BIODIVERSITY OF PHOTOTROPHS IN ILLUMINATED ENTRANCE ZONES OF SEVEN CAVES IN MONTENEGRO

Ekaterina V Kozlova,Vladimir Pešić,Svetlana E Mazina

doi:10.37828/em.2019.20.3

Ekaterina V Kozlova, Vladimir Pešić + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2019.20.3

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Abstract

The biodiversity of the entrance zones of the Montenegro caves is barely studied, therefore the purpose of this study was to assess the biodiversity of several caves in Montenegro. The samples of phototrophs were taken from various substrates of the entrance zone of 7 caves in July 2017. A total of 87 species of phototrophs were identified, including 64 species of algae and Cyanobacteria, and 21 species of Bryophyta. Comparison of biodiversity was carried out using Jacquard and Shorygin indices. The prevalence of cyanobacteria in the algal flora and the dominance of green algae were revealed. The composition of the phototrophic communities was influenced mainly by the morphology of the entrance zones, not by the spatial proximity of the studied caves.

Highlights

The subterranean karst forms represent habitats that considered more climatically stable than the surface
We studied phototrophic communities of seven caves located in the southern part of Montenegro characterized by the different morphology of entrance zones
In terms of taxonomic richness, the communities composition of studied caves was dominated by Cyanobacteria and algae (Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta and Ochrophyta) and which is consistent with many studies

Summary

Introduction

The subterranean karst forms represent habitats that considered more climatically stable than the surface. Cave climate is characterized by the low positive temperatures, high relative humidity and lack of lighting (Vanderwolf et al 2013). Seasonal and daily fluctuations of these parameters can be observed at the entrance zones of the caves, yet they remain more stable than on the surface (Prous et al 2015). The entrance areas of caves, include habitats with low levels of photon fluxes, are characterized by a light gradient that allows phototrophs to develop. Considered close to the communities of the entrance zone of the caves, the lampenflora communities represent photosynthetic species growing in the excursion caves near the lamps. There were not enough studies on the flora in Montenegro prior to 2018, when Mazina & Kozlova (2018) have researched

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