Picocystis Salinarum

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About Picocystis Salinarum

It is a globally widespread picoplanktonic green alga of saline lakes.
It is one of the smallest green algae.
It is found in hypersaline soda lake Sambhar, Rajasthan, to survive extreme environments. Though the alga had been widely found in saline-soda lakes around the world, it was spotted for the first time in India only in the Sambhar Lake.
The unique organism apparently enhances photosynthesis and ATP synthesis along with chaperone proteins as key response to high salinity-alkalinity.
Enhanced photosynthetic activity exhibited by P. salinarum in highly saline-alkaline condition is noteworthy as photosynthesis is suppressed under hyperosmotic conditions in most photosynthetic organisms.

Key facts about Sambhar Lake

It is India’s largest saline wetland located in Rajasthan.
It is a ephemeral salt lake,
It is also a designated Ramsar Site (recognized wetland of international importance).
It represents the depression of the Aravalli Range.
This inland lake receives water from five rivers, namely Samaod, Khari, Mantha, Khandela, Medtha, and Roopangarh.

Q1) What are Algae

Algae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that range from microscopic single-celled organisms to large, multicellular seaweeds. They are found in various aquatic environments, including freshwater, saltwater, and even in moist terrestrial habitats like rocks and soil.

Source: Inspire Faculty fellow decodes molecular mechanism behind intriguing green alga surviving in extreme conditions like saline-soda lakes