I have noticed that during construction of highways, water get accumulated at the construction sites. In these standing water, after sometime, algae can be observed. I want to know from where it grows? How dispersal of algae on a high can be explained?
Dear Swati,
Algae or cyanobacteria are microscopic organisms. I addition the spores they produce get dispersed and remain dormant during unfavourable conditions. On occurrence of favourable environment like water, light and appropriate temperature, they start growing. Very soon, they form dense colonies as they grow very fast and so colonies or mats can be seen very clear and are noticeable.
Dear Swati,
As for the dispersion: Wind, birds and animals can easily transport plankton.
We can isolated algae from different ecosystems even from air like Bacteria.
Hi Swati
I agree with Franz. Algal spores are airborne and get easily transferred to ephemeral water bodies. Birds and animals are potential carrier as well.
Birds may be important algal carriers. But also other animals (including some invertebrates) can disperse freshwater algae. In addition there are some papers reporting on wind-dispersed algae
Here some references:
Foissner, W., 2006. Biogeography and dispersal of micro-organisms: a review emphasizing protists. Acta Protozoologica 45: 111–136.
Foissner, W., 2008. Protist diversity and distribution: some basic considerations. Biodiversity and Conservation 17: 235-242.
Foissner, W. & D. L. Hawksworth (eds), 2009. Protist diversity and geographical distribution. Springer Science, Heidelberg.
Fontaneto, D. & J. Brodie, 2011. Why biogeography of microorganisms? In: Fontaneto D. (Ed.), Biogeography of microscopic organisms. Is everything small everywhere? Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Genitsaris, S., K. A. Kormas & M. Moustaka-Gouni, 2011a. Airborne algae and cyanobacteria: occurrence and related health effects. Frontiers in Biosciences 3: 772-787.
Genitsaris, S., M. Moustaka-Gouni & K. A. Kormas, 2011b. Airborne microeukaryote colonists in experimental water containers: diversity, succession, life histories and established food webs. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 62: 139-152.
Harold E. Schlicting, Jr. was among the first scientists to document the dispersal of algae by birds and wind as part of his life's work.
Schlichting, Harold E. "The role of waterfowl in the dispersal of algae." Transactions of the American microscopical Society (1960): 160-166.
Schlichting Jr, H. E. "The importance of airborne algae and protozoa." Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association 19.12 (1969): 946-951.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00022470.1969.10469362
Schlichting Jr, Harold E. "Ejection of microalgae into the air via bursting bubbles." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 53.3 (1974): 185-188.
Schlichting Jr, Harold E. "Periodicity and seasonality of airborne algae and protozoa." Phenology and seasonality modeling. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1974. 407-413
Schlichting Jr, Harold E. "Some subaerial algae from Ireland." British Phycological Journal 10.3 (1975): 257-261.
Schlichting Jr, Harold E. "Hawaii: an ideal model for international aerobiological research." Aerobiologia 16.3-4 (2000): 335-337.
Terrestreial algae with special adptations to maintain their germ plasm through various modes to maintain its offsprings for ever on the earth. Aerophytic algae, corticolous algae and Lampen flora are good examples for propagule disperssion and adaptability.
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