What is Gomphonema rajaguruii?

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About Gomphonema rajaguruii:

It is a new freshwater diatom species.
It was found in a semi-aquatic environment along the wet walls in Maharashtra’s popular hill station, Mahabaleshwar in Satara District.
It was named after a veteran geo-archaeologist from the city, the late Professor S N Rajaguru.
It is unique because it shows the characteristics of two genus – Gomphonema and Gomphoneis.

What are Diatoms?

It is a photosynthetic, single celled organism.
They are a major group of algae and form one of the most common forms of phytoplankton.
They are found in almost every aquatic environment including fresh and marine waters.
Diatoms have cell walls made of silica, Each species has a distinct pattern of tiny holes in the cell wall (frustule) through which they absorb nutrients and get rid of waste.
Collectively, they are responsible for generating up to 50% of the oxygen produced globally each year.

Q1) What is an Algae?

Algae are a diverse group of aquatic organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis. Certain algae are familiar to most people; for instance, seaweeds (such as kelp or phytoplankton), pond scum or the algal blooms in lakes. However, there exists a vast and varied world of algae that are not only helpful to us, but are critical to our existence.

Source: New oxygen-supplying algae species found in Mahabaleshwar, named after Pune scientist