Diversity of Freshwater Algae Recorded in Maharashtra, India: A Comprehensive Review (2000-2024)

Freshwater algae represent a crucial component of aquatic biodiversity, contributing significantly to ecosystem functioning, nutrient cycling, and environmental monitoring. Maharashtra, owing to its diverse climatic and hydrological conditions, supports a wide spectrum of freshwater habitats that harbor rich algal diversity. The present review compiles and synthesizes records of freshwater algal taxa reported across Maharashtra from 2000 to 2024. The study highlights the dominance of major algal groups such as Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae, and Euglenophyceae, with variations observed across riverine, lentic, and seasonal water bodies. Spatial analysis reveals higher diversity in river basins and reservoirs compared to urban water bodies, where pollution-tolerant taxa predominate. The review emphasizes the ecological significance of algal diversity, identifies regional research gaps, and underscores the need for systematic documentation and biodiversity informatics approaches for conservation and sustainable management.