Algal flora of an extremophile ecosystem: Kaklik Cave (Denizli, Turkey).

Caves are specific ecosystems with both biotic and abiotic characteristics. Turkey has approximately 20,000 caves, and the biology of most of them has yet to be studied. Kaklik Cave is sinkhole-shaped and its entrance is quite large. A mineral-rich spring forms travertine as it enters the cave giving it unique characteristics. The study aims to determine the algal flora of Kaklik Cave. A total of eighty-six taxa were identified. Among them, twenty-one taxa were recorded for the first time as freshwater algal flora of Turkey. Also, the relationships among the most effective environmental parameters, the most frequently found algae taxa composition, and sampling sites were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]