The Correlation of Soil Algae, Airborne Algae, and Fern Spores with Meteorological Conditions on the Island of Hawaii

摘要

Correlations of the generic diversity of soil and airborne algae withaltitude on the island of Hawaii are noted. Distribution of the soil algae was determined by culturing an aqueous soil extract from designated altitudes on agarizedinorganic growth media. Distribution of airborne algae and fern spores was determinedby investigations of viable particulate impactions on the surface of agarizedinorganic growth media identical to that used in culturing the soil samples.Little correlation occurs between the generic diversity of the airborne and soilalgae at corresponding altitudes, which suggests a cosmopolitan mixing of airbornepropagules that have been released from different altitudes. However, strikingrelationships were noted in the quantitative determinations of airborne green andblue-green algae and of fern spore impactions with the varying meteorologicalconditions of rain, fog-mist, and clear, sunny conditions accompanying thealtitude change.