Two-Year Assessment of Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Algal Genera in the Kosi River at Ramnagar and Betalghat, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand

Hema Negi; Siddheshwar Singh Maurya

doi:10.21276/pt.2026.v3.i2.12

Two-Year Assessment of Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Algal Genera in the Kosi River at Ramnagar and Betalghat, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand

Authors

Hema Negi P.N.G Govt PG College Ramnagar Nainital Uttarakhand Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5765-3348
Siddheshwar Singh Maurya Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6364-6640

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21276/pt.2026.v3.i2.12

Keywords:

Algal diversity, Seasonal variation, Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Kosi River, Kumaun Himalaya

Abstract

The present study investigated the taxonomic composition and seasonal dynamics of algal communities in the Kosi River at two sampling sites, Betalghat and Ramnagar, located in the Kumaun Himalaya of Uttarakhand, India, over a two-year period (2021–2023). A total of 37 algal genera were recorded and classified into four major groups: Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae, and Xanthophyceae. Among these, Chlorophyceae was the dominant class, represented by 17 genera (44%), followed by Bacillariophyceae with 14 genera (39%), Cyanophyceae with 5 genera (14%), and Xanthophyceae with a single genus (3%). Marked seasonal variations in algal community composition were observed, with the highest diversity occurring during the winter and pre-monsoon seasons, whereas the monsoon period exhibited the lowest diversity. The predominance of Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae was associated with favourable environmental conditions, including lower water temperatures, higher dissolved oxygen concentrations, and relatively stable flow regimes. These findings highlight the critical role of seasonal environmental fluctuations in shaping algal community structure and provide valuable baseline information for long-term biomonitoring, ecological assessment, and conservation of Himalayan freshwater ecosystems.

Author Biographies

Hema Negi , P.N.G Govt PG College Ramnagar Nainital Uttarakhand

Research Scholar, Department of Botany
Siddheshwar Singh Maurya, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand

Professor, Department of Botany

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Published

2026-06-21

Data Availability Statement

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): June 2026 Issue

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How to Cite

Negi H, Maurya SS. Two-Year Assessment of Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Algal Genera in the Kosi River at Ramnagar and Betalghat, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand. phytoTalks. 2026;3(2):925-939. doi:10.21276/pt.2026.v3.i2.12