Algal flora was studied in the stalagmite Cave of Sefunim located in Mount Carmel about 10 km south of Haifa, Israel. Totally 69 species of algae were revealed belonging to Cyanoprokaryota (45), Chlorophyta (15), Bacillariophyta (7), Xanthophyta (2); among them 13 species are newly recorded to Israel. Cyanoprokaryotes proved to be the most diverse and abundant group in all studied cave environments. Number of species sharply decreased from the entrance to the end of the cave (from 46 to 26 species) manifesting prior importance of light intensity for species diversity. Taxonomic composition of algae changed along the gradient of illumination as well: in cyanoprokaryotes the share of chroococcal species decreased and of oscillatorian ones increased from the entrance to the end of the cave. As for eukaryotic algae, in the inner chamber xanthophytes disappeared from the floristic spectrum, Chlorophyta subjected diatoms second rank in species richness. In studied environment species and taxonomic diversity of diatoms to the greater extend depended on the presence of additional moisture then on level of illumination. It was revealed that light intensity, availability of dripping water kind of rock substratum affect the structure of cavericolous algal communities.

Keywords: algae, Cave Sefunim, species diversity, taxonomic composition, algal ommunities, ecology, Israel

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