Scholarlink

<p>Marine caves, often overlooked hotspots of biodiversity, provide unique habitats for specialized species. Located on the Mediterranean coast, Rosh HaNiqra is a midlittoral cave renowned for its vibrant epilithic algal community. In the study reported here, we explored the light environment, algal composition, and ecological dynamics of the Rosh HaNiqra cave. Light measurements revealed that illumination in the cave ranged from 0.5 to 2.5% of the sunlight recorded at the mouth of the cave, with variations across seasons and times of day, peaking during summer, and an increase in red wavelengths towards sunset. Biodiversity assessments, including <i>rbc</i>L gene sequencing studies, identified <i>Hildenbrandia rubra</i> (red alga) as the principal alga, together with <i>Blidingia dawsonii</i> (green alga), cyanobacteria, and mosses, forming a “Balcony of Colors”. The cave's conditions were found to be most favorable for <i>H. rubra</i> in the autumn through early winter, when the cave provides a critical refuge where this alga thrives in stable, low-light conditions, demonstrating high photosynthetic efficiency even in reduced light. Our study of algal distribution showed seasonal fluctuations, with peak coverage during warmer months and a decline in winter. This study not only deepens our understanding of Rosh HaNiqra's cave ecosystem but also provides an essential baseline for future ecological and conservation research in marine caves.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Seasonal dynamics of Hildenbrandia rubra in a Mediterranean marine cave: insights into the algal community and biodiversity

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年2月12日

查看全文
  • David Iluz,
  • Sophia Barinova,
  • Danielle Mayer,
  • Efrat Golstein,
  • Elena Cherniavska,
  • Alla Alster,
  • Zvy Dubinsky,
  • Said Abu-Ghosh

摘要

Marine caves, often overlooked hotspots of biodiversity, provide unique habitats for specialized species. Located on the Mediterranean coast, Rosh HaNiqra is a midlittoral cave renowned for its vibrant epilithic algal community. In the study reported here, we explored the light environment, algal composition, and ecological dynamics of the Rosh HaNiqra cave. Light measurements revealed that illumination in the cave ranged from 0.5 to 2.5% of the sunlight recorded at the mouth of the cave, with variations across seasons and times of day, peaking during summer, and an increase in red wavelengths towards sunset. Biodiversity assessments, including rbcL gene sequencing studies, identified Hildenbrandia rubra (red alga) as the principal alga, together with Blidingia dawsonii (green alga), cyanobacteria, and mosses, forming a “Balcony of Colors”. The cave's conditions were found to be most favorable for H. rubra in the autumn through early winter, when the cave provides a critical refuge where this alga thrives in stable, low-light conditions, demonstrating high photosynthetic efficiency even in reduced light. Our study of algal distribution showed seasonal fluctuations, with peak coverage during warmer months and a decline in winter. This study not only deepens our understanding of Rosh HaNiqra's cave ecosystem but also provides an essential baseline for future ecological and conservation research in marine caves.