Taxonomic studies of some rare species of Genus Sirogonium Kützing and Zygnema Agradh from Darbhanga, North Bihar

Abstract

The freshwater algal flora is primary producers in the aquatic ecosystem. But due to change in climatic conditions and pollution in water bodies affected the algal diversity. These algal floras, because of their being rich in nutritional contents such as protein, carbohydrate, lipid, vitamins and folic acid, can be used as alternative sources of food in the future. Besides, it also helps in nitrogen fixation, acts as growth promoting substances, and is used as food for aquatic animals. The author describes two species of genus Sirogonium Kützing and three algal species of genus Zygnema Agardh belonging to family Zygnemataceae in the present paper. Out of 5 species, Zygnema excoummne is being reported for the first time from the Indian subcontinent while Sirogonium floridanum for the first time from Bihar. Remaining 3 species, S. megasporum, Z. substellinum and Z. tenue, are being observed for the second time from Darbhanga, North Bihar, after Kargupta & Jha (2004).