Sharad Goswami and Aditi S. Kamble
Abstract
Freshwater algae are important indicators of good aquatic ecosystem and biodiversity. This study documented and analyzed freshwater algal diversity at three sampling sites (S1, S2, and S3) in Solapur District, Maharashtra, India. A total of 16 algal species belonging to four classes Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, and Euglenophyceae were identified based on their occurrence and abundance. Cyanophyceae was the dominant group, with Lynbyacon fervoides showing high abundance across all the sites. Species composition varied among locations, with Spirogyra kolhapurensis dominant at S1, Zygnema micropunctatum at S2, and Oedogonium hindustanense restricted to S3. Bacillariophyceae showed moderate diversity, while Euglenophyceae exhibited lower diversity and localized occurrence. The variations in algal distribution suggest the influence of local environmental and physicochemical conditions. Higher diversity was observed at S1 and S2, whereas S3 supported unique habitat specific taxa. The findings help to provide data for biodiversity assessment and ecological monitoring.