Research Article Open Access

HYPOLITHIC CYANOBACTERIA COLONIZATION OF QUARTZ AT SOUTH DESERT

Roda F. Al-Thani1
  • 1 Qatar University, Qatar

Abstract

Hypolithic microbial communities (found underneath rocks) were encountered in the southern desert of Qatar where quartz rocks are ubiquitous and are a substrate for hypoliths. These hypoliths thrive where extreme temperature, moisture stress and high light intensity limit the occurrence of higher plants and animal life. A small-scale ecological survey indicated that 80% of the quartz rocks in the area were colonized by green hypolithic microbial communities dominated by colonization of cyanobacteria. Using light and electron microscopic analyses; the cyanobacterial community structure of hypoliths was shown to be dominated by cyanobacteria affiliated to the genera Chroococcidiopsis, Aphanothece, Pleurocapsa, Oscillatoria, Lyngbya, Leptolyngbya, Phormidium and Scytonema).

OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences
Volume 14 No. 1, 2014, 57-63

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ojbsci.2014.57.63

Submitted On: 23 January 2014 Published On: 11 February 2014

How to Cite: Al-Thani, R. F. (2014). HYPOLITHIC CYANOBACTERIA COLONIZATION OF QUARTZ AT SOUTH DESERT. OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences, 14(1), 57-63. https://doi.org/10.3844/ojbsci.2014.57.63

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Keywords

  • Qatar
  • Hypolithic
  • Quartiz
  • Cyanobacteria
  • Chroococcidiopsis