Conclusion

Understanding ecological characteristics and habitat preferences of microalgae are crucial to avoid contamination issues in large scale microalgal production systems, especially while using wastewater as a source of nutrient for algal growth. , Season tolerant strains would ensure year-round microalgal biomass productivity and reduce the effort as well as additional operating costs involved in eliminating species turn over. This research has provided valuable insights pertaining to the seasonal dynamics of diatoms along an estuarine shoreline of Indian west coast in-order to screen tolerant diatoms species over sensitive ones. Amphora sp., Nitzschia sp., Navicula spp., Achnanthes sp., Melosira sp., Coscinodiscus sp., and Cyclotella sp. have better tolerance to seasonal variations in water quality with potential to phyco-prospecting these indigenous strains.

RECOMMENDATION

Screening a diatom or consortia of dominant diatom species capable of surviving in rugged environmental conditions, could become ideal candidates for third-generation biofuel cultivation system on a regional basis, especially suitable for tropical countries like India. Lab-scale results on indigenously isolated mixed consortia of diatoms reinstate its potential and prospects of diatoms becoming valuable feedstock for third generation biofuel production as well as value-added products.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors acknowledge the financial support from i) ISRO – IISc space technology cell [ISTC/BES/TVR/389] and Gajanana and Madhavi Hegde [CES/TVR/GJH001] endowment for biofuel research; ii) the NRDMS division, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India [CES/TVR/DST1045]; iii) Advanced Facility for Microscopy and Microanalysis for SEM imaging; iv) Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) field station, Indian Institute of Science and colleagues at EWRG, IISc field station for field assistance during field sampling.

AUTHORS CONTRIBUTION

Saranya G: design and performed experiments, data analyses, manuscript writing.

Ramachandra T V: conceptualization and design of experiments, validation of experiment, data analysis and interpretation of data, article revision, and final editing.