iGRC 2014
PROCEEDINGS: International Graduate Research Conference 2014
12 December 2014
Chiang Mai University, THAILAND
Biodiversity and Applications of Euglenophytes in
Various Water Resources in Thailand
Phitsanuphakhin Chaimongkhon*, Chalobol Wongsawat and Yuwadee Peerapornpisal **
Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Abstract
Thailand has abundant water resources, particularly waste water, which are habitats of
many groups of organisms. One of the important groups is planktonic euglenophytes that can
tolerate and survive in polluted water resources. The diversity in terms of species, ecology
and genetics of this planktonic group were studied across the country by using morphological
and molecular biological data, including water quality. Ninety water samples were collected
from all parts of Thailand during 2011-2012 and their physico-chemical properties and water
assessment were determined by using AARL-PC score (Applied Algal Research Laboratory
Physical and Chemical Properties Score). The data showed that 2, 25, 40, 19 and 3 of the
sampling sites were clean, clean to moderate, moderate, moderate to polluted and polluted
water quality respectively. All collected euglenophytes were examined to species under
compound and scanning electron microscopes. The dominant genera were Euglena, Phacus,
Lepocinclis, Trachelomonas and Strombomonas which served as bioindicators for polluted
water quality and euglenoid scums were also found to have a high nutrient content.
Keywords
Euglenophytes, Biodiversity, AARL-PC Score, Bioindicator, Euglenoid scum
Introduction
Members of Euglena, Lepocinclis,
Phacus, Ttachelomonas and Strombomonas
species commonly occur in freshwater, and
are in the euglenoid group, which
encompasses green algae with flagella for
their movement. This group is unicellular,
free-living, and contributes to the
phytoplankton community in various
waters. Many euglenoids are classified as
being cosmopolitan and are ubiquitous in
swamps, pools, ponds, and lakes as well as
in the flowing waters of rivers (Lackey,
1968). In particular, the euglenoids
develop and bloom in eutrophic waters
with
a
high
organic
content
(Lewmanomon, 1995).
Due to the significance of euglenoids in
the composition of phytoplankton, as well
as their being a bioindicator of ecological
data, the present study was carried out
focusing on all parts of Thailand.
Amongst the results, new data about the
diversity and details of the morphology of
the euglenoids are presented and discussed
using a bright field microscope and SEM.
This study also represents the first effort
towards a better understanding of the
microstructure and the ecology of nonloricated euglenoids in Thailand, and
provides essential information about the
environmental preferences and species
diversity of these organisms.
Methodology/Experimental design
Sampling sites
Ninety stations were randomly
selected distributed over the water
resources in all parts of Thailand during
2011-2012
Environmental parameters
Some
parameters
measured
included: temperature (air and water), pH,
and conductivity following standard
procedures. The water quality was
analyzed according to the trophic status
using AARL PC-score (Applied Algal
*Ph.D.Student, Program in Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, e-mail: [email protected]
**Assoc.Prof.Dr., Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University e-mail: [email protected]
*** Assoc.Prof.Dr., Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University e-mail: [email protected]
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PROCEEDINGS: International Graduate Research Conference 2014
12 December 2014
Chiang Mai University, THAILAND
Research Laboratory Physical and
Chemical
Properties
score)
(Peerapornpisal et al, 2004). The data were
classified by cluster analysis MVSP
version 3.1 to study ecological diversity of
detected euglenoids.
Microscopical studies
The phytoplankton were collected
using a plankton net with a pore-size of 10
μm. The collected materials were
subdivided into two samples: one to be
used for immediate study after photos
were taken, using a transmitted light
microscope. The second one was fixed for
later studies with 0.5% Lugol’s solution.
After which, some samples were prepared
for SEM study using a Hitachi S-4700
SEM. Species identification was made
according to textbooks (Prescott, 1978 and
Konrad et al., 2005) and relevant
documents (Marin et al., 2003).
The AARL-PC score showed a mesotrphic
status with moderate water quality at 40
sites, an oligo-mesotrophic status with
clean to moderate water quality at 25 sites,
and a meso-eutrophic status with moderate
to polluted water quality at 19 sites. Three
sites had a eutrophic status with polluted
water quality, and 2 were scored as
oligotrophic with a clean water quality.
There were 8 groups of water
resources where the habitats of euglenoids
which classified by cluster analysis
(MVSP version 3.1) with 70 % similarity
(Figure 1).
Euglenoid scum studies
The scum of euglenoids that
blooms over the surface of water as a
biofilm was collected and air dried. The
nutrient content of scum powder was
analyzed according to the methods
described by AOAC(1990).
Results and Discussion
One hundred and nineteen species,
belonging to the genera Trachelomonas,
Phacus, Strombomonas, Lepocinclis, and
Euglena in 69, 17, 13, 11 and 6 taxa,
respectively, with 1 species each of
Eutreptia, Colacium, and Discoplastis,
were found and 21 species are new records
in Thailand.
Some species were found at a high
frequency, namely, Euglena geniculata
Dujardin, Lepocinclis oxyuris (Schmarda)
Marin et melkonian , L. playfairiana
Deflandre and Phacus orbicularis fo.
communis Popova.
The physico-chemical parameters
of the water depend on climate and the
influence of agricultural activities that
greatly contribute to the organic matter
content in the aquatic ecosystems, where
the greatest species diversity were found.
Figure 1. cluster analysis for grouping water
resources from 90 sampling sites using physicochemical parameters showed 8 group at 70 %
similarity and KPpet01 (7) and Patum01 (8)
separated from other groups.
The sampling site, KPpet01
(Kampangpet site 1) and Patum01
(Prathumthani site 1) separated from the
others with high NH3 and NO3- nitrogen
with the character of water resources as
rice field ponds, depth of water less than
10 cm. The euglenoids were found as a
biofilm scum above the water surface. The
dominant species were Euglena geniculata
Dujardin, E. hemichromata Skuja and E.
proxima Dangeard, and the genus
Lepocinclis was also found (Figures 2 and
3).
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iGRC 2014
PROCEEDINGS: International Graduate Research Conference 2014
12 December 2014
Chiang Mai University, THAILAND
Therefore, the dominant genera:
Euglena, Lepocinclis, Trachelomonas,
Phacus and Strombomonas could be used
as bioindicators to determine water quality.
came from the scum where the dominant
species were E. hemichromata Skuja and
E. sanguinea Ehrenberg and the sample 4
was sampled from a site where
Trachelomonas robusta Svirenko was the
dominant species.
Table 1 The approximate composition of powder
from the euglenoid scum
Sample
1
2
3
4
Figure 2. Euglena in the ditches of Saraphi
District, Chiang Mai: (A) E. geniculata Dujardin,
(B) E. hemichromata Skuja, (C) E. proxima
Dangeard, (D) E. oblonga Schmitz, and (E) E.
splendens Dangeard
Figure 3. Lepocinclis in the ditches of Saraphi
District, Chiang Mai: (A) L. acus (O.F. Muller)
Marin & Melkonian, (B) L. fusiformis (Coster)
Lemmermann, (C) L. playfairiana Deflandre, (D,
L) L. ovum var. dimidio-minor Deflandre, (E, K) L.
ovum var.gracilicauda Deflandre, (F) L. oxyuris
(Schmarda) Marin et melkonian, (G) L. salina
Fritsch, (H) L. salina var. papulosa Conrad, (I, M)
L. spirogyra Koršikov and (J) L. texta (Dujardin)
Lemmermann
* scale bar for light microscopic pictures = 10 μm
The euglenoid scum showed high
nutritional values. The approximate
composition of powder from the scum is
show in Table 1. The sample 1, 2 and 3
Protein
g/100g
25.06
23.82
21.01
17.55
Carbohydrate
g/100g
56.72
48.11
50.64
38.16
Fat
g/100g
9.43
12.34
11.53
6.43
Ash
g/100g
10.04
12.53
9.04
6.28
Several microalgae have been
reported to contain high nutritional
components in their cells. Euglenoid
scums have been shown to have high
nutritional values as well (Lee et al.,
2009). In our study sample 1 had the
highest
content
of
protein
and
carbohydrate. This scum was thick and
was produced by a high diversity of
euglenoid species. In sample 4, is the scum
produced by Trachelomonas species which
have a lorica or protective envelope
surrounding their cell. This scum
characteristically formed a thin layer
above the water surface that led to lower
nutritional values. In general our research
indicated that certain euglenoid scum can
potentially be use as the animal feed.
Conclusion
A study of species diversity of
euglenoids in water resources throughout
Thailand was conducted in 2011-2012
which identified a total of 115 species. We
believe that the summer season and the
agricultural activities affected species
diversity through deposition of high levels
organic
compound.
Therefore
the
euglenoids were the dominant species in
the water with a mesotrophic status of
water quality. The specific genera found
were Phacus,
Lepocinclis, Euglena,
Colacium, Eutreptia and Discoplastis
including a number of new records in
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iGRC 2014
PROCEEDINGS: International Graduate Research Conference 2014
12 December 2014
Chiang Mai University, THAILAND
Thailand. The scum of euglenoids contains
a high carbohydrate and lipid which has
potential for use as a low cost animal feed
in the future.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank the
Pollution Control Department, Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment of
Thailand and Graduate School, Chiang
Mai University for providing grants to
support this research.
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