Soil Crust Algae of Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR), Odisha

Abstract

Cyanobacteria and microalgae are important components of biological soil crusts (BSC) as they improve soil structure, stabilize soil erosion, enhancing plant seedling establishment and increase of infiltration of rain water into soil. During present study, algal samples were collected from 3 sampling sites namely Badamakabadi, Chahala and Barehipani of the Similipal Biosphere Reserve (21°28" and 22°08" N; 86°04" and 86°37" E) and documented. A total of 14 algal taxa were recorded comprised of 9 species of cyanobacteria and 5 green algae. The major dominant cyanobacterial taxa were Scytonema (3) followed by single species each of genera Gloeocapsa, Psudocapsa, Leptolyngbya, Porphyrosiphon, Synechocystis and Tolypothrix. Chlorophyta occurred both in coccid and filamentous forms were recorded single species each of Coccomyxa, Microspora, Cylindrocapsopsis, Ulothrix and Trentepohlia. The light and the humidity of the forest type may be the factors of the cyanobacterial abundance than the green algal forms. Cyanobacterial species under genera Scytonema, Tolypothrix and Leptolyngbya, one green algae Coccomyxa were isolated into pure form for the purpose of germplasm collection.