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Diatoms As Bioindicators

Conference Paper November 2014

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 LAKE 2014: Conference on Conservation and
Sustainable Management of Wetland Ecosystems in
Western Ghats
Date: 13th -15th November 2014
Symposium Web: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy

DIATOMS AS BIOINDICATORS
Ram S. Hattikudur, Alakananda B. & Ramachandra T. V1,2,3,*
1
Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences,
2
Centre for Sustainable Technologies (astra)
3
Centre for infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning [CiSTUP]
4
National Remote Sensing Centre, Department of Space, Government of India, Hyderabad,
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560 012, India
http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy; http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/foss
*Corresponding Author: cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in
Wetlands are considered to be one of the main Inorganic frustules that are preserved
biological hotspots. They are also sinks for even after death
pollution. Today, wetlands are one of the most High sensitivity
threatened habitats in India, often converted for Expenses being low
agriculture, industry or settlements. Many are Complementarity to conventional
affected by industrial effluents, sewage, methods.
household wastes and sedimentation. Therefore Diatoms belong to a unicellular, photosynthetic
they must be protected from adverse group of algae whose cell walls are made of
anthropogenic effects, so they can recover. thick layers of silica. They are found where
Several physical and chemical variables in the sunlight and water are available in episammic,
water are affected by these factors. Thus, water epilithic or epiphytic habitat. They have been
quality monitoring helps maintain our used as bio-indicators in North America
understanding of these conditions to protect (Potapova and Charles, 2007); Africa (Taylor et
them. al. 2007a); India (Alakananda et al., 2011) and
so on. The impact of anthropogenic stress on
Bio-monitoring is the biological assessment of benthic diatom distribution is evident from
these various effects on the ecosystem. It is more studies of streams, ponds and lakes (Soininen et
effective than water quality analysis in terms of al. 2004; Reid and Ogden 2009).
expenses and accuracy as it involves biological
organisms inhabiting the region. Usually, many In this study diatom diversity was investigated
microorganisms can be used for bio-monitoring. in two lakes. The water quality variables were
Algae are particularly chosen in this paper also assessed to understand the pollution levels.
because of their high sensitivity to changes. Two lakes were selected: Neelagondanahalli
Various indices are developed and used based on lake in Neelagondanahalli and a lake located
species sensitivity to pollution. Amongst algae, near Jalahalli, locally known as Chikkabanavara
diatoms have been chosen as they are most lake. These represent two different zones, the
useful owing to their: former being in the Industrial zone and the
Easy availability and occurrence latter in the Residential zone of Bangalore.
METHOD

Two diatom samples were collected from each were prepared using standard methods as per
lake from epiphytic and episammic habitat Karthick et al., 2011. Diatom communities
during November-December 2012 and slides were then analysed by counting between 250-

Sahyadri Conservation Series 47, ETR 87 397

 LAKE 2014: Conference on Conservation and
Sustainable Management of Wetland Ecosystems in
Western Ghats
Date: 13th -15th November 2014
Symposium Web: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy

300 valves. During enumeration the collected along with diatom samples. Physical
dimensions of diatom valve characteristics, variables like pH, temperature, electric
like length, width and straie densities in 10 m conductivity, salinity and total dissolved solids
were measured. Identification of diatoms was were measured using EXTECH combo probe.
carried out using taxonomic guides (Gandhi, Trophic diatom indices were calculated from
1998; Lange-Bertalot, 2001; Krammer, 2002; community counts using OMNIDIA version
Taylor et al., 2007b). Water samples were also 5.3.
TABLE 1.1: Characteristics of the two lakes
Neelagondanahalli Chikkabanavara
Latitude/Longitude 1324'58.06"N 13 4'52.13"N
7714'32.98"E 7730'26.76"E
Zone Industrial Residential
Observations Surrounded by industries and Forested area with little
slums housing
Water discoloured Relatively clear
Rubber footwear spotted Plastic and polyethene spotted
Only people walking People washing
Lower diversity of birds clothes/bathing
Greater diversity of birds
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Diatom analysis: A total of 25 species little less dominating than Gomphonema,

belonging to 9 genera were seen. The dominant
genera were Navicula, Nitzschia, Cyclotella,
Gomphonema, Diadesmis, Craticula, Fallacia,
Lemnicola and Achnanthidium in the descending
order of relative abundance. Neelagondanahalli
wetland was dominated by Gomphonema sp.
while Chikkabanavara was dominated by
Gomphonema and Nitzschia.
In Chikkabanavara, where high organic
pollution is present, both Gomphonema and
Nitzschia are large in number . The absence of
Achnathidium, a sensitive genus shows the level
of pollution of the lake. The dominating
presence of the genus Gomphonema in
Neelagondanahalli shows presence of excessive
electrolytic content in the water. The small
number of Achnathidium, a genus sensitive to
pollution, shows the high level of pollution in
the lake. The presence of Nitzschia, which is a
indicates organic pollution in the lake. It is also
noticed that both lakes have similar dominating
genera, hence similar level of pollution.
Both lakes are polluted. This can be linked to
industrial and sewage discharge into the lakes.
The presence of organic pollution in
Chikkabanavara can be linked to cultural
eutrophication due to sewage and as shown by
the water analysis, the DO in the lakes is below
standard lake levels (Table 1.3) and is not
enough to sustain a diverse community. The
electoytic compounds in Neelagondanahalli may
be from the industries there, which dump
metallic salts (electrolytic compounds) as well
as other harmful products into the lake. This is
possibly responsible for the fairly high TDS
calculated. Identification of diatoms was
made at genus level.

Sahyadri Conservation Series 47, ETR 87 398

 LAKE 2014: Conference on Conservation and
Sustainable Management of Wetland Ecosystems in
Western Ghats
Date: 13th -15th November 2014
Symposium Web: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy

Figure 1: Abundance of diatoms belonging to different genera across the four samples

CR1and CR2 are samples 1 and 2 of Chikkabanavara and NR1 and NR2 are samples 1 and 2
of Neelagondanahalli
Table 1.3: Water quality results
Neelagond
Neelagondanahalli Chikkabanavara Chikkabanavara
Lake Sample: anahalli
lake (NR2) lake (CR1) lake (CR2)
lake (NR1)
Plant and
Substrate Plant Plant Plant
Sediment
pH 7.2 7.3 7.2 7.6
TDS (ppm) 1229 1226 588 630
Dissolved oxygen mg/L) 5.5 6.2 6.5 -
Water temperature (C) 25 25 25 23
Air temperature (C) 24 24 28.5 29
Chlorides (mg/L) 23 24.5 9 8.5
Total hardness (mg/L) 14.5 15 8.4 11
Calcium Hardness mg/L) 6.1 5.9 4.1 8
Alkalinity (mg/L) 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.1
*Permissible limits of DO for clean lakes is above 5mg/l, TDS is below 1500 ppm for
drinking water, pH is 7-9.

The pollution levels of the lakes have been
estimated using Trophic Diatom Index (TDI).
The formula is:
Where aj = abundance or proportion of valves
of species* j in sample, sj = pollution
sensitivity (1-5) of species j and vj = indicator
value (1-3). Values of sensitivity (s)
*A diatom cell wall consists of two valves in
total. (Trophic diatom index, a users manual.
Revised edition, 2001)

Sahyadri Conservation Series 47, ETR 87 399

 LAKE 2014: Conference on Conservation and
Sustainable Management of Wetland Ecosystems in
Western Ghats
Date: 13th -15th November 2014
Symposium Web: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy

Table 1.2: TDI values for the lake samples *Where 0-20 are clean waters, 21-40 mild
pollution, 41-60 bad waters, 61-100 severely
Trophic Diatom polluted, according to the Trophic Diatom
Sample Index Index.
CR1 67
CR2 65.5 Therefore, it can be concluded that
NR1 56.5 Chikkabanawara is actually severely polluted
NR2 59 while Neelagondanahalli may be considered
bad waters.

CONCLUSION
Concluding, both lakes were found to be CR2. This is possibly a consequence of industrial
extremely polluted. TDI was found to be 56.5 for effluents in the former and untreated sewage
NR1 and 59 for NR2, 67 for CR1 and 65.5 for disposal in the latter.

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