Abstract
Depending on the intensity, quality and duration ofthe illumination, necessary for viewing show caves,conditions conducive for algal growth are created. Although algae are the major component of this flora,ferns and mosses have also been recorded. Little isknown of the algae, except that they are considered anuisance in terms of discoloration and damage to thekarst formations. The occurrence and possible controlof the algal flora has been studied in the CangoCaves, one of the most important touristic sites inSouth Africa. The algal flora is sparse in speciesdiversity and primitive forms are present. They haveparticular physiological adaptations and usingmicro-oxygen liberation and fluorescence measurements,their photosynthetic characteristics were established. Environmentally friendly control measures wereinvestigated and a solution for their control is proposed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albertano P (1993) Epilithic algal communities in hypogean environment. Giorn. Bot. Ital. 127: 385-392.
Cigna AA (1993) Environmental management of tourist caves. The examples of Grotta di Castellana and Grotta Grande del Vento, Italy. Envir. Geol. 21: 173-180.
Corstorphine GS (1897) The Cango Cave. First Annual Rep. Geol. Comm., Cape of Good Hope for 1896, 42-45.
Cox G (1977) Report. 7th International Speleological Conference, International Union of Speleology, p. 131.
Dobat K (1969) Die Lampenflora der Bärenhöle. InWagner G (ed.), Die Bärenhöle bei Erpfingen. Erpfingen, 29-35.
Dubinsky Z, Falkowski PG, Post AF, Van Hess UM (1987) A system for measuring phytoplankton photosynthesis in a defined field with an oxygen electrode. J. Plankt. Res. 9: 607-612.
Grobbelaar JU (in press) Algae: a major threat to show caves. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol.
Grobbelaar JU, Nedbal L, Tichy L, Setlik I (1995) Variations in some photosynthetic characteristics of microalgae cultured in outdoor thin-layered sloping reactors. J. appl. Phycol. 7: 243-260.
Grobbelaar JU, Nedbal L, Tichy V (1996) Influence of high frequency light/dark fluctuations on photosynthetic characteristics of microalgae photoacclimated to different light intensities and implications for mass algal cultivation. J. appl. Phycol. 8: 335-343.
Heaton T (1986) Caves: A tremendous range of energy environments on Earth. Nat. Speleol. Soc. News. August, 301-304.
Hoffmann L (1989) Algae of terrestrial habitats. Bot. Rev. 55: 77-105.
Pulido-Bosch A, Martin-Rosales W, Lóperz-Chicano, Rodrígues-Navarro CM, Vallejos A (1997) Human impact in a tourist kartic cave (Aracena, Spain). Envir. Geol. 31: 142-149.
Simpson BB, Ogorzaly MC (1995) Economic Botany, Plants in our world. McGraw-Hill, New York. 742 pp.
Schreiber U, Bilger W (1987) Rapid assessment of stress effects on plant leaves by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements. In Tenhunen JD, Catarino FM, Lange OL, Oechel WC (eds), Plant response to stress, NATO ASI Series, G15: 27-53.
Stanier RY, Kunisawa R, Mandel M, Cohen-Bazire G (1971) Purification and properties of unicellular blue-green algae (Order Chroococcales). Bact. Rev. 35: 171-205.
Van der Heever JA, Grobbelaar JU (1996). Evaluation of a short-incubation-time small-volume radiocarbon-uptake algal toxicity test. J. appl. Phycol. 8: 65-71.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grobbelaar, J.U. Lithophytic algae: A major threat to the karst formation of show caves. Journal of Applied Phycology 12, 309–315 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008172227611
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008172227611