Original paper
Cyanophytes from the L'Aigua cave (Alicante, SE Spain) and their environmental conditions
Beltrán, José A; Asencio, Antonia D.
published: 12/1/2009
DOI: 10.1127/1864-1318/2009/0132-0021
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ArtNo.: ESP221013200002
Abstract
As part of an extensive study of the caves in the Province of Alicante (SE Spain), floristic and environmental data for the L'Aigua cave are presented. This cave is 4.0-9.0 m deep, 3.0 m high, 12.0 m wide and is located in a karstic region. All the microorganisms determined from the L'Aigua cave were Cyanophyceae. Thirteen epilithic and chasmoendolithic Cyanophyceae were identified. The species studied belong to the order of the Chroococcales (53.8 %), followed by Oscillatoriales (23.1 %) and Nostocales (23.1 %). Calothrix elenkinii, Gloeothece confluens and Hormothece cylindrocellulare have not been previously reported in caves. Aphanothece saxicola, Gloeothece confluens and Pleurocapsa minor are cited for the first time as species of chasmoendolithic growth in caves. Photosynthetic active radiation (P. A. R.), relative humidity and temperature were measured, and the environmental ranges of conditions where growth occurred fluctuated between 0.3-1254.0 μE m-2 s-1, 24.7-81.5 % and 15.0-29.4 °C, respectively.
Keywords
cave • chasmoendolithic • cyanophyceae • epilithic • microclimate • se spain