Endolithic Microorganisms in Live and Dead Thalli of Coralline Red Algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) in the Northern Adriatic Sea

Abstract

Live and dead thalli of crustose coralline algae were examined to evidentiate their endolithic flora. As it occurs in corals, there is a great difference between endolithic microorganisms observed in live thalli and those observed in dead thalli. During our study live thalli were found to have few ( Plectonema terebrans and Ostreobium quekettii ) or no endolithic microorganisms, whereas a more numerous number of microorganisms (cyanobacteria, chlorophyta and fungi) was found in dead thalli.