Diversity Indices and Growth Parameters of Cyanobacteria from Three Lakes of Rajasthan

Twenty three cyanobacterial strains were isolated from alkaline water samples of three aquatic sites (Anasagar, Pushkar lake and Sambhar lake) from Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Microscopic examination showed one colonial, nine heterocystous and the remaining non-heterocystous filamentous forms. Genera wise distribution showed abundance of Nostoc, Phormidium and Plectonema followed by Anabaena and Westiellopsis. Microcystis and Oscillatoria were least abundant. Nostoc and Phormidium showed highest abundance in terms of CFU/mL followed by Anabaena and Plectonema. Pigments (chlorophyll, carotenoids and phycobilins) and N assimilatory enzymes (nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase) differed significantly amongst the identified cyanobacterial strains.