Biodiversity of Phototrophs and Culturable Fungi in Gobustan Caves

A unique biodiversity of phototrophs and culturable fungi was identified in the caves and grottoes of Gobustan National Historical and Artistic Preserve, with 29 taxa of cyanobacteria and algae, 18 taxa of fungi, and 3 species of mosses detected. Notably, green algae such as Chlorella vulgaris dominated, a pattern atypical for most caves, possibly due to the intense lighting in these habitats. Microfungi like Aspergillus niger and Aureobasidium pullulans were prevalent, particularly in aphotic zones and bryophyte tufts, while cyanobacteria thrived in morphologically differentiated biofilms on rocks. The study, conducted in July 2019, used microscopy, cultivation methods, soil dilution, and the fouling glass method to analyze samples, highlighting the adaptability of these microbial communities to the arid conditions of Gobustan's caves.

Mazina, S. E., Gasanova, T. V., Kozlova, E. V., Popkova, A. V., Fedorov, A. S., Bukharina, I. L., Pashkova, A. S., Larionov, M. V., Abdullayev, R. R. o., & Isaev, V. U. o. (2023). Biodiversity of Phototrophs and Culturable Fungi in Gobustan Caves. Life, 13(1), 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010164