Relevance of Algae as Biological Indicators of Pollution Management Studies

Abstract

Algae are multicellular or unicellular organisms that photosynthesize but lack the typical features such as leaves, roots, flowers and stems evident in higher vascular plants. They constitute the grasses of the waters. Algae differ in colour and class and occur in all water bodies including lotic and lentic fresh, brackish or salt. An attempt has been made here to establish the fact that as primary producers in aquatic systems, they can be utilised as bio-indicators to ascertain and qualify the outcome of pollutants and assess the degree of contamination in the ecosystem with the ultimate objective of ensuring that local resources used in the water sector applying biodiversity friendly management measures within their day-to-day practices. Among the benefits of utilising algae as bioindicators are short life cycles and rapid reproduction, direct influences by physical and chemical environmental factors, a cost effective monitoring tool, and ease of sampling, less labour and less impact on other organisms. Besides, their role in removing different pollutants including heavy metals and other toxic substances from aquatic environments qualify them as candidates for bionindicators.