First Report of Diversity of Cyanobacteria of Broknes Peninsula of Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica

ABSTRACT Antarctica is an extreme environment and contains many unique geological, glaciological and biological features. However, due to changes in climatic conditions Antarctica is affected by Global warming. The Larsemann Hills area is located in East Antarctica approximately halfway between Vest fold Hills and Amery Ice Shelf on South-eastern coast of Prydz Bay which includes two main peninsulas, the western named Stornes and the eastern named Broknes. The Antarctic environment is highly sensitive and susceptible to the impacts of human activities and has much less natural ability to recover from disturbance than the environment of other continents. Due to coastal location and ice free landscape, Larsemann Hills is an attractive area for human activities which consit on scientific expeditions as well as touristic activities which are currently increasing. It is hypothesized that due to increase in land use pressure, the growth and diversity of Cyanobacteria in this area may be affected. The aim of this study was to record Cyanobacteria from freshwater bodies, rocks and terrestrial habitats. Considering the two main peninsulas, Stornes peninsula comes under the Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ACPA) so the samples were collected from diverse habitats of Broknes Peninsula. Altogether, 16 species of Cyanobacteria belonging to nine genera were recorded from diverse habitat of Broknes Peninsula of Larsemann Hills. This is the first Indian study report of Cyanobacteria of Broknes peninsula of Larsemann Hills. All species are reported for the first time and therefore constitutes new record from this area.