The occurrence of terrestrial algae on two beech sites on a Cambisol

Abstract

AbstractThe occurrence of terrestrial algae on two beech sites was determined qualitatively and quantitatively in the litter, organic and mineral layer. Both sites are beech stands of different age and the soil type is a Cambisol. On the site with young beech the maximal value determined was 1.0 · 108 algae g−1 dw in the litter layer. With increasing soil depth the number of algae decreased on both sites, and at the young beech stand site no algae were found in the mineral soil. Chlorophyceae were the dominant algae group and at the young beech stand Bacillariophyceae were present.