Locality: Bhutan (27.332740, 90.439450)

Abstract: The knowledge of the plants of Bhutan, especially concerning the freshwater Algae is understudied. During the summer (August-September) of 1958, Prof. Dr. Sasuke Nakao made what is believed to be the first freshwater algae survey in Bhutan at the request of M. Hirano. Hirano (1964, 1966) reports algae observations based on these specimen collections. The collections of algae consisted chiefly of specimens obtained from high elevation areas of Bhutan including Bumthang, Gasa, Thimphu, and Haa Districts. Collection sites are noted and ranged from 2700 meters above sea level (asl) to an elevation of 4500 m asl. The vegetation consisted of evergreen forest at 2700 m and Abies-forest at 3200–3300 m. Some algae were obtained among mosses growing on tree-trunks. The vegetation changes to Juniper forest at about 3500 m were trees were reported to be covered with Mecodium species. The highest collecting sites were at an elevation of about 4500 m at Pame Tso. The algae found in the ponds of Pame Tso (4500 m) and Tsamba (about 3600 m) are composed primarily of desmids and diatoms. The climate of the Himalayan region is complicated but becomes generally wetter toward the east, especially compared with the western dry parts of the Nepal Himalaya and Karakoram.

References:
Hirano, Minoru. 1966. Freshwater Algae of Bhutan II. Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica. Vol. 22, No. 1-2 p. 44-48.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bunruichiri/22/1-2/22_KJ00002992821/_article

Hirano, Minoru. 1964. Freshwater Algae of Bhutan I. Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica. Vol. 21, No. 5-6, p. 181-192.
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bunruichiri/21/5-6/21_KJ00001077975/_article

Notes: Project supported by the United States Fulbright Scholar Program, Washington, D.C. (2017). The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government.