Volume 24, Issue 74, July - December, 2023

New reports on Monoraphid and Biraphid diatoms from India based on ultrastructure characteristics

Rahul Bose, Ruma Pal^♦

Phycology and Algal Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India

^♦Corresponding author
Phycology and Algal Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

The study aims at the taxonomic investigation of Raphid diatoms and reporting of some new taxa of Bacillariophyceae from the Indian subcontinent based on frustule ultrastructure. The diatoms are mainly from two groups, viz. Monoraphid and Biraphid were recorded as dominant genera from different eco-zones of Eastern India at regular intervals for five years. The study area includes, Darjeeling Himalayan hills, North Bengal Riverine Plain sand Rarh region (26º88’53” N; 88º18’28” E - 22º37’61” N; 87º34’26” E). From the investigation, a total of 27 taxa appeared as new records from all over India. Hilly regions of Darjeeling housed most of the new reports of diatom species followed by the foot-hills area of Jalpaiguri. The majority of the taxa belong to Biraphid groups, like Eunotia, Pinnularia, Craticula, Navicula, Brachysira, Sellaphora, Placoneis, Cymbella and Gomphonema closely followed by Monoraphid groups including the genera Achnanthidium and Achnanthes. In a word, Darjeeling Himalayan Hill Region of Eastern India showed maximum diversity of the recorded species. Detailed systematic accounts have also been included in the investigation.

Keywords: Diatom, ultrastructure, new report, Monoraphid, Biraphid

Species, 2023, 24(74), e65s1571

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v24i74.e65s1571

Published: 27 July 2023