ACTA AGROBOTANICA Vol. 66 (1), 2013: 39–52 DOI: 10.5586/aa.2013.005 OBSERVATIONS ON AEROPHYTIC CYANOBACTERIA AND ALGAE FROM TEN CAVES IN THE OJCÓW NATIONAL PARK Joanna Czerwik-Marcinkowska Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Jan Kochanowski University Świętokrzyska 15, 25-420 Kielce, Poland e-mail:
[email protected] Received: 19.04.2012 Abstract Hašler, 2007). At the entrance of limestone caves This study, carried out in 2010–11, focuses on species and on the surfaces around electrical lights, cyanobac- composition and distribution of cyanobacterial and algal com- teria compete for light with other algae, bryophytes munities colonizing ten caves (Biała, Ciemna, Koziarnia, Kra- and ferns, but in the deepest recesses of the caves they kowska, Łokietka, Okopy Wielka Dolna, Sąspowska, Sypialnia, are usually the only phototrophs (Round, 1981). Zbójecka and Złodziejska Caves) in the Ojców National Park Most caves represent stable environments characte- (South Poland). A total of 85 taxa were identified, 35 of them rized by uniform temperatures throughout the year, belonging to cyanobacteria, 30 chlorophytes, and 20 belonging high humidity and low natural light (Hernández- to other groups of algae. Aerophytic cyanobacteria dominated -Mariné and Canals, 1994; Ducarme et al. in these calcareous habitats. Nine species, Gloeocapsa alpina, 2004; Poulič ková and Hašler, 2007; Lam- Nostoc commune, Chlorella vulgaris, Dilabifilum arthopyre- niae, Klebsormidium flaccidum, Muriella decolor, Neocystis prinou et al. 2009). According to Lamprinou et subglobosa, and Orthoseira roseana, were the most abundant al. (2012), a typical cave is described as having three taxa in all the caves. The investigated microhabitats offer re- major habitat zones based on light penetration and in- latively stable microclimatic conditions and are likely to be tensity: the entrance-, transition-, and dim light zone.