Solar saltpans are man-made system of interconnected ponds (Reservoir, Condenser and Crystallizer) for the production of salt from seawater and/or underground brine by means of evaporation. Luxuriant growth of certain microalgae is noticed in this saltern (Korovessis and Lekkas, 2000). Microalgae are practical grouping of photosynthetic organisms of simple construction, it includes a diverse array of morphologies from single cell to multicellular (Ashok Kumar et al., 2011). The organisms living in every solar salt pans constitute a biological system, which are able to aid to harm salt production. Systems aiding salt production maintain stable species composition and concentrations, they produce and accumulate sufficient organic matter to power the biota, prevent leakages and also increase the solar energy absorption (Reginald and Diana, 2008; Lakshmanan, 2008). The microalgae also colour the brine by producing floating coloured cells in high concentrations (Oren et al., 1992); besides enhancing, the rate of evaporation in saltern. These microorganisms play a very important role in the recycling of materials (nutrients and other substances) in saltpan ecosystem and occupy important membership in of biogeochemical cycles (Kabilan et al., 2012). Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the species richness and biodiversity of microalgae occurring in a man–made solar saltern in Thoothukudi.

Water and algal mat samples were collected in four different solar saltpans interdistance of these salt pans maybe around 5 kms (8°46'46"N and 78°9'3"E) of Thoothukudi using 2 lit polythene containers. In each salt pan, five samples are collected from different ponds of reservoir, condenser and crystallizer. The collected samples were preserved using 2% formaldehyde for the laboratory analysis. Microalgae specimens were observed under optical microscopy (Olympus BX51) with different magnifications (up to 100x). Genus and species level identification of Cyanophyta, Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta were examined according to Prescott (1951), Hendey (1964), Sarma and Khan (1980), Komarek and Anagnostidis (2005) and Thajuddin and Subramanian (2005).

30 genus level species of microalgae were identified in the four solar saltern system of Thoothukudi (Table 1), species were found to be of three divisions viz, Cyanophyta (11 genes), Bacillariophyta (16 genes) and Chlorophyta (5 genes). Bacillariophyta showed the maximum number of species in Thoothukudi salt pans. Some of these species viz, Caloneis sp., Diatoma sp., Anabaen sp., Gyrosigma sp., Lyngbya sp., Gleothece sp. and Pinnularia sp. are not present in commonly all saltpans.

 

 

Figure 1 shows the abundance of microalgae (%) in all salt pans of Thoothukudi. The abundance data was generated for Chlorophyta (53.48), Bacillariophyta (34.61) and Cyanophyta (11.91). Five genuses viz, Chlorella sp., Chlorococcum sp., Closterium sp., Dunaliella sp. and Cosmarium sp. of chlorophyta taking together occur in greater quantities compared to other division of microalgae. 34.61% of Bacillariaphyta species viz, Nitzschia sp., Synedra sp., Mastogloia sp.,Navicula sp., Cymbella sp., Amphora sp., Cyclotella sp., Caloneis sp., Diatoma sp., Coscinodiscus sp., Pleurosigma sp., Pinnularia sp., Fragillaria sp., and Gyrosigma sp., were recorded. Cyanophyta species namely Oscillatoria sp., Spirulina sp., Lyngbya sp., Phormidium sp., Aphanocapsa sp., Gleocapsa sp., Synechococcus sp., Gleothec sp., Synechocystis sp., Anabaena sp. and Chroococcus sp. were identified to 12%.

 

 

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 shows the species richness in all salt pans of Thoothukudi. This result indicates the bacillariaphyta is a dominant group of all salt pans followed by cyanophyta and chlorophyta. Nearly 15 genus of bacillariaphyta (47%), 11genus of cyanophyta (35%) and 5 genus of chlorophyta (18%) species were recorded in Thoothukudi salt pans. At the same time the abundance of species were observed in chlorophyta (53.48).

 

 

 

condenser crystallizer and bittern in the ranges from 9 B⁰ to 40 B⁰. Our observations indicate that chlorophyta populations and the overall richness of microalgae profile in saltworks in Thoothukudi. The abundance of microalgae coloured cells increase the absorption of solar energy which raise brine temperature and thus improve evaporation (Oren et al., 1992; Michael et al., 2000). The quantity and quality of salt production in solar salt pans is determined by the hydrobiological activity (Sorgeloos, 1983). The microalgae of chlorophyta (Dunaliella), when grown in solar saltpans in high concentration to appear red colour, it is often regarded as a significant contribution to the solar salt production process (Reginald et al., 2004). The bloom of coloured microorganisms in salt works to absorb the solar energy which increases the brine temperature and to enhance the rate of evaporation (Reginald and LailaBanu, 2009), and these organisms to release the organic carbon in solar ponds to increase the quality of precipitated salt (Giordano et al., 1994). In Our research provide the information about the appearance and assemblage of microalgae in solar saltpans from Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.

The authors have not declared any conflict of interest.