A. REKHA AND P. SUJATHAMMA
Abstract
Tirumala is a holy place, exploration and documentation of diversity of freshwater algae has not been done here. Freshwater algae include a wide range of organisms that float in the water or grow on submerged surfaces and have the ability to photosynthesis (using sunlight energy, CO2 and water to manufacture organic matter + O2). Fresh water algal samples were collected in small streams and ponds from Tirumala hills of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, in the month of August. Investigations yielded fifty microalgae out of which ten were identified and reported. Seven chlorococcalean taxa, Tetraedron victorieae Woloszynska, Tetraedron regulare Kuetz. var. longispinum (Reinsch) Detoni, Pediastrum tetras (Her.) Ralfs, Coelastrum proboscideum Bohlin, Ankistrodesmus falcatus (Corda) Ralfs, Scenedesmus arcuatus Lemmermann, Scenedesmus opoliensis P. Richter, two desmidacean taxa Micrasteriaspinnatifida Ralfs, Euastrum bombayense Brandham, and One cyanobacterian alga Spirulina princeps W. et G.W. West were reported. Algae are described with photographs. Tetraedron victorieae Woloszynska, Coelastrum proboscideum Bohlin, Micrasteriaspinnatifida (kutz.) Ralfs, Euastrumbombayense Brandham, var. bombayense are the new distributional records to the state of Andhra Pradesh.