Summary
Hypolithic algae were found under flint pebbles in the northern part of the Negev desert in Israel. The algae appeared in the contact area between the stone and the loess soil in which it is partially buried. Two types of flint were found in the research area: dark transparent ones and light opaque ones. A significant difference was found in the distribution of algae in these two types: 46.8% of the dark flints bear algae up to a thickness of 40 mm in the main range of 5 to 15 mm, whereas the respective figure for the light flints was 20.9% up to 30 mm only and in the thickness range of mainly 5 to 10 mm. No significant difference could be shown concerning the temperature underneath the two types of flint stones. The dark flint had a higher extinction coefficient than the light flint and this means that a greater amount of light penetrates to a deeper thickness in the dark flint than in the light. It may be assumed that the differences in light penetration explain the wider distribution under the dark flint than the light flint.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cameron, R.E.: Terrestrial algae of southern Arizona. Trans Am. Micro. Soc. 83, 212–218 (1964)
Cameron, R.E., Blank, G.B.: Soil studies-Microflora of desert regions. VIII. Distribution and abundance of desert microflora. Space Programs Summary 37-34, 4, 193–202 (1965)
Danin, A.: A phytosociological-ecological study of the northern Negev of Israel [Hebrew with English Abstract]. Ph.D. Thesis, Hebrew University, Jerusalem (1970)
Evenari, M., Shanan, L. Tadmor, N.: The Negev. Cambridge, Mass. Harvard University Press 1971
Friedmann, E.I., Galun, M.: Desert algae, lichens and fungi. In: Desert biology, Vol. II (G.W. Brown, Jr., ed.), pp. 166–212. London-New York: Academic Press 1974
Friedmann, E.I., Lipkin, Y., Ocampo-Paus, R.: Desert algae of the Negev (Israel). Phycologia 6, 185–200 (1967)
Harbut, C.S. Jr., Dana's manual of mineralogy, 17th ed. (revised). New York: Wiley 1959
Hughes, A.P.: Plant growth and the aerial environment. VI. The apparent efficiency of conversion of light energy of different spectral compensation by Impatiens parviflora. New Phytol. 64, 48–54 (1965)
Israel Atlas: Israel meteorological service and Bialik foundation (1963)
Novichkova-Ivanova, L.N.: Soil algae of middle Asia deserts. In: Eco-physiology foundation ecosystems productivity in arid zones (L.E. Rodin, ed.), pp. 180–182. Leningrad: USSR Academy of Sciences Publishing House Nauka 1972
Steemann-Nielsen, E., Jörgensen E.G.: The adaptation of plankton algae. Physiol Plant 21, 401–413, 647–654 (1968)
Tyler, J.E. and Smith, R.C.: Measurements of spectral irradiance underwater. New York: Gordon and Breach 1971
Vogel, S.: Niedere ‘Fensterpflanzen’ in der südafrikanischen Wüste. Eine ökologische Schiderung. Beitr. Biol. Pflanz. 31, 45–135 (1955)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berner, T., Evenari, M. The influence of temperature and light penetration on the abundance of the hypolithic algae in the Negev desert of Israel. Oecologia 33, 255–260 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344852
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344852