ISSN: 0973-7510
E-ISSN: 2581-690X
Members of Cyanobacteria formed blackish-brown crusts/tufts on the surface of the exposed wall of the temples and monuments of Thanjavur and Thiruvarur districts in Tamil Nadu. Nineteen species of Cyanobacteria belonged to Gloeocapsopsis, Lyngbya, Phormidium, Chroococcus, Nostoc and Tolypothrix were identified. Among them Lyngbya and Phormidium were the major components of the crusts/tufts of different temples.
The organisms grew slowly and possessed a well-defined sheath around their cells/trichome and survived in the extreme climatic conditions prevailed during the summer months.
Epilithic blue green algae, Gloeocapsopsis, Lyngbya, Phormidium, Chroococcus
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