Myxotrophy of cyanobacteriae and algae inhabiting caves
Bashkir State University
450076 Ufa, Z. Validi, 32
e-mail: abdullinshrbsu@mail.ru
Myxotrophy occurs both in higher plants and microorganisms including cyanobacteriae and algae. At that, in microworld, myxotrophy is rather a rule than an exception. However, in scientific literature, the diversity of mixotrophic lower plants as well as cyanobacteriae, which are functionally close to them, seems to be covered insufficiently. Thus, our study is aimed at making a supplement to the list of researches on detecting myxotrophy among these organisms. Our own researches conducted in 1998—2013 in 53 caves located in Russia and Abkhazia resulted in detecting 297 species and intraspecies taxa of cyanobacteriae and algae that belong to 4 divisions: Cyanobacteria (Cyanoprokaryota), Ochrophyta (Bacillariophyta and Xanthophyta), Charophyta, and Chlorophyta. Most frequently, 15 species occurred, the majority of which is associated with dark zone. This suggests their potential ability to myxotrophy. An experimental study of Nitzschia palea (Kutz.) W. Sm. and Mychonastes homosphaera (Skuja) Kalina et Punc. strains isolated from the "Propaschaya Yama" cave confirmed their myxotrophy that may be considered as an adaptation to inhabiting dark zones of caves.
