J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2014: Vol.

28 (2): 241-244
(241) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

ALGAL DIVERSITY WITH REFERENCE TO HEAVY METALS IN TAPI RIVER FROM

SURAT DISTRICT, GUJARAT
Maheshwari Solanki and Kapil Manoj
Department of Aquatic Biology,
Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat-395007
email :mahi1784@gmail.com

Received: 12-09-2014 Accepted: 20-10-2014

The change in the quality of water brings about a change in the pattern of the Algal flora in the River. Studies on selected Heavy
Metals and Phytoplankton were carried out in Tapi during July 2008 to December 2008. The selected Heavy Metals were Copper,
Zinc, Lead, Cadmium and Nickel. Phytoplankton population was mainly represented by Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae,
Cyanophyceae and Desmids.

Water is one of the important resources. Water is a versatile
inorganic liquid on this planet occurring as universal solvent
and indispensable component of nature. It holds both biotic
and abiotic entities, in a complex dynamic and delicate
ecological balance by virtue of its unique capacity of existing
in solid, liquid and gaseous state1 . Phytoplankton have recently
attracted attention, as indicators of pollution and their use in
removal of toxicants from waste water and as a bioassay
organism for testing toxicity of chemicals2. Heavy metals
pollution of aquatic environment has been studied in many
countries. The choice of metals, Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn and Ni selected
for the study because these metals are having importance in
nutritional, biochemical and a pollution view point. Copper and
Zinc are considered to be essential for plant growth in trace
level and toxic at greater amount. Whereas, lead and cadmium
are not essential and act purely as toxicants. Heavy metals
have received much attention in ecotoxicological research
because of their increasing input, extended persistence, wide
spread toxicity to biota and their tendency to accumulate and
also have biological magnification. The toxicity of heavy metals
in the natural environment, particularly in the aquatic
environment is currently of major concern. The problem is
compounded by their accumulation at first trophic level of food
chain of which phytoplankton, are a major part. Therefore, the
contaminants are efficiently passed on to other trophic levels
causing a number of disastrous effects3.
As soon as pollutant is added to the water it becomes part of
the environmental as well as the organisms that live there, it
affect the ecosystem. Thus directly or indirectly causing a
change in the characteristics of flora and fauna along with
heavy metal concentration of water. Moreover pollution, both
industrial and domestic waste appears to be real threat to
organisms. Therefore, the investigation has been conducted
to assess the phytoplankton diversity with reference to heavy
metal concentration found in Tapi.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
To fulfill the aim of the study, monthly collection was carried
out from different stations at selected sites. The samples were
collected monthly from July 2008 to December 2008.Three
locations were selected on the Tapi on the basis of fresh water
and sea water intrusion, anthropogenic and domestic sewage
inlets.[1] Ashwani kumar [2] Nanpura [3] Umara. Subsurface
water samples for Physico-Chemical and Biological parameters
were collected between 7:00 to 9:30 A.M, in 5lit.container,
which were previously cleaned with diluted HNO3 and detergent
followed by distilled water. The samples for heavy metals
analysis were collected and acidified with 6N HNO3. Heavy
metals in the water were estimated by using AAS.
Phytoplankton sample were collected from river by using silk
bolting phytoplankton net. 50 liter of water was filtered through
the net and preserved immediately with 4% formalin and Lugol's
iodine solution. Plankton sample were collected as standard
methods4.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The toxicity of heavy metals in the natural environment
particularly in the aquatic systems is currently of major
concern. Phytoplankton show distinct distribution and diversity,
 Algal Diversity with Reference to Heavy Metals
due to the discharge of domestic sewage, agricultural runoff,
industrial effluents etc. For many years, man has been loading
more and more heavy metals either directly or indirectly into
the surrounding water bodies. Many of these metals affect the
morphology, growth and several other physiological processes
of phytoplankton5. Metal content of algae and other plants can
even be used to predict the levels of metal pollution in a body
of water6 . Hence, it becomes important, not only to understand
and evaluate the influence of heavy metals on the growth and
function of organisms, but also to assess the level of
concentration for each pollutant at which they are either
inhibitory or non-interfering7.
The minimum Copper concentration was 0.002 mg/l
at Site-1 during the month of October 2008. Phytoplankton
communities Achnanthes lanceolata, Ankestrodesmus
falcatus, Anabaena affinis, Anabaena plactonica,
Coscinodiscus oculus, Cosmarium depressum, Chlorella
vulgaris, Cyclotella comata, Cyclotella glomerata, Cymbella
minuta, Cymbella tumida, Fragillaria intermedia, Fragillaria
biceps, Gomphonema purvulum, Gomphonema clevei,
Gomphonema gracile, Lyngbya sp, Microcystis aerugenosa,
Navicula symmetrica, Navicula confervacea, Navicula
lanceolata, Nitzschia palea, Skeletonema costatum,
Oscillatoria princeps, Surirella capronii, Synedra ulna, Ulothrix
zonata, Sphaerocystis sp and Mastagloea sp were observed.
The maximum Copper concentration was 2.585mg/l at Site-2
during the month of August 2008. Phytoplankton communities
Anabaena coffeaformis, Anabaena flos-aquae, Biddulphia sp,
Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Asterionella japonica, Caloneis sp,
Coscinodiscus radiatus, Cosmarium portianum, Chlorella
vulgaris, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Cymbella minuta, Fragillaria
intermedia, Gomphonema quadripunctatum, Gyrosigma
acuminatus, Tabellaria fenestrata, Melosira granulata, Lyngbya
sp, Odentella sp, Oedogonium sp, Merismopodia sp, Navicula
radiosa, Navicula symmetrica, Nitzschia closterium,
Oscillatoria princeps, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Spirogyra
sp, Skeletonema costatum, Synedra ulna, Spirulina platensis,
Thallassionema sp, Nostoc sp, Pandorina morum, Pediastrum
duplex, Mastagloea sp and Closterium malmei were observed.
The minimum zinc concentration was 0.002 mg/l at Site-1
during the month of October 2008. Phytoplankton communities
Achnanthes lanceolata, Anabaena affinis, Ankistrodesmus
falcatus, Anabaena plactonica, Coscinodiscus oculus,
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Cosmarium depressum, Chlorella vulgaris, Cyclotella comata,
Cyclotella glomerata, Cymbella minuta, Cymbella tumida,
Fragillaria intermedia, Fragillaria biceps, Gomphonema
purvulum, Gomphonema clevei, Gomphonema gracile, Lyngbya
sp, Microcystis aerugenosa, Navicula symmetrica, Navicula
confervacea, Navicula lanceolata, Nitzschia palea, Oscillatoria
princeps, Surirella capronii, Skeletonema costatum, Synedra
ulna, Ulothrix zonata, Sphaerocystis sp and Mastagloea sp
were observed. The maximum zinc concentration was 0.473
mg/l at Site-2 during the month of August 2008. Phytoplankton
communities Anabaena affinis, Anabaena flos-aquae,
Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Asterionella japonica, Cocconeis
placentulaChlorella viridis, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Fragillaria
intermedia, Gomphonema purvulum, Gomphonema
quadripunctatum, Gyrosigma acuminatus, Melosira granulate,
Microcystis aerugenosa, Merismopodia sp, Navicula radiosa,
Nitzschia closterium, Nitzschia sigma, Oscillatoria formosa,
Oscillatoria princeps, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Spirogyra
sp, Synedra ulna, Pandorina morum, Pediastrum boryanum,
Pleurosigma elongatum, Mastagloea sp and Closterium malmei
were observed.
Higher concentration of copper may be due to the dyes and
ceramics, dumping of electrical wire waste, discharge of mine
tailings, disposal of fly, disposal of municipal and industrial
wastes and constructing tubes in this area8. Copper is an
essential redox active micronutrient that functions as an
enzyme catalyst and forms an important part of prosthetic
groups of many enzymes. It acts as an essential component
of plastocyanin and enzyme amino-oxidase. It stimulates
growth of chlorococcus sp., scendesmus sp., and
Ankistrodesmus sp8.
Copper at 0.001 to 0.0025 mg/l or Zinc at 0.015
mg/l inhibited photosynthesis of a coastal marine
phytoplankton community, photosynthesis of brackish water
phytoplankton community was reduced by Cd (0.1 mg/l) or
Lead (1 mg/l), addition of 0.005 mg/l copper to water reduced
nitrogen fixation by the Cyanobacterium populations9.
The minimum Nickel concentration was 0.001 mg/l at
sites 2 & 3 during the month of October 2008 and phytoplankton
communities Achnanthes minutissima, Achnanthes
subatomus, Amphora coffeaformis, Ankistrodesmus falcatus,
Cocconeis placentula, Coscinodiscus oculus, Cosmarium
depressum, Chlorella vulgaris, Cyclotella comata, Cymbella
(243) Maheshwari and Kapil
minuta, Fragillaria intermedia, Gomphonema purvulam,
Gyrosigma acuminatus, Ulothrix zonata, Melosira granulate,
Microcystis aerugenosa, Merismopodia sp, Navicula
symmetrica, Nitzschia palea, Oscillatoria princeps,
Scenedesmus quadricauda, Skeletonema costatum, Synedra
ulna, Spirulina pletansis, Pandorina moram, Pediastrum
simplex, Pleurosigma elongatum and Mastagloea sp were
observed. The maximum Nickel concentration was 0.176 mg/
l at Site-2 during the month of December 2008 and
phytoplankton communities Anabaena affinis, Anabaena flos-
aquae, Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Asterionella japonica,
Cocconeis placentula, Chlorella viridis, Cyclotella
meneghiniana, Fragillaria intermedia, Gomphonema purvulum,
Gomphonema quadripunctatum, Gyrosigma acuminatus,
Melosira granulate, Microcystis aerugenosa, Merismopodia sp,
Microspora sp, Navicula radiosa, Nitzschia closterium,
Nitzschia sigma, Oscillatoria formosa, Oscillatoria princeps,
Scenedesmus quadricauda, Spirogyra sp, Synedra ulna,
Pandorina morum, Pediastrum boryanum, Pleurosigma
elongatum, Mastagloea sp, Euglena sp and Closterium malmei
were observed. 0.002 to 1.0 mg/l Nickel to water decreased
the diversity and abundance of the indigenous diatoms but
increased that of Cyanobacteria and Green algae10,11.
The minimum Lead concentration was 0.017 mg/l at Site-1
during the month of August 2008 and phytoplankton
communities Achnanthes lanceolata, Achnanthes
minutissima, Anabaena coffeaformis, Anabaena affinis,
Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Coscinodiscus granii, Cosmarium
depressum, Chlorella vulgaris, Cyclotella comata, Cymbella
tumida, Fragillaria intermedia, Gomphonema purvulum,
Hydrodictyon sp, Lyngbya sp, Navicula confervacea, Navicula
symmetrica, Nitzschia palea, Oscillatoria formosa,
Scenedesmus quadricauda, Surirella gemma, Synedra ulna,
Spirulina platensis, Spirulina maxima, Nostoc sp, Ulothrix
zonata, Mastagloea sp and Closterium attenuatum were
observed. The maximum Lead concentration was 0.428 mg/l
at Site-2 during the month of October 2008 and phytoplankton
communities Amphora coffeaformis, Anabaena flos-aquae,
Anabaena plactonica, Asterionella japonica, Stauroneis sp,
Skeletonema costatum, Biddulphia sp, Tabellaria fenestrata,
Synedra ulna, Thallasiosira sp, Cosmarium depressum,
Encyonema sp, Chlorella vulgaris, Cyclotella meneghiniana,
Cymbella minuta, Diatoma sp, Diploneis sp, Fragillaria
intermedia, Gyrosigma attenuatum, Navicula pupula, Navicula
radiosa, Navicula symmetrica, Nitzschia Closterium, Navicula
sigma, Oscillatoria princes, Oscillatoria Formosa, Rhizosolenia
sp, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Gomphonema
quadripunctatum, Melosira granulata, Microcystis aerugenosa,
Spirogyra sp, Pandorina moram, Pediastrum siplex,
Pleurosigma elongatum and Closterium malmei were observed.
The minimum cadmium concentration was 0.001 mg/
l at all three sites during the month of December 2008,
September 2008 & July 2008, respectively. Phytoplankton
communities Achnanthes minutissima, Achnanthes
subatomus, Amphora coffeaformis, Ankistrodesmus falcatus,
Cocconeis placentula, Coscinodiscus oculus, Cosmarium
depressum, Chlorella vulgaris, Cyclotella comata, Cymbella
minuta, Fragillaria intermedia, Gomphonema purvulam,
Gyrosigma acuminatus, Ulothrix zonata, Melosira granulate,
Microcystis aerugenosa, Merismopodia sp, Navicula
symmetrica, Nitzschia palea, Oscillatoria princes,
Scenedesmus quadricauda, Skeletonema costatum, Synedra
ulna, Spirulina pletansis, Pandorina moram, Pediastrum
simplex, Pleurosigma elongatum and Mastagloea sp were
observed. The maximum cadmium concentration was 0.015
mg/l at Site-3 during the month of November 2008.
Phytoplankton communities Amphiprora alata, Amphora
coffeaformis, Anabaena flos-aquae, Ankistrodesmus falcatus,
Cocconeis placentula, Cosmarium depressum, Chlorella
vulgaris, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Cymbella minuta, Fragillaria
intermedia, Gomphonema quadripunctatum, Gyrosigma
acuminalis, Microspora sp, Tabellaria fenestrate, Melosira
granulata, Microcystis aerugenosa, Navicula symmetrica,
Navicula radiosa, Navicula pupla, Skeletonema costatum,
Nitzschia sigma, Oscillatoria princeps, Scenedesmus
quadricauda, Synedra ulna, Volvox aureus Rhizosolenia sp,
Pediastrum duplex, Pleurosigma elongatum, Mastagloea sp
and Closterium malmei were observed.
Interaction between heavy metal and their toxicities to
the microbiota. Copper and Zinc combination seen synergistic
effect on Skeletonema sp and combination of Nickel and Lead
seen additive effect on Ankistodesmus sp12. Combination of
Zinc and Cadmium acted synergistically on the growth of the
marine diatoms Skeletonema costatum. The effective
concentration of Cadmium which reduced the population growth
of Chlorella sp., Navicula sp. and Nitzschia closterium. The
 Algal Diversity with Reference to Heavy Metals
most sensitive species to cadmium was Spirulina sp.,
Nitzschia sp., Closterium sp., Merismopodia sp.,
Scenedesmus sp. and Ankisrodesmus sp. has also been found
to be suppressed by heavy metals. Chlorophyceae is more
sensitive to heavy metals13.
Algal community was used to monitor the water quality. Water
pollution indices are based on the community, which is used
commonly to detect and evaluate the water pollution. This
work represents an attempt to compile and evaluate the present
status of affairs with regard to heavy metal pollution and
phytoplankton species in river water. During the study period
metal concentration at all sites were fluctuating. And at that
time Diatoms were growing abundantly followed by green algae,
blue green algae and desmids.
Amphora sp., Anabaena sp., Ankistrodesmus sp.,
Cocconeis sp., Caloneis sp., Cosmarium sp., Chlorella sp.,
Cyclotella sp., Fragillaria sp., Gomphonema sp., Gyrosigma
sp., Melosira sp., Microcystis sp., Merismopodia sp., Navicula
sp., Nitzschia sp., Oscillatoria sp., Skeletonema sp.,
Scenedesmus sp., Spirogyra sp., Synedra sp., Nostoc sp.,
Pediastrum sp., Pleurosigma sp., Pinnularia sp., Pandorina
sp. and Euglena sp. were reported which are tolerating the
heavy metal pollution and also indicated the organic pollution
found in water.
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