Abstract: In the present survey Fifty nine taxa of Desmids representing 34 species, 7 var. and 4 forms of Cosmarium, 5 sp. and 3 var. of Euastrum, 2 species of Microsterias and 1 specie each of Arthrodesmus, Cosmocladium, and Staurastrum, were recorded from Riverian ponds , Bakar and Kinjhar lakes of Sindh. In which Cosmarium sub impressulum, C. regnelli, C. leave , C. impressulum, C. granatum, Euastrum bidentatum, E. dubium, E. spinolosum, Cosmocladium constrictum, Arthrodesmus convergens and Desmidium baileyii are very common planktonic speices through out the year.
Introduction
The unicellular, colonial or filamentous desmidis belonging to the order Zygnematales are exclusively fresh water algae. Their cells are composed of two halves interrupted by pores through which mucilaginous substances are secreted. The cell wall also consists of two layers, surrounded by a gelatinous sheath (Bold and Wynne, 1978).
In Pakistan Sarims and Faridi (1992), has made a study on the Desmids, Euastrum, Staurodesmus and Micrasterias from N.W.F. Province. Masud-ul-Hasan and Batool (1987) has described few species of Desmids of Punjab and Azad Jammu Kashmir. Hirano (1977) has also published his work on fresh water algea of Afghanistan in Plants of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The present work is a further contribution to the fresh water algae specially Desmids from Sindh, Pakistan.
Materials and Methods
The algal samples were collected on monthly basis during 1994-98 with plankton Net # 25 μm. The samples were taken from the different places of fresh water bodies of Districts Badin, Dadu,Hyderabad, Sanghar and Thatta. Algal material was preserved in 3-4% Formaldehyde at the spot. Then the sample was washed with 2-3% Acetic acid in order to clear the algal material from organic matter, sand and silt particles. The samples were identified under the light microscope and compared with that of Sarims and Faridi (1992) and Hirano (1977).
The drawings were made with the help of Camera lucida at the magnification 8x X 40.
Results
Systematic account:
Genus Cosmarium Corda
Cosmarium arnelli Boldt (Pl. 1, Fig. 1).
Cells 54-57.6 μm long , 43-44.8 μm broad, Isthmus 15.5-17 μm Cell wall granulated, chloroplast with pyrenoids
Cosmarium bioculatum Breb. (Pl. 1, Fig. 2).
Patel et al. 1977:100.
Cells 17.5 broad, 20.8-24.5 μm long, wall coarsely punctate.
Habitat: Free floating rain water pool Jamshoro .
Cosmarium blytti, Wille var. novaesylvae West and West.(Pl. 1, Fig. 3).
Prasad and Mehrotra, 1977:346.
Cells 25-33 μm long, 24 μm broad, Isthmus. 5.5-6 μm.
Locality: Hussainabad Pond, Distt: Hyderabad.
Cosmarium blyttii Wille. (Pl. 1, Fig. 4).
Prasad and Mehrotra, 1977:346.
Cell 15-20 μm long, 16-22 μm broad. Isthmus 6-7.5 μm.
Locality: Rice field Jamshoro District Dadu 14.8.1996. Habit. Free floating .
Cosmarium conspersum Ralfs var. latum (Breb.) West et G.S. West. (Pl. 1, Fig. 5).
Oleksowicz, 1984:246.
Cells 77-79 μm long, 57-74 μm broad. Isthmus 20-22.5 μm.
Locality: Planktonic in River Indus pond at Jamshoro Distt: Dadu .
Cosmarium constrictum Deplonte.(Pl. 1, Fig. 6)
Tiffany and Britton, 1952:185.
Cells 27-31 μm long. 18-21 μm broad, broadly longer than wide, deeply constructed, sinus narrow toward the apex, chloroplast axil with one central pyrenoid.
Occurance: Rain water in river malir near Karachi 22.8.96.
Cosmarium constractium var.ellipsoideum (Eflw) West andWest. (Pl. 1, Fig. 7)
Krieger, 1937: 173.
Cells 35-42 μm long, 24.5-26 μm broad, Isthums 6.5-7 μm.
Occurance: Plankton in riverin ponds at Kotri Distt: Dadu, 13.2.98. .
Cosmarium ctenoideum(Pl. 1, Fig. 8).
Cells 27-32 μm long, 18-21.5m broad. Isthmus 4.5-6 μm. cell wall punctate. Locality: River Indus water ponds, in the water foam near the Kotri Pond. 29.6.97 .
Cosmarium cycelicumLund. (Pl. 1, Fig. 9)
Prasad and Mehrotra, 1977:346;
Cells 45-50 μm long, 46-51 μm broad. Isthmus 12.5-17 μm.
Locality: Rice field and also in Fresh water ponds of District Hyderabad in Planktonic form. This species is common in December .
Cosmarium decoratum West and West.(Pl. 1, Fig. 10A)
Patel et al. 1977:100.
Cells 6.5-7 μm long, 45-50 μm broad. Isthmus 22.5-27 μm.
Locality; Planktonic Kinjhar Lake Distt: Thatta 4.12.97
Cosmarium divergens, (Pl. 1, Fig. 10B).
Krieger, 1937 : 175.
Cells 27-28.4 μm long, width 19.8-22 μm, Isthmus 6.6-7 μm.
Locality. Planktonic in Kinjhar lake, Distt. Thatta.
Distribution: cosmopolition .
Cosmarium dorsitruncatum (Nordst) West. (Pl. 1, Fig. 11).
Krieger, 1932:176 .
Cells 35-39 μm long, 40.5-45 μm broad, Isthmus 9-10 μm.
Locality: Planktonic in Chalgari Pond Distt: Hyderabad 15.2.98
Cosmarium excavatum var. excavatum.(Pl. 1, Fig. 12).
Yamagishi, 1994.12:9.
Cells smaller in size, twice longer than broads, slightly constricted in the middle sinus is widly open, cell wall and margin with granules.
Cells 25-30 μm long, 12-15 μm broad, Isthmus 7-9.5 μm long.
Locality. Planktonic in Bakar Lake Distt: Sanghar .
Cosmarium gibrellum Lutkem. (Pl. 1, Fig. 13)
Cells 37-45 μm long, 28-30 μm broad, Isthmus 12 μm. Semi cell flattened at the apex.
Locality: Free floating in Mancher Lake Distt: Dadu 10-2-96.
Cosmarium granatum Brebisson ex Ralfs.(Pl. 1, Fig. 14).
Gerrath and Lobban, 1991:180. Olekswiez, 1984:246.
Cells 42-47.5 μm long, 26.4 μm broad, Isthmus 9-9.9 μm.
Locality. Planktonic with other algae in Bakar lake District Sanghar and Kotri pond Distt: Dadu, November 1996 .
Cosmarium impressulum Elfving.(Pl. 1, Fig. 15).
Gerrath and Lobban, 1991:182, Patel and Satyanarayan 1976:57.
Cells 29-36.3 μm long, 22-23.1 μm broad, Isthmus 6-7.8 μm.
Locality: Planktonic in Kotri pond Distt: Dadu 20-12-1996
Cosmarium javanicum Nordst.(Pl. 1, Fig. 16).
Krieger and Gerloff, 1969:88.
Cells 123-135 μm long, 69-75 μm broad, Isthmus 38-5 μm Commonly occur in free floating Ponds at Jamshoro, Distt: Dadu.
Cosmarium leave Rabenhorst. (Pl. 1, Fig. 17)..
Patel and Satyanarayan, 1976:57; Agarkar, 1968:5.
Cells 36-42.5 μm long, 24-28 μm broad, Isthmus 6 μm.
Locality: Rain water in Malir river near Karachi 22-7-97. Rice field near Hyderabad. Also growing with Riccia sp. beside the River Indus.
Cosmarium leave Tadashi Bando et al. 1989;16.
Cells small and longer than broad with deeply constricted. Wall delicately, puncatate, chloroplast axil with central pyrenoid. Cells 50-55 μm long, 36-42 μm broad. Isthmus 7.5-12 μm
Locality: Hussainabad Pond Distt: Hyderabad. 24-5-1997.
Cosmarium lundellii Delponte var.ellipticum West and West. (Pl. 1, Fig. 19).
Patel et al. 1977:101.
Cells 55-60 μm long, 45-50 μm broad, Isthmus 14-15 μm. Wall punctate Locality: Planktonic in Hussainabad Pond Distt: Hyderabad, 26-5-1995.
Cosmarium maculatiforme Shm. (Pl. 1, Fig. 20).
Islam, 1970:924.
Cells 112-125 μm long; 59.5-65 μm broad, Isthamus 38-41.5.
Locality: Riverin Pond Hussainabad Hyderabad.
Cosmarium mamilliferumNordst. (Pl. 1, Fig. 21).
Prasad and Mehrotra, 1977:347.
Cells 33 μm long, 27.5 μm broad. Isthmus 6.5-7 μm.
Locality: Khairpur Saline pond 20-6-1996 .
Cosmarium margaritatum (Lund) Roy et Biss. var. quadrum. (Pl. 1, Fig. 22).
Krieger, 1932:179.
Cells 74.8 μm long, 51.8-56 μm broad. Isthmus 23.5 μm.
Locality. Plankton in River Indus water at Kotri 29-11-97.
Cosmarium microsplinctum Nordst. (Pl. 1, Fig. 23).
Islam et al. 1980:576.
Cells 84-92.4 μm long, 36-45 μm broad, Isthmus 12-14.4 μm body minutly warted.
Locality: Bakar Lake District Sanghar 19-8-1997
Cosmarium moniliforme f. panduriformis Heimel. (Pl. 1, Fig. 24).
Krieger, 1937:180.
Cells 36-42 μm long, 21-22 μm broad. Isthmus 13.2-14 μm.
Locality: Kotri pond Distt: Dadu, 20-12-1997.
Cosmarium norimbergense f. depressa West and West, (Pl. 1, Fig. 25).
Cells 15-19.5 μm long, 12-15.5 μm broad. Isthmus 5.5-6.9 μm.
Locality. Bakar lake Distt: Sanghar, 8-6-97.
Cosmarium pseudopyramidatum Lund. (Pl. 1, Fig. 26)
Prasad and Mehrotra, 1977:349.
Cells 40-45 μm long, 42 μm broad. Isthmus 9.5-11.5 μm.
Locality: Rice field Jamshoro Distt: Dadu 14-8-1996.
Cosmarium quadrum Lund. (Pl.II, Fig. 27).
Patel et al. 1977:101.
Cells 46-50 μm broad, 47-55 μm long. Isthms 15-17.5 μm. Cells as long as broad, or broader than long, densely granulated.
Locality: Plankton in Phulal and Bakar Lake Distt: Sanghar.
Cosmarium quinarium Lundell, (Pl.II, Fig. 28).
Cells 36-39 μm long, 30-35 μm broad, Isth. 8-12 . Cell wall wavy in outline. Locality: Commonly occur in Lakhra thermal power water effluent Distt: Dadu..
Cosmarium regnelli Wille. (Pl.II, Fig. 29).
Islam, 1982:254.
Cells 33-35 μm long, 21 μm broad. Isthmus 4.5-5 μm.
Localaity: Plankton in Phulel lake Distt: Sanghar. 7-10-97.
Cosmarium regnellii Wille f .minusBoldt. (Pl.II, Fig. 30).
Krieger and Gerloff,1969, 43:6.
Cells 15-18 μm long, 9-12.5 μm in broad. Isthmus 2-2.5 μm.
Habit: free floating in thermal power effluent Distt: Dadu.
Cosmarium regnelliiWille var. chondrophorum Skuja. (Pl.II, Fig. 31)
Suxena and Venkateswarlu, 1968:179.
Cells 18-21 μm long, 15-16.5 μm broad. Isthmus 5-6.5 μm.
Locality: plankton Rivirne ponds Jamshoro Distt: Dadu and also in Ponds
near Thatta. This is very common species .
Cosmarium rectangulum Reinsch (Nordst.). (Pl.II, Fig. 32)
Forest, 1954:229.
Cells slightly longer than broad with rectangular shape. Cells 24-28 μm long, 17.5-23 μm broad. Isthmus 7-9.5.
Locality: Free floating in Bakar Lake Distt: Sanghar, 1-5-1996 and Khadajifall, near Thano Bola Khan. .
Cosmarium reniforme (Ralfs) Arch. (Pl.II, Fig. 33)
Suxena and Venkateswarlu, 1968:179.
Cells 46-48 μm long, 40-44 μm broad. Isthmus 9-12 μm.
Locality: Plankton in Kinjhar Lake Distt: Thatta 19-8-1997..
Cosmarium trilobulatum Reinsch. (Pl.II, Fig. 34)
Cells 15-17.5 μm long, 13-15 μm broad. Isthmus 3-4.9 μm.
Locality: Hussainabad pond Distt: Hyderabad,13-4-1997.
Cosmarium subcostatum Nordst fa. (Pl.II, Fig. 35).
Islam, 1982:254.
Cells 35-40 μm long, 30-33 μm broad. Isthmus 7-9 μm.
Locality: Saline Lake Karo gangharo Distt: Badin
Cosmarium subimpressulum Borge. (Pl.II, Fig. 36)
Suxena and Venkateswarlu, 1968:180.
Cells 36-42 μm long, 27-30 μm broad. Isthmus 7-9 μm.
Locality: Rivirian pond at Jamshoro . June 1997 .
Cosmarium sexangulare Lund. (Pl.II, Fig. 37).
Kriegar, 1932:185.
Cells 30-34 μm long 22-26 μm broad. . Isthmus 4.5-6 μm.
Locality: Fresh water pond near Jamshoro, Distt: Hyderabad. 23-9-1994.
Cosmarium vexatum W.West. (Pl.II, Fig. 38).
Islam, 1982:254.
Cells 66-70 μm long, 49-56 μm broad. Isthmus 17-21 μm.
Locality: Seri District Hyderabad and Bakar lake Distt: Sanghar
Genus Euastrum Ehrenberg ex-Ralfs
Euastrum bidentatum Nageli. (Pl.II. Fig. 39).
Oleksowicz, 1984:246.
Cells 59-63.5 μm long, 39.5-50.5 μm broad. Isthmus 17.5-22.5, apex 24.3-25 μm.
Habit: Free floating Jamshoro colony pond. Distt: Dadu.
Euastrum dubium Nag. (Pl.II, Fig. 40).
Prasad and Mehrotra, 1977:344.
Cells 42-46.1 μm long, 36.3-39.6 μm broad. Isthmus 5-6.6 μm.
Locality: Planktonic in Kotri pond March 1995. This form is longer and broader as recorded by West and West (1905).
Euastrum insular (Wittr) Roy. (Pl.II, Fig. 41)
Prescott et al. 1975:72.; Suxena and Venkateswarlu, 1968:171.
Cells 33-34.5 μm long, 23-24.5 μm broad, Isthmus 6-6.6 μm.
Locality: Kinjhar lake Distt: Thatta 4-12-1996. Habit. Free floating. Distribution: cosmopolita
Euastrum sinuosum Lenorm.(Pl.II, Fig. 42).
Islam, 1980:566.
Cells 47-52.8 μm long. 28.8-31.5 μm broad. Isthmus 6.8 μm. Cells with granulation.
Locality. Hussainabad pond Distt: Hyderabad and Khadheji fall near Thano Bola Khan Distt: Dadu .
Euastrum subincisum Reinsch forma.(Pl.II, Fig. 43).
Krieger, 1932:215.
Cells 20-23.5 μm long, 16.5-18 μm broad. Isthmus 6.5-8.
Locality: Chilia fish hatachery Distt: Thatta, 21-12-1996 .
Euastrum sphyroides var.intermidium Luetkm. (Pl:II, Fig. 44).
Cells 51 μm long; 36 μm broad. Isthmus 6-7 μm, cell wall punctates on the side. Locality: Bakar lake Distt: Sanghar.
Euastrum spinulosum Delponate var. spinulosum. (Pl.II, Fig. 45).
Cells 65-80 μm long, width 60-70 μm. Isthmus 15-17.5 μm, spine conical rounded at the base.
Locality: Nai Malir rain water 22.8.1996. Habit. Planktonic.
Distribution: Cosmopolitan.
Euastrum spinulosum Delponte var. inermius Nordtsedt.(Pl.II, Fig. 46).
Cells 66-70 μm long, 55-60 μm in broad. Isthmus 12.5-16.5 μm.
Locality: Planktonic in Kinjhar lake Distt: Thatta. 4-12-1996.
Distribution: Cosmopolitan .
Genus: Micrasterias Agardh
Micrasterias crux-melitensis (Ehrenb) Ralfs var. superflua (Turn) Croasdale.
(Pl. 11, Fig. 47)
Cells with upper lateral lobules tridentate and the extension of the polar lobe bearing curved teeth . Cells 129-145 μm long, 131-135 μm wide. Isthmus 17.5-20 μm.
Locality: Ring dam of river Indus 19.7.1997. Distribution: Cosmopolitan.
Micrasterias Pinnatifida (Kuetz) Ralfs var. Pinnatifida.(Pl.II, Fig. 48)
Prescott et al. 1975:173. Patel et al. 1977:103.
Cells broader than longer deeply constricted, lateral lobes single undivided, conical, extend just before the bifid, polar lobe widely horizontally spreading, its apex flat, slighty convex. Bifid at the end of the branches. Chloroplast with few pyrenoids. Cells 72-80 μm long, 55-85 μm wide, at the apex 55-60 μm. Isthmus 9-12 μm .
Locality: Ring dam of River Indus 19-7-97. Distribution: Cosmopolitan.
Genus: Cosmocladium Breb
Cosmocladium constrictum Arch. (Pl.II, Fig. 49).
Sarim and Faridi, 1988:18.
Cells longer than broad, 16.5-20 μm long, 9.5-12μ broad, isthmus 7.8-9 μm, sub cylindric, with slightly construction at the middle. Chloroplast axile, one in each cell, with central pyrenoid. Cells united by gelations filaments to form branched colonies with irregular shape. Cells arranged distinctly at intervals also at the end of the strands. Locality: Plankton in Bakar lake Distt: Sanghar.
Distribution. Canada, Europe, Japan, Pakistan and U.S.A. .
| PLATE -1 |
| Fig. 1 | Cosmarium arnelli Boldt |
| Fig. 2 | C. bioculatum Breb |
| Fig. 3 | C. blytti Wille var. novaesylvae West and West |
| Fig. 4 | C. blyttii Wille |
| Fig. 5 | C. conspersum Raf var. latum (Breb) West and West |
| Fig. 6 | C. constrictum Deplonte |
| Fig. 7 | C. constractin var. ellipsoideum West and West. |
| Fig. 8 | C. ctenoideum |
| Fig. 9 | C. cycelicum Lund |
| Fig. 10A | C. decoratum West and West |
| Fig. 10B | C. divergens Krieger |
| Fig. 11 | C. dorsitruncatum (Nordst) West |
| Fig. 12 | C. excavatum var. excavatum |
| Fig. 13 | C. gibrellum Lutkem |
| Fig. 14 | C. granatum Bre’bission ex Ralfs |
| Fig. 15 | C. impressulum Elfving |
| Fig. 16 | C. Javanicum Nordst |
| Fig. 17 | C. leave Rabenhorst |
| Fig. 18 | C. leave Rab. f. mayus Borge |
| Fig. 19 | C. lundellii Delponate var. ellipticum West and West |
| Fig. 20 | C. maculatiforme Shm. |
| Fig. 21 | C. mamilliferum Nordst |
| Fig. 22 | C. margaritatum (Lund) Roy and Biss var. quadrum |
| Fig. 23 | C. microsplinctum Nordst |
| Fig. 24 | C. moniliforme f. panduriformis Heimel |
| Fig. 25 | C. norimbergense f. depressa West and West. |
| PLATE -2 |
| Fig. 27 | C. quadrum Lund |
| Fig. 28 | C. quinarium Lundell |
| Fig. 29 | C. regnelli Wille |
| Fig. 30 | C. regnellii Wille f. minus Boldt |
| Fig. 31 | C. regnellii Wille var. chondrophorum Skuja |
| Fig. 32 | C. rectangulum Reinsch (Nordst) Silva |
| Fig. 33 | C. reniforme (Ralfs) Arch |
| Fig. 34 | C. trilobulatum Reinsch |
| Fig. 35 | C. subcostatum Nordst |
| Fig. 36 | C. subimpressulum Borge |
| Fig. 37 | C. sexangulare Lund |
| Fig. 38 | C. vexatum W.West |
| Fig. 39 | Euastrum bidentatum Nageli |
| Fig. 40 | E. dubium Nageli |
| Fig. 41 | E. insular (Wittr) Roy |
| Fig. 42 | E. sinuosum Lenorm |
| Fig. 43 | E. subincisum Reinsch forma |
| Fig. 44 | Euastrum sphyroides var. intermidium Luetkm |
| Fig. 45 | E. spinulosum Delponte var. spinulosum |
| Fig. 46 | E. spinulosum Delponte var. inermius Nordst |
| Fig. 4 | 7Micrasterias crux-melitensis (Ehr.) Ralfs var.superflua (Turn) Croasdale. |
| Fig. 48 | Micraterias pinnatifida (Kuetz) Ralfs. var. pinnatifida |
| Fig. 49 | Cosmocladium constrictum Arch |
| Fig. 50 | Desmidium baileyi (Ralfs) Nord. var. baileyi f. tetragonium Nordst |
| Fig. 51 | Staurastrum connatum (Lund) Roy et al Besset var. connatum |
| Fig. 52 | Arthrodesmus convergens Ehrenberg |
enus: Desmidium Agardh
Desmidium baileyi (Ralfs) Nordst. var. baileyi f.. tetragoniumNordst.
(Pl.II, Fig. 50).
Scott and Prescott, 1961:24; Islam, 1982:256.
Cells 20-21.5 μm long, 28-33 μm broad.
Occurance: Free floating and also attached with grasses, in phulel Distt: Sanghar (Bakar).
Genus: Staurastrum Meyen
Staurastrum connatum Lund. Roy et al Besset var. connatum. (Pl.I, Fig. 51)
Patel et al. 1977:102.
Cells 18-21 μm long, 16.5-20 μm broad without out spines. 24-26 μm long with spines.
Locality: Plankton in Bakar Lake Distt: Sanghar..
Genus: Arthrodesmus Ehrenberg
Arthrodesmus convergens Ehrb. (Pl.II, Fig. 52).
Bharati and Pai, 1972:33.
Cells 43-45.5 μm, 43-44.5 μm broad. Isthmus, 6.5-7 μm.
Occurance: This species occur as planktonic in Riverian Pond Hussainabad Distt: Hyderabad and also in Bakar Lake Distt: Sanghar.