Volvox carteri F. Stein-A New Report from West Bengal, India

Abstract

Abstract In the present paper, a brief description of Volvox carteri F. Stein along with illustration, habitat, limnological parameter, threat, significance, present status and distribution in India had been given. The species belong to the family Sphaerellaceae of the order Volvocales under class of Chlorophyceae. The alga is colonial, spherical and composed of vegetative cells and asexual reproductive bodies (gonidia). Both vegetative cells and gonidia are embedded in mucilaginous matrix. Coenobium is consists of 2500-3000 somatic cells. Most interestingly, when it was found in aquatic bodies, it occurred in great abundance. This alga was noted as green free floating form in the periphery of a pond at Madhusudanpur of Hooghly district in West Bengal. This was sporadic in occurrence in this locality and periodicity was observed from winter to summer. On the basis of published records, it appears to be a new report from West Bengal, India. Limnological study exhibited that the alga grew in moderate alkaline water and there were some organic loads in studied water body because higher COD (chemical oxygen demand), total alkalinity and total hardness values were recorded. Low levels of nutrients in respect of NO3-N (nitrate-nitrogen) and PO4 3-(phosphate) were measured that also supported the growth of this speci