New Freshwater Diatom Genus Discovered:
Researchers have discovered a new genus of the Gomphonemoid diatom found in the clean water river of the Eastern Ghats and it has been named Indiconema to value its restricted distribution in the country.
- Indiconema differs in having a pore field at both the head and foot pole rather than having only at the foot pole.
- Researchers reported one species of Indiconema from the Eastern Ghats and another from the Western Ghats.
- A similar pattern of sharing endemic elements between two mountain systems has been observed for other endemic-rich groups, such as reptiles.
- Diatoms are photosynthetic, single celled organisms.
- These are microscopic algae and serve as a base of the aquatic food chain.
- Due to their sensitivity towards any water chemistry changes, they are excellent indicators of aquatic health.
- They are a major group of algae and form one of the most common forms of phytoplankton.
- They are found in almost every aquatic environmentincluding fresh and marine waters.
- Diatoms have cell walls made of silica, Each species has a distinct pattern of tiny holes in the cell wall (frustule) through which they absorb nutrients and get rid of waste.
- Collectively, they are responsible for generating up to 50% of the oxygen produced globally each year.
