Taxonomic structure of cyanoprokaryotes and microalgae in the steppe soil of Askania Nova

This study investigated the species composition and diversity of cyanoprokaryota and microalgae in the steppe soil of Askania Nova. There were identified a total of 135 species belonging to 6 phyla, 8 classes, 33 orders, 48 families, and 76 genera, with Chlorophyta, Cyanoprokaryota, and Xanthophyta being the most predominant in terms of species richness. The partial soil algoflora is diverse and stable over time due to the strict conservation regime in the reserve. The leading orders were Chlamydomonadales, Mischococcales, and Oscillatoriales, and the leading families were Chlamydomonadaceae , Pleurochloridaceae , and Leptolyngbyaceae . The most diverse genera were Chlamydomonas , Leptolyngbya , Phormidium , and Nostoc . There were also registered 39 species with the highest frequency of occurrence, including Hantzschia amphioxys , Klebsormidium flaccidum , and Pinnularia borealis . The prevalence of Chlamydomonadales representatives at all taxonomic levels suggests that anthropogenic factors may be impacting the area. Cluster and correspondence analyses showed conformity for certain associations in terms of similarity of species composition and species richness of cyanoprokaryota and microalgae.