Diversity and Species Composition of Epiphytic Terrestrial Algae Exposed to Sulphur Dioxide Emissions Released From Power Plant Station

Abstract

The availability of pollutants serve as either the nutrient source or a precursor to inhibit some algal species, depending on the types of pollutants. This is the reason why epiphytic terrestrial algae (ETA) is suitable to be used as bio-indicator for air pollution. The objective of this study is to determine species diversity of terrestrial algae near power station with regards of its distance from pollutant source (SO 2 ). Terrestrial algae on tree barks were collected near a power plant station at 200 m to 500 m from the pollutant source. Tree barks were randomly chosen and 30 quadrats of 15 x 15 cm were used. A total of 12 species from 6 families and 9 genera has been identified. Simpson's Diversity Index 1-D (0.841) shows that the species of terrestrial algae distributed were relatively high. Station 1 which is located approximately 200 m (closest to the pollutant source from the power plant), recorded the greatest species diversity. The Shannon Index (H') value is alsothe highest in Station 1 (1.802) and the lowest value was recorded for Station 2 (1.569). The number of species found in Station 1 is seven with Trentepohlia abietina as the dominant species. Station 2 and Station 3 each recorded six and seven species respectively with Trebouxia sp. as the most diverse species while Station 4 recorded a total of six species with Printzina lagenifera as the dominant species. Trentepohliaceae was found to be the dominant family (40%) and Trebouxia sp. is regarded as the dominant species which represent approximately 27.59% of all individuals sampled. From this study, it was found that algal diversity within the study area was not significantly affected by exposure to SO2 released from power plant. However, few common algal species such as Apatococcus sp., Chlorococcum sp., Desmococcus sp. and Trentepohlia rigidula was not recorded at the station nearest to the power plant which was Station 1.