Blue green algae in the biological soil crusts of different regions of India

Abstract

Abstract Blue green algae (Cyanobacteria) occurring as biological soil crust intermingled with soil particles in the upper few millimeters of soil surfaces from different regions of India were studied. Sampling of crusts was done from four different soil types, i.e. laterite soils of the east coast, brown forest of soils of the east and central region, arid soils of the southern region and sandy soils of the west coast of India. One species each of the blue green algae Lyngbya arboricola, Scytonema ocellatum, Scytonema chiastum and Plectonema notatum as the dominant component in the four types of crust. Seve‐ ral other species of blue green algae belonging to genera Oscillatoria, Phormidium, Microcoleus, Nostoc, Aulosira, Calothrix, Hapalosiphon, Fischerella, Westiellopsis and Stigonema also appeared in the enrichment culture as minor components along with the dominant species. No other species of any other group of algae was a component of these crusts during the dry season. A total number of 48 species attributed to 15 different genera was encountered in different biological soil crusts of India. All these species are described with illustrations. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)