Distribution of the Diatoms and Water Quality Assessment of the Thamirabarani River, Tamil Nadu, South India

Abstract

The diatoms are one of the most significant organisms beneficial for biomonitoring investigations. The present study deals with the diatom and water samples collected from 10 different localities in the Thamirabarani River, Southern India. Diatom samples were collected by scraping stones with a toothbrush and squeezing macrophytes. Study of diatom valve morphology and measurements of diatoms were carried out using an optical miccroscope. The present study recorded 58 diatom taxa belonging to 25 genera. Among the diatoms, the taxonomical characters of 20 abundant diatom taxa viz. Aulacoseira granulata, Discostella stelligera, Navicula cryptocephala, Encyonema minutum, Gomphonema gandhii, Eunotia asterionelloides, Gomphonema parvulum, Brachysira neglectissima, Aulacoseira ambigua, Diadesmis confervacea, Nitzschia palea, Nitzschia amphibia, Sellaphora Americana, Staurosirella pinnata, Gomphonema affine, Fragilaria pararumpens, Eunotia incisa, Navicula erifuga, Navicula cryptotenella and Navicula rostellata are described and illustrated. In the present study abundant diatom genera were observed such as Aulacoseira, Discostella, Navicula, Encyonema, Gomphonema, Brachysira, Nitzschia, Sellaphora, Staurosirella, Fragilaria and Euno- tia. In abundant diatom taxa such as Aulacoseira granulate, Discostella stelligera, Gomphonema gandhii, Fragilaria pararumpens, Navicula cryptocephala, Navicula rostellata, Staurosirella pinnata water quality index values between 21-42 were recorded at Sites 1-9, which indicates unpolluted water. The abundant diatom taxa Diadesmis confervacea, Nitzschia palea, and Gomphonema parvulum were present at Site 10 and a water quality index value of 101 was recorded, indicating water polluted due to anthropogenic activity. The diatom assemblage of the present study was compared with various river systems to understand the environmental condition assessment. The water samples were analysed for assessment of the water quality.