Soil and Epiphytic Algae and Cyanobacteria of Southern Taiga Forests in the "Koygorodsky" National Park (Komi Republic, Russia)

Soil algal communities comprised 27 species, while epiphytic assemblages on tree bark included 66 species. The species composition was typical for dark-coniferous and mixed forests. The dominant complex is formed by cyanobacteria (Nostoc punctiforme, N. paludosum, N. commune, Brasilonema angustatum, Scytonema hofmannii) and green algae (Diplosphaera chodatii, Pseudococcomyxa simplex, Stichococcus bacillaris, and species of the genus Leptosira).

Four species are reported as new for the European North-East of Russia: Entophysalis samoensis, Gloeocapsa violacea, Chlamydomonas cf. inepta, and Phormidium coutinhoi. The terrestrial algal flora of the park's forests is composed mainly of widespread eurybiotic species. Epiphytic algal groupings account for 86% of the total terrestrial algal diversity, which is attributed to more favorable light conditions compared to the forest floor, which is shaded by the canopy.

The greatest diversity of epiphytic species was found on aspen (Populus tremula), due to the neutral pH, high water-holding capacity, and rough, fissured texture of its bark. Epiphytic communities also showed high abundance and diversity of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria (16 species). Part of the collected algal and cyanobacterial species have been isolated into algologically pure cultures and deposited in the living culture collection of the Institute of Biology, Komi Science Centre, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (acronym SYKOA).

Future research will focus on studying their biotechnological potential for producing valuable biological compounds. Epiphytic algae may also serve as bioindicators for assessing air and soil quality in the intact forests of "Koygorodsky" National Park.