Taxonomic studies of Cyanobacteria and algae in soil crust of USTM Campus, Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya
Carefulness M. Dirborne* and Novarene Jyrwa1
*Department of Botany, Lady Keane College, Shillong-793001 (India) 1Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Baridua, Ri Bhoi-793101 (India) *Address for correspondence: cariedirborne@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Cyanobacteria and algae in soil crust of USTM Campus located in Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya were investigated. A total of 22 species were observed from crust collected from various sites. Cyanobacteria was dominant (14 species) followed by Chlorophyceae (4 species) and Zygnematophyceae (2 species). Trebouxiophyceae and Ulvophyceae were observed with one species each. Cyanobacteria such as Scytonema and Schizothrix were dominant while filamentous green algae of the genus Microspora was also observed on the upper surface of the soil. Significant positive correlation (p<0.05) between the chlorophyll content in crust with soil parameters revealed that the growth of Cyanobacteria/ algae positively influenced the moisture content and organic carbon in the soil.