Cyanobacteria and algae in some caves of the Bashkirskiyi Ural Biosphere Reserve (southern Urals, Bashkortostan Republic, Russia)

摘要

Results of cyanobacteria and algae investigation in some caves within the Bashkirskiyi Ural Biosphere Reserve (Bashkortostan Republic) are presented. 98 species and intraspecific taxa (of Variety or Form rank) were identified, comprising: Cyanobacteria (42 species and intraspecific taxa / 42.86%）; Bacillariophyta (31 species and intraspecific taxa / 31.63%); Chlorophyta (20 species / 20.41%); Charophyta (3 species / 3.06%) and Ochrophyta (2 species / 2.04%). The species Leptolyngbya boryana, Mychonastes homosphaera and Eolimna minima were present in all caves examined. Novomuradyimovskaya Cave contained the greatest number of different species (71 species and intraspecific taxa), with the smallest number in Skazka Cave (23 species and intraspecific taxa). More species were revealed in the illuminated parts of the caves than in the dark zones. Samples collected from cave floors included representatives of more species of cyanobacteria and algae than did those collected from walls, mosses, water and streambed sediments. Probably, the cave- floor habitat acts as a location for the "conservation" of cyanobacteria and algal cells that are brought there by various means.