Cell wall properties and bioadhesion in different genotypes of the aeroterrestrial green algal genus Klebsormidium from alpine soils of the Austrian Alps

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Aeroterrestrial green microalgae are typical components of biological soil crusts in alpine regions of the Alps. Here they form in the uppermost millimetres an intimate association with soil particles, thereby exerting important ecological roles in primary production, nutrient cycling, water retention and stabilization of soils. Since desiccation stress and tolerance strategies of these organisms are generally badly studied, a comprehensive and precise evaluation of the underlying cytological and ecophysiological mechanisms will be carried out with representative algal strains of the genus Klebsormidium which were isolated from alpine soils between 600 and 3000m. Because of altitudinal differences organisms living in alpine regions have to be well adapted to dramatic abiotic gradients including drought to guarantee long-term survival. The mechanisms to be studied in the Klebsormidium isolates include their physiology (e.g. growth tolerance patterns) and ultrastructure under a set of controlled laboratory exposure conditions using various cell biological markers (e.g. organelles and membrane integrity, cytoskeleton visualisation) and the capability of growth and photosynthesis to recover after rehydration. The main goal is to evaluate whether the structural integrity/stability of the algal cell may contribute to a quick recovery from desiccation stress.