Algal diversity of Kanjiahata lake, Nandankanan, Odisha, India

Kanjiahata Lake popularly known as Nandankanan Lake is situated between 85° 48’ to 85° 50’ E longitudes and between 20° 23’ to 20° 25 ’N latitudes. The water spreads area of this lake is 105 ha. It is an important wetland lying to the south of Mahanadi delta head, within the boundary of Zoological Park, Nandankanan, Bhubaneswar. This lake has been declared as a “Wetland of National Importance” by MoEF & CC, Govt. of India since 2006. There is no published record available on algal diversity of this lake.The algal diversity of this lake has shown 32 genera, 16 families and 10 orders of 3 divisions such as Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta. Altogether 50 algal species were recorded in this study. Chlorophyta is dominantly occurring in the lake. In this study a total of 17 algal species i.e. Sorastrum spinulosum, Coenochlorosis pyrenoidosa, Nephrocytiun lanutum, Cosmarium circulare, Cosmarium forceps, Cosmarium maculatum, Cosmarium pardalis, Cosmarium pseudopyramidatum var. oculatum, Cosmarium tumidum, Staudesmus unguiferus, Xanthidium perissacanthum, Staurastrum arctisconl, Staurastrum sebaldi var. ornatum, Staurastrum senarium, Staurstrum tripyrenoideum were first time recorded from this lake.