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Species in News: Oedocladium sahyadricum
Context:
A group of psychologists from the Department of Botany at Catholicate College in Pathanamthitta discovered a new algal species in the Western Ghats.
More on News:
- The species, Oedocladium sahyadricum, was found in the natural forests of Kumbhavurutty region in Kollam district.
- The name ‘sahyadricum’ refers to the Western Ghats (Sahyadri), known for its plant diversity and ideal conditions for terrestrial microalgae.
- The discovery has been published in Taiwania, an International Journal of Biodiversity.
Features of Oedocladium sahyadricum:
- It is dioecious and terrestrial, with a superior operculum and ellipsoid oogonium and oospore.
- The alga was discovered as a thin mat of elongated strands on damp soil.
- Resembling moss protonema, the species is velvety green but turns yellowish-green as it matures.
- Rainy weather is likely required for its abundant growth.
Significance and Potential Applications:
- This is the first recorded species in the Oedocladium category in Kerala.
- Kerala, part of the Western Ghats, is not well-studied for soil green filamentous algae.
- Species have potential applications in medicine, agriculture, and production of the natural pigment astaxanthin, known for its unique biological activities and health benefits.
- Algae play a significant role in ecosystems and have enormous economic importance, from high-value products to wastewater treatment.
Western Ghats:
- The Western Ghats mountain chain represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes.
- Older than the Himalaya mountains
- It has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism.
- Recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity.
- Home to various globally threatened species of flora, fauna, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
- The forests include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests.
