Diversity and seasonal dynamics of Chlorophyta Reichenbach, 1828 and Charophyta Migula, 1890 algae in the Swat River Basin, Pakistan
Increasing water pollution and climatic changes affect algal populations and, in turn, regional ecosystems. The algal flora was assessed at five different localities of District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan at altitude 972–2,061 m a.s.l. Altogether, 105 taxa of algae from Charophyta and Chlorophyta divisions were found for the first time in 200 samples of algae collected during 2007–2016. The number of Chlorophyta species, represented by 86 taxa, strongly prevailed over Charophyta species (19 taxa). Water turbidity, water transparency, and iron have a positive correlation with altitude, whereas water temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), ammonia, nitrate concentration, and zinc correlated negatively. Over 50 % of species were represented by 19 genera with two genera of Charophyta (10.4 %) and 17 of Chlorophyta algae. Eight types of thallus structure were found with predominance of the lowly organized structure as a result of growing in an unstable environment. In the seasonal dynamics, the decrease in species richness with increasing altitude was revealed. Statistical analysis of relation between algal species richness and environmental variables suggests that altitude is a regulating factor of algal diversity development because the water temperature stimulates species richness, while altitude suppresses it. Therefore, mild summer and favorable spring seasons result in prolific vegetative growth of Chlorophyta and Charophyta algae species in the Swat River Basin habitats, but algal communities in the investigated area can be subjected to pollution impact. The results of this research will help in developing strategies for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems in Pakistan since the studied high-altitude areas of the Swat Basin can be seen as reference areas.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Contribution biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2019
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| Subjects: | Water pollution, Climatic changes, Chlorophyta, Species diversity, Algae, Seasonal variations, Charophyta, Климатические изменения, Загрязнение воды, Видовое разнообразие, Водоросли, Харофитовые, Зеленые водоросли, Водные экосистемы, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/15632 |
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