BIODIVERSITY OF PHOTOTROPHS IN ILLUMINATED ENTRANCE ZONES OF SEVEN CAVES IN MONTENEGRO

Abstract

The biodiversity of the entrance zones of the Montenegro caves is barely studied, therefore the purpose of this study was to assess the biodiversity of several caves in Montenegro. The samples of phototrophs were taken from various substrates of the entrance zone of 7 caves in July 2017. A total of 87 species of phototrophs were identified, including 64 species of algae and Cyanobacteria, and 21 species of Bryophyta. Comparison of biodiversity was carried out using Jacquard and Shorygin indices. The prevalence of cyanobacteria in the algal flora and the dominance of green algae were revealed. The composition of the phototrophic communities was influenced mainly by the morphology of the entrance zones, not by the spatial proximity of the studied caves.