Observations on filamentous blue green algae from Satara district, Maharashtra, India

Aim of the present study was to assess biodiversity of filamentous blue green algae from Satara district. Species were collected from various localities within the study area and identified based on standard literature. In all 23 species belonging to 10 genera viz., Spirulina, Oscillatoria, Microcoleus, Nostoc, Anabaena, Plectonema, Scytonema, Tolypothrix, Calothrix and Westiellopsis within orders Nostocales and Stigonematales have been described. Among these 10 genera fourteen are heterocystous and nine are non heterocystous. Abundance of these filamentous blue green algae shows richness of filamentous forms within the study area. These species are being reported for the first time from the study area.