Algae and cyanobacteria in the aphotic habitats of Veternica Cave (Medvednica Mt., Croatia) and selected caves of the Dinaric karst (South-Eastern Europe)

• DOI: 10.5038/1827-806x.51.3.2422
• Publication Date: 2022-11-17T18:39:41Z
• Authors: Najla Baković; Tanja Pipan; Robert Baković; Roman Ozimec; Josip Rubinić; Renata Matoničkin...
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; QE1-996.5; Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology; Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology; 550; QH301-705.5; cave diatoms; Geology; 910; 15. Life on land; microphototrophs; aphotic cave zone; 03 medical and health sciences; flooding; 900; 14. Life underwater; Biology (General); karst hydrology

Microphototrophs (algae and cyanobacteria) in karst environments have been intensively studied aquatic epigean habitats. In recent decades knowledge about the communities inhabiting cave entrances lampenflora has grown substantially, but data aphotic zone are scarce. This study aimed to investigate spatio-temporal presence of microphototrophs Veternica Cave (Mt. Medvednica karst) present additional preliminary from 22 caves Dinaric karst. The were collected over ten years, parallel with research on phagotrophic protists. addition remains microphototrophs, living algae cyanobacteria found zone. Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) most frequent group found, followed by green (Chlorophyta), golden-brown (Chrysophyta) filamentous (Cyanobacteria). was detected throughout year showed variations. absent parts seeping dripping water, while they occasionally hydrologically active cave. diatoms related hydrological conditions, not affected distance entrance. associated subject various types flooding endogenous exogenous water. Despite fact that passively transported surface habitats, live individuals implies should be neglected discussions food webs. Future focused species identification, their abundance, survival time, detail description conditions determine caves.