Algae Species Developed in and around Kakik Cave

This study is conducted on the algae samples collected in and around The Kaklık Cave that is on the road connecting Denizli to Çivril, in April 2011. The Kaklık Cave formed as the result of dissolution of carbonate and sulphate rocks by underground waters and it has a similar travertine structure like Pamukkale (Hierapolis) Travertines. The features of the part of the cave that were examined are below; Size of the circular area in the cave complex is 13 m by 11 m. The depression with a depth of 8-10 meters is the only part of the cave opening to the earth surface. A fascinating habitat has formed as the result of combination of the ecology of the cave and the daylight. Meantime there are thermal water springs close to the cave. Another important feature of the cave is that it has travertine. The subject of this study is to examine the algae species in this ecological environment. Water parameters of temperature, ph, EC and oxygen were measured during the field surveys. After that, using different methods, algae samples were collected in the stations determined in the cave. As the result of those studies, the species below were identified; Amphora sp, Cymbella sp., Epithemia sp., Gomphonema sp., Navicula sp., Pinnularia sp., Synedra sp., Chroococcus sp., Cyanobacterium sp, Oscillatoria sp. and also the members of Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and epiphytic diatoms were recorded. The variations and densities between the species identified were determined by the areas that gets daylight or not. Due to thermal waters in the cave, excessive output of carbon-dioxide and hydrogen-sulphur and inadequacy of oxygen were determined. This situation threatens the human health. For this reason MTA (General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration) opened only a small part of the cave for visitors.