Three species of green algae and one blue-green alga were recorded from eight samples of soil found associated with bryophytes in the Cibodas Forest Reserve. Chemical analysis of the soil showed severe leaching of soluable mineral substances associated with a low pH. The low light intensity under forest conditions and the low pH may account for the limited algal flora

Johnson, Anne

REINWARDTIA

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REIN WARDTIAPublished by Herbarium Bogoriense — LBN, BogorVol. 8, Part 4, pp. 495 - 498 (1974)THE SOIL ALGAE OF CIBODAS FOREST RESERVEANNE JOHNSONBiology Department, Nanyang University, Singapore 22SUMMARYThree species of green algae and one blue-green alga were recordedfrom eight samples of soil found associated with bryophytes in the Cibodas 'Forest Reserve. Chemical analysis of the soil showed severe leaching ofsoluable mineral substances associated with a low pH. The low lightintensity under forest conditions and the low pH may account for thelimited algal flora.Small samples of epiterranean and epiphytic soil from Cibodas ForestReserve, Indonesia were received together with bryophytes collected bythe Botany Honours Students (University of Singapore) taking part inthe first BIOTROP Training Course in Ecological Plant Taxonomy inAugust 1969. The samples which were stored in polythene bags werereceived a few weeks after collection. The soil was carefully separatedfrom the bryophytes and liquid cultures were set up following the methodof John (1942). In this method small quantities of soil were introducedinto a nutritive solution in conical flasks under sterile conditions. Thenutritive solution was modified Knop's solution (Pringsheim, 1946) atfull strength. The cultures were exposed to daylight in a window atapproximately 26°C. The day-length was about 12 hours.In three of the samples where sufficient soil was available, an analysiswas made of nitrate, phosphate, calcium, ammonium, nitrite, magnesium,iron, aluminium, manganese, chloride, potassium, sulphate and hydrogenion (pH), using Simplex soil-test methods supplied by Nasco IndustriesIncorporated, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, U.S.A.RESULTSAfter about ten days the liquid cultures showed the appearance ofalgal growth and this continued until staling set in after six months.The pH of the cultures remained at 5.6 for two months and were adjustedto this value where the pH started to rise. The algae appearing in thevarious samples are listed below.495496 REINWARDTIA [VOL. 8Cibodas Locality 1, epiterranean, 1400—1500 m, collected 20.8.69.Apatococcus lobatus (Chod.) Boye Petersen.Cibodas Locality Z, epiterranean, ground covered with rocks and tree roots, abundantorganic matter, 1500 m, collected 21.8. 69.Apatococcus lobatus (Chod.) Boye Petersen.Cibodas Locality 4, on ground in the shade, 1400 m, collected 16.8.69.Apatococcus lobatus (Chod.) Boye Petersen.Desmococcus vulgaris Brand.Cibodas Locality 5, epiterranean, 1500 m, collected 19.8.69.Apatococcus lobatus (Chod.) Boye Petersen.Chlamydomonas (Chlamydomonas) sp.Cibodas Locality 6, epiterranean, rocky, shaded, 1400 — 1600 m, collected 18.8.69.Apatococcus lobatus (Chod.) Boye Petersen.Cibodas Locality 7, on ground, in shade, 1600 m, collected 22.8.69.Apatococcus lobatus (Chod.) Boye Petersen.Cibodas Locality 8, epiphytic on bark of trees, 1500 m, collected 21.8.69.Apatococcus lobatus (Chod.) Boye Petersen.Desmococcus vulgaris Brand.Anabaena anomala Fritsch.Cibodas Locality 30, waterfall at 1600 m, rocky ground, collected 14.8.69.Apatococcus lobatus (Chod.) Boye Petersen.Anafoaena anomala Fritsch.The soil from localities 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 (all epiterranean) wasof a richly organic nature and very dark in colour. The soil from locality8 (epiphytic) was also dark coloured with only very fine particles oforganic debris. This soil had accumulated beneath a cover of moss. Thesoil from locality 30 was a paler coloured alluvial clay with less organicmatter. The chemical analysis of localities 7, 8 and 30 is given below.1974] JOHNSON: Cibodas soil algaeThe results above show two outstanding features: (i) the extremepoverty of algal flora in the localities examined, and (ii) the very acidnature of the soil which shows signs of severe leaching of soluable mineralelements despite the high organic content. In this investigation only theextreme top soil was examined.As was expected Apatococcus lobatus was ubiquitous. This species ora close relative is to be found in an active or dormant state in nearly allsoil samples of whatever origin. Desmococcus vulgaris was found in oneof the epiterranean localities (4) and as an epiphyte (8). These twospecies are closely related and both form cubical clusters of cells. InApatococcus lobatus there is no pyrenoid and the division is less regular.This species may develop parenchymatous outgrowths in culture. In Des-mococcus vulgaris a pyrenoid is present, although this may be difficultto see. Division ia regular and outgrowths are uniseriate. It is mostreadily identified by the verrucose aporocysts which have the appearanceof Trochiscia (Bourrelly, 1966). An unidentified species of Chlamydo-monas was abundant in culture from locality 5. The nitrogen fixing blue-green alga, Anabaena anomala was found in the epiphytic soil and inthe waterfall. This grew exceedingly well in culture forming a thingelatinous matrix of contorted filaments (Desikachary, 1959). Thisspecies has been found in rice-field soils in India (Fritsh, 1939) andSumatra (De, 1939). Its taxonomic position is obscure since it resemblesNostoc in some features. Fritsch suggested it be placed in Isocystis.A tropical forest reserve with continuous canopy cover is not a favour-able locality for terrestrial algae due to the extremely low light intensityat level. The soil examined here was found in association with bryophyteswhich would further reduce the light available. Previous results inSingapore (Johnson, 1962) showed the absence of pigmented algae in498 REINWARDTIA [VOL. 8Mac Ritchie Reservoir Forest under heavy shade conditions. In this forestthe pH of the top-soil was 5.7. The top-soil in Cibodas is extremely acid(pH 4.0) which would limit the species in lighted areas to acid-tolerantspecies.REFERENCESBOUEEELLY, P. (1966). Les algues d eau douce. Tome I: Les algues vertes. Paris.DE, P.K. (1939). The role of the blue-green algae in nitrogen fixations in rice fields.In Proc. roy. Soc. Lond. ser. B., 127: 121 - 139.DESIKACHAEY, T.V. (1959). Cyanophyta. New Delhi.FRITSCH, F.E. (1939).JOHN, R.P. (1942). An ecological and taxonomic study of algae of British soils I.The distribution of surface-growing algae. In Ann. Bot., N.S. 6: 323 - 349.JOHNSON, A. (1962). Precursory studies on the epiterranean soil algae of Singaporeand Malaya. In Gard. Bull. (Sing.) 19: 379-384.PEINGSHEIM, O.G. (1946). Pure cultures.of algae. Cambridge.

THE SOIL ALGAE OF CIBODAS FOREST RESERVE

Three species of green algae and one blue-green alga were recorded from eight samples of soil found associated with bryophytes in the Cibodas Forest Reserve. Chemical analysis of the soil showed severe leaching of soluable mineral substances associated with a low pH. The low light intensity under forest conditions and the low pH may account for the limited algal flora.<br /

Anne Johnson

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THE SOIL ALGAE OF CIBODAS FOREST RESERVE

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