A meta-analysis of environmental factors influencing the algal colonisation in caves and rockshelters worldwide

Microclimate conditions, mainly radiation, temperature and relative humidity vary according to cavities´ configurations and determine the microorganism’s colonisation. A meta-analysis was performed of environmental factors influencing the algal species colonisation in caves and rockshelters. For thi...

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Main Authors: Andrea Belda, Laura García-Abad, Antonia Dolores Asencio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts 2023-09-01
Series:Acta Carsologica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/10928
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author Andrea Belda
Laura García-Abad
Antonia Dolores Asencio
author_facet Andrea Belda
Laura García-Abad
Antonia Dolores Asencio
author_sort Andrea Belda
collection DOAJ
description Microclimate conditions, mainly radiation, temperature and relative humidity vary according to cavities´ configurations and determine the microorganism’s colonisation. A meta-analysis was performed of environmental factors influencing the algal species colonisation in caves and rockshelters. For this purpose, the results of studies about algal colonisation in 82 caves and rockshelters in 11 European, Asian and American countries were analysed. Firstly, 412 species were counted of which Cyanobacteria predominated, followed by Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta, and finally by Rhodophyta. The Shannon Index determined that the diversity of the algal species developing in these places was very high. The most diverse Cyanobacteria genera to appear in the different studied caves and rockshelters are Leptolyngbya with 28 different species, Gloeocapsa with 24 and Phormidium with 23. They are followed by Chroococcus with 18, Aphanothece with 14, Oscillatoria, Nostoc and Scytonema with 10 each and Schizothrix and Tolypothrix with 9 each. The most diverse Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta genera are Chlorella with 9 different species and Diadesmis/Humidophila, Luticola and Nitzschia with 4, respectively. The principal component analysis revealed that both photosynthetically active radiation and relative humidity more actively conditioned the development of some algal species in cave environments than temperature.
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spelling doaj.art-e96993739cb14493bd89968a207181062023-11-03T07:52:27ZengSlovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsActa Carsologica0583-60501580-26122023-09-0152110.3986/ac.v52i1.1092816711A meta-analysis of environmental factors influencing the algal colonisation in caves and rockshelters worldwideAndrea Beldahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9053-2152Laura García-Abadhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4831-4282Antonia Dolores Asenciohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4021-9184Microclimate conditions, mainly radiation, temperature and relative humidity vary according to cavities´ configurations and determine the microorganism’s colonisation. A meta-analysis was performed of environmental factors influencing the algal species colonisation in caves and rockshelters. For this purpose, the results of studies about algal colonisation in 82 caves and rockshelters in 11 European, Asian and American countries were analysed. Firstly, 412 species were counted of which Cyanobacteria predominated, followed by Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta, and finally by Rhodophyta. The Shannon Index determined that the diversity of the algal species developing in these places was very high. The most diverse Cyanobacteria genera to appear in the different studied caves and rockshelters are Leptolyngbya with 28 different species, Gloeocapsa with 24 and Phormidium with 23. They are followed by Chroococcus with 18, Aphanothece with 14, Oscillatoria, Nostoc and Scytonema with 10 each and Schizothrix and Tolypothrix with 9 each. The most diverse Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta genera are Chlorella with 9 different species and Diadesmis/Humidophila, Luticola and Nitzschia with 4, respectively. The principal component analysis revealed that both photosynthetically active radiation and relative humidity more actively conditioned the development of some algal species in cave environments than temperature.https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/10928algaecyanobacteriacavesdiversityenvironmental factorsmeta-analysis
spellingShingle Andrea Belda
Laura García-Abad
Antonia Dolores Asencio
A meta-analysis of environmental factors influencing the algal colonisation in caves and rockshelters worldwide
Acta Carsologica
algae
cyanobacteria
caves
diversity
environmental factors
meta-analysis
title A meta-analysis of environmental factors influencing the algal colonisation in caves and rockshelters worldwide
title_full A meta-analysis of environmental factors influencing the algal colonisation in caves and rockshelters worldwide
title_fullStr A meta-analysis of environmental factors influencing the algal colonisation in caves and rockshelters worldwide
title_full_unstemmed A meta-analysis of environmental factors influencing the algal colonisation in caves and rockshelters worldwide
title_short A meta-analysis of environmental factors influencing the algal colonisation in caves and rockshelters worldwide
title_sort meta analysis of environmental factors influencing the algal colonisation in caves and rockshelters worldwide
topic algae
cyanobacteria
caves
diversity
environmental factors
meta-analysis
url https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/10928
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