( 39.8-67.2) *104 cell /l in the third site and ( 22.3-38.0) *104 cell /l in the fourth site. Two species Asterionellaformosa Hassall and Diploneispuella Schumann were noticed in site 2 only, while C. prostateBerkeleyfound in all studied sites expect in site 1. StephaenodicushantzschiiGrunow and Didymosphenia geminate (lyngb.) Schmidtwere recorded in sites 1 and 3, Anomoeoneissp was recorded in sites 1 and 4 only. The Mastogloiasp was noticed only in sites 2 and 4.

- by Adel Talib and +1
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- Algal Biodiversity

Comparative analysis of algal communities in the rivers of Israel was completed to highlight the influence of environmental variables on biodiversity. The study revealed that 671 species of algae and cyanobacteria belonging to nine taxonomic divisions were present during 2002–2009 in the Yarqon, Alexander, Hadera, Qishon, Oren, Lower and Upper Jordan, and Zin rivers. The species richness of each river was evaluated by taxonomic structural comparison, geobotanical, hierarchical cluster analysis, and the degree of relatedness for different levels of taxonomic resolution. The analysis revealed close similarity of the Upper Jordan and Oren rivers. The average taxonomic distinctness index showed that the Yarqon, Oren, Upper Jordan, and Qishon communities were partly degraded due to permanent environmental disturbances. The variation in taxonomic distinctness index showed that the Alexander, Yarqon and Hadera communities were formed not only due to anthropogenic factors but also through long-term climatic impact. The most abundant indicator species inhabit low streaming and standing alkaline waters of medium salinity and low to medium organic pollution. The statistical approaches allowed discrimination between climatic and anthropogenic factors that impact upon the riverine biodiversity in semi-arid environments. Analysis shows the influence of anthropogenic factors was strongly modulated by climatic impacts causing a marked decease of species richness from north to south.

- by Alexei Petrov and +2
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- Climate Change, River Ecology, Algal Biodiversity

This article highlights various aspects that have been studied to enhance the yield of biomass and lipids in algal cultures. Different theories that relate species diversity with stability and productivity of algae based production systems are discussed. Studies based on monoculture and polyculture algal cultivation methods and their effect on algal productivity along with other approaches like the use of genetically modified algae, using nutrient deprivation conditions for cultivation, two stage cultivation and other approaches that balance various physiological and ecological factors to improve the biomass and lipid production are discussed.

- by Srishti Jha and +1
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- Molecular Biology, Biomass, Ecology, Algal Biotechnology

The spatial distribution of species richness of phytoplankton was studied along the Balkhash Lake water area during the summer of 2004. With statistically weak connections of phytoplankton with environmental parameters, three-dimensional graphs revealed a complex character of its spatial variability in the gradient of environmental factors. Macrophytes had a stimulating effect on the species richness of planktonic algae. We found a correlation between species richness of Cyanobacteria, Chrysophyta, Euglenophyta and Dinophyta and the ionic composition of water. The important role of temperature was traced. Species richness of algal communities increased with increasing temperature in the gradient of nutrients and correlated with the abundance of macrophytes. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Die räumliche Dynamik der Artenvielfalt des Phytoplanktons im Balkhasch-See entlang der Gradienten abiotischer Faktoren. Die räumliche Verteilung der Artenvielfalt des Phytoplanktons wurde im Sommer 2004 entlang des Balkhash-See-Gebiets untersucht. Bei statistisch schwachen Verbindungen von Phytoplankton mit Umweltparametern zeigten dreidimensionale Graphiken den komplexen Charakter ihrer räumlichen Variabilität im Gradienten der Umweltfaktoren. Makrophyten hatten eine stimulierende Wirkung auf den Artenreichtum der Planktonalgen. Gezeigt wird in vorliegender Arbeit die Korrelation zwischen Artenreichtum von Cyanobakterien, Chrysophyta, Euglenophyta und Dinophyta und der ionischen Zusammensetzung des Wassers. Verfolgt wurde auch die wichtige Rolle des Temperaturfaktors. Der Artenreichtum der Algengemeinschaften nahm mit zunehmender Temperatur entlang des Nährstoffgradienten und in Korrelation mit der Makrophyten-Abundanz zu. REZUMAT: Dinamica spațială a bogăției speciilor de fitoplancton din lacul Balkhash în corelaţie cu gradientul factorilor abiotici. Distribuția spațială a bogăției speciilor de fitoplancton a fost studiată de-a lungul

- by Sophia Barinova
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- Heavy Metal Pollution, Kazakhstan, Aquatic Macrophytes, Algal Biodiversity
- by Eduardo A. Morales and +1
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- Limnology, Bolivian studies, Water quality, Algae

We identified 126 species of algae and cyanoprokaryotes from seven divisions in 21 samples of plankton and periphyton collected at 8 stations over the Hadera River in 2003 – 2005. The chlorophytes strongly prevail. Of these, 110 species are indicators of environmental conditions. The indicators of saprobity (Watanabe's scale) show a medium level of organic pollution. The saprobity index S (Sládecek's scale) varies from 1.73 to 2.80, corresponding to II – IV classes of water quality. The environmental pollution index (EPI) varies from 2 to 5 indicating a range of slightly to strongly polluted water of classes III and IV. The Water Ecosystem State Index, WESI = 0.6, testifies to a toxic impact on the algae in the middle reaches. The River Pollution Index for saprobity (RPIs = 2.35 – 2.42), temperature (RPIt = 17.1 in winter), conductivity (RPIε = 3.31 – 4.5), nitric nitrogen (RPIN = 15.3), and pH (RPIpH = 7.6 – 8.3) indicate alkaline, moderately mineralized waters with an occasional input of nitrates all year round, corresponding to classes III – IV of water quality, and the beta- to alfa-mesosaprobic self-purification zone. According to our results, the self-purification capacity of the Hadera River ecosystem is rather high. This study shows the potential of the algal bioindication method for aquatic ecosystems of Israel.

- by Sophia Barinova and +1
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- Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering

Climatic impact on algal communities is analyzed by comparing two unpolluted river ecosystems, the Oren River of Mediterranean zone, Northern Israel and Zin River of the Central Negev Desert, Southern Israel. Bio-indication method was used for assessment of ecologically significant variations in the composition of algal communities in both rivers. Our analysis highlighted the distinctions in taxonomic diversity and abundances of both salinity tolerant (halobic) and alkaliphilic groups of algae. The ratios of high halobity to low halobity species are appreciably lower in the Oren River than in the Zin River. Although geological substrates are carbonates in both cases, the indicators of alkalic water are more prominent in the Zin River than in the Oren River, in which pH is buffered by organic substances from vegetation and soil. As a result of CCA analysis, we recognized two types of ecological communities, the alkaliphilic (high pH tolerant) and halophilic (high TDS tolerant) types. Predictably, the halophilic communities will be favored with further climate warming. The effects of climate change and anthropogenic pollution are synergistic in the case of the pollution-sensitive Chara community falling under high risk of extinction under the ongoing climate change.

- by Sophia Barinova
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- Climate Change, Freshwater Ecology, Bioindication, Algal Biodiversity
- by moti tavasi
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- Quality, Rivers, River Ecology, Diatoms

Algal bio-indication is commonly used in water quality assessment but can also help in assessing the impact of hydrology on freshwater wetland ecosystems.We identified 350 species and infraspecific taxa of algae from nine taxonomic divisions (Cyanoprokaryota, Chrysophyta, Euglenophyta,Dinophyta,Xanthophyta,Cryptophyta,Bacillariophyta,Chlorophyta,Charophyta) in 121 phytoplankton samples collected between 2007-2013 from seven lakes in the wetlands of the Regional Landscape Park “Slavyansky Resort”, Ukraine. The algal species richness and phytoplankton biomass decreased as water salinity increased. In turn the water salinity was influenced by the inflow of groundwater, karst fracture and by the alluvial water tributaries of a paleoriver that affects the formation processes of lake-spring sulphide mud from the resort, which is often used for therapeutic purposes.

- by Valentina Klymiuk and +1
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- Phytoplankton, Protected areas, Ukraine, Salinity

- by Sophia Barinova and +1
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- Climate Change Adaptation, Desert Ecology, Algal Biodiversity, Fresh water algal ecology

- by Sophia Barinova
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- Heavy Metal Pollution, Kazakhstan, Aquatic Macrophytes, Algal Biodiversity
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Experimental Ecology, River Ecology, Algal Biotechnology, Algal Biodiversity
- by moti tavasi
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- Quality, Rivers, River Ecology, Diatoms
- by Moti Tavasi
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- Quality, Rivers, River Ecology, Diatoms

The Hadera River is the most polluted among the Mediterranean coastal rivers of Israel due to abundant E. coli, high concentrations of heavy metals and nutrients, and high temperatures. In 2003–2008 we found 191 species of algae and cyanobacteria belonging to seven taxonomic divisions. The upper reaches were dominated by cyanobacteria and exhibited levels of toxic pollution. Downstream, the ecological niches of algal communities dramatically changed: upper stream diversity first increased and then decreased due to the influx of rainwater in the tidal zone during winter. On one hand, seasonal dynamics show that in winter, inorganic contamination was reduced because of dilution by the influx of rainwater, but, on the other hand, organic pollution increased from agriculture. Down the river, diversity increases and the community composition undergoes considerable change. In summer, algal blooms indicate a reduction of stress and aid in the river’s self-purification. The WESI indices and RPI show steady year-round stressful conditions for algal photosynthesis with increasing instability in the river. Perpetuation of the current situation would disturb the self-purification capacity of the river ecosystem through destruction of biotic components. Statistical analysis (CCA) reveals the impact of wastewater as the most important stress factor for the Hadera River ecosystem, which is an exceptionally strong example of self-purification.

- by Sophia Barinova and +1
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- Freshwater Ecology, River Ecology, Algal Biodiversity
- by Sophia Barinova
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- Environmental Monitoring, Freshwater Ecology, River Ecology, Algal Biodiversity