New Delhi: Researchers have found a new genus of the Gomphonemoid diatom in the clean river water of the Eastern Ghats. The Indiconema genus stands out due to its unique valve symmetry and other distinct features. These physical characteristics set it apart from other members of the Gomphonemoid group. The discovery has been named Indiconema to value its restricted distribution in the country. The researchers have underlined the importance of diatoms in shaping the biodiversity of India’s diverse landscapes. Let us learn more about Indiconema and what a diatom is.
Indiconema
Indiconema, a new genus of the Gomphonemoid diatom, has been unveiled through the collaborative efforts of scientists from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune.
Unlike its counterparts, Indiconema stands out because it has pore fields at both the head and foot poles.
The evolution of monsoons has structured the rainforest biome across the Indian Peninsula, influencing the varying wetness that directly shapes the diatom flora. This discovery is a testament to the power of collective scientific research in expanding our understanding of the natural world.
The research, published in the journal Phycologia, reports one species of Indiconema from the Eastern Ghats and another from the Western Ghats. ‘Endemic’ in this context means that these species are unique to these specific regions and are not found anywhere else in the world. Similar patterns of sharing endemic elements between the two mountain systems have been observed for other endemic-rich groups, like reptiles. This highlights the unique biodiversity of these regions and the need for their conservation.
Based on this group’s morphological features, the researchers have suggested that Indiconema is a sister to Afrocymbella, a genus endemic to East Africa. As per the early studies, the current study association supports similarities between Gomphonema species from India and those from East Africa and Madagascar.
The discovery of Indiconema underscores the importance of ongoing research and the crucial role of diatom biogeography in shaping the biodiversity of India’s diverse landscapes. This finding is a testament to the significance of our collective scientific efforts in unravelling the mysteries of our natural world, and it highlights the need for continuous exploration and understanding.
What is a diatom?
Diatoms, including the newly discovered Indiconema, are microscopic algae that play a crucial role in the ecosystem. They produce 25 per cent of the global oxygen supply, significantly contributing to Earth’s oxygen cycle. They also form a critical base of the aquatic food chain, providing food for various organisms. Additionally, diatoms are sensitive indicators of marine health due to their responsiveness to changes in water chemistry, making them important for monitoring environmental conditions.
They were the first recorded microorganisms in India.
India’s unique biodiversity includes over 6,000 diatom taxa, of which about 30 per cent are endemic.
India has diverse biogeographic zones that support several diatom species in different habitats, including freshwater, high mountain regions, and marine environments.
The Eastern and Western Ghats have unique physiographic and climatic gradients, providing a wide array of habitats for distinct diatom species.
In groundbreaking research, a new genus of the Gomphonemoid diatom, Indiconema, was discovered in the Eastern and Western Ghats. Let’s learn more about this new genus of the Gomphonemoid diatom. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
