Aquatic algae has drawn much attention due to their primary productivity in the food chain of water ecosystem diversity, their biological assessment of water quality, pollution abatement capacity and as a source of structurally novel and biologically active metabolites with antimicrobial capacity etc. Distribution of fresh water algae of River Narmada in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh, has been investigated. Fresh water algal samples for a period of three consecutive years were collected seasonally viz., winter,summer and rainy seasons from two unexplored selected sites along the bank of River Narmada. Seventeen algal taxa comprising eight Chlorophyceae, four Cyanophyceae and five Chrysophyceae as unicellular, colonials and filamentous algae were identified based on microscopic observation and characters such as average filament length, colonial characteristics. Results revealed that these microalgae belonging to three major classes Chlorophyceae (green algae), Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) and Cyanophyceae (blue green algae) follows a seasonal succession in their distribution and abundance. Maximum algal taxa belonged to green algae followed by blue- green algae and diatoms. The occurrence of fresh water algae, their diversity and distribution was interpreted with water quality and its physico-chemical characteristics. The present study not only discusses the basic information of fresh water algal presence, distribution but also helps for future environmental monitoring studies.

Keywords : Aquatic Algae, River Narmada, Mandla District.