Screening and identification of early warning algal species for metal contamination in fresh water bodies polluted from point and non-point sources

The water bodies of Lucknow, Unnao and Kanpur (U.P.), India polluted through various point and non point sources were found to be either eutrophic or oligotrophic in nature. These water bodies supported a great number of algal diversity, which varied seasonally depending upon the physico-chemical properties of water. Further, the water bodies polluted through non point sources supports diverse algal species, while the water bodies polluted through point sources supports growth of tolerant blue green algae. High biomass producing algal species growing in these water bodies have accumulated significant amount of metals in their tissues. Maximum amount of Fe was found accumulated by species of Oedogonium sp. II (20,523.00 μg g⁻¹ dw) and Spirogyra sp. I (4,520.00 μg g⁻¹ dw), while maximum Chromium (Cr) was found accumulated in Phormedium bohneri (2,109.00 μg g⁻¹ dw) followed by Oscillatoria nigra (1,957.88 μg g⁻¹ dw) and Oedogonium sp. I (156.00 μg g⁻¹ dw) and Ni in Ulothrix sp. (495.00 μg g⁻¹ dw). Results showed that some of these forms growing in polluted environment and accumulating high amounts of toxic metals may be used as bioindicator species, however, their performance in metal contaminated water under different ecological niche is to be ascertained.