Algal Vegetation of Kathara Coalfield Area along Damodar River Basin

The Damodar River basin is one of the most ecologically significant and industrially influenced river systems of eastern India. Within this basin, the Kathara coalfield area of Bokaro district, Jharkhand, represents a unique landscape where intensive mining activities coexist with diverse freshwater habitats. Algal communities in such environments play a crucial role as primary producers, bioindicators of water quality, and key components of aquatic food webs. Despite their ecological importance, systematic studies on algal vegetation in coalfield-affected regions remain limited. This book is an attempt to bridge that gap. Algal Vegetation of Kathara Coalfield Area along Damodar River Basin (Dist. Bokaro), Jharkhand is an original research work done in the Post Graduate Department of Botany, Ranchi University Ranchi,for the purpose of Ph.D. degree during the session 2006 to 2009 under the supervision of Late Prof. (Dr.) Radha Sahu, Professor & Head, University Department of Botany, Ranchi University Ranchi Jharkhand. It presents a comprehensive account of the diversity, distribution, and ecological significance of algae inhabiting rivers, streams, ponds, and other aquatic bodies influenced by coal mining activities. The work is based on extensive field surveys and laboratory analyses, documenting various groups of algae and examining their relationship with physico-chemical characteristics of water. Special emphasis has been given to understanding how anthropogenic pressures, particularly mining and industrial discharge, affect algal composition and abundance. This book is intended to serve as a valuable reference for phycologists, ecologists, environmental scientists, research scholars, and students, as well as for policymakers concerned with freshwater conservation and environmental monitoring. It is hoped that the findings presented here will contribute to a better understanding of algal biodiversity in coalfield regions and encourage further research and conservation efforts in the Damodar River basin and similar ecosystems elsewhere.