MICROBIAL DIVERSITY AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES OF TWO HOT WATER SPRINGS IN THE GARHWAL HIMALAYA, INDIA

Abstract

The water samples were collected from two different hot water springs (Ringigad and Saldhar) of the Garhwal Himalaya for a period of two years. During the study period, the water sample was collected two times (June and August) each year for the analysis of physico-chemical attributes and isolated microorganisms including bacteria, archaea and fungi. A total of fifteen physico-chemical parameters were studied during the study period that includes the water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, free carbondioxide, salinity, total dissolved solids, chlorides, total alkalinity, nitrates, sulphates, phosphates, total hardness, calcium and magnesium. Seven bacterial strains along with four archaeal and three fungal strains were isolated and identified in Ringigad thermal spring with α-diversity of 14. However, the α-diversity in Saldhar thermal spring was recorded to be 12 with six bacterial, three archaeal and three fungal strains. The temperature of water ranged between 820C and 890C for Ringigad and between 870C and 920C for Saldhar.