EPILITHIC AND CRYPTOENDOLITHIC CYANOBACTERIA OF CLARENS SANDSTONE CLIFFS IN THE GOLDEN-GATE-HIGHLANDS-NATIONAL-PARK, SOUTH-AFRICA

A cryptoendolithic cyanobacterial community is described from Clarens sandstone in a montane ecosystem of the north-eastern Orange Free Stat e, South Africa. The community is dominated by a species of the unicel lular cyanobacterial genus Chroococcidiopsis. Chlorophyll, content of the colonised sandstone ranged between 44.3 and 51.8 mg m(-2). The est ablishment and species composition of an artificially created tintenst rich cyanobacterial community is documented. The possible contribution of cryptoendolithic cyanobacterial communities in the biological form ation of hollows and caves in Clarens sandstone cliffs is discussed.