Cyanobacterial and algal abundance and biomass in cave biofilms and relation to environmental and biofilm parameters

Authors

Slađana Popović, University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technolpgy and Metallurgy, Center for Ecology and TechnoeconomicsFollow
Nataša Nikolić, University of Belgrade, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”Follow
Jelena Jovanović, Institute of Public Health of Serbia Dr Milan Jovanovic BatutFollow
Dragana Predojević, University of Belgrade, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”Follow
Ivana Trbojević, University of Belgrade, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”Follow
Ljiljana Manić, University of Belgrade, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”Follow
Gordana Subakov Simić, University of Belgrade, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden “Jevremovac”Follow

Highlights

• Study describes method for determination of cyanobacterial and algal abundance and biomass from cave biofilms
• Environmental parameters, distance of the sampling site from the entrance, as well as biofilm parameters (content of water (WC), organic (OM), and inorganic (IM) matter) were also determined
• The relationship of cyanobacterial and algal biomass with other parameters was established using statistical analyses

Abstract

Due to life in extreme environments, cyanobacteria and algae from cave biofilms that form at the entrances or deep inside the cave around artificial lights are of increasing interest to many scientists. It is well-known that many phototrophic microorganisms are first to colonize exposed substrata and produce the organic matter on which other biofilm constituents relly. Many studies dealing with phototrophic microorganisms from biofilms focus on the diversity and community composition of cyanobacteria and algae, while quantitative assessments are rarely implemented. Biofilm sampling was conducted in Degurić and Vernjikica Cave located in Western and Eastern Serbia, respectively. Ecological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, light intensity) and distance from the entrance were measured. Additionally, chlorophyll content, as well as biofilm parameters (water content, organic and inorganic matter) were determined. The abundance of phototrophic microorganisms was assessed on microscope slides which contained 1 mg of biofilm that was dehydrated for a short period of time and homogenized prior to slide preparation, and then rehydratated. The biomass of recorded cyanobacterial and algal taxa was calculated by applying geometric approximations and standard mathematical formulas. In Degurić Cave, at the sampling site where the highest biomass was documented, the higher diversity, water content and chlorophyll values were also recorded, while in Vernjikica Cave a high content of organic matter was documented. According to the multivariate analyses performed, the biomass of simple trichal Cyanobacteria, Bacillariophyta, and Xanthophyta was positively correlated with the content of organic matter in biofilm and light intensity, while coccoid and heterocytous Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta showed a positive correlation with water content in the biofilm, relative humidity and distance from the entrance. The total biomass was positively correlated with the chlorophyll content, organic matter and light intensity, and negatively with the distance from the entrance.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.48.1.2224

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Recommended Citation

Popović, Slađana; Nataša Nikolić; Jelena Jovanović; Dragana Predojević; Ivana Trbojević; Ljiljana Manić; and Gordana Subakov Simić. 2019. Cyanobacterial and algal abundance and biomass in cave biofilms and relation to environmental and biofilm parameters. International Journal of Speleology, 48: 49-61.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol48/iss1/5