Extremophilic microalgae survive thanks to their incredible ability to adapt to given conditions and an evolutionary path that has led to the development of extremely physiologically and morphologically diverse organisms. They are also found in caves, where phototrophic organisms are less commonly inhabited. Examples of such caves are the Postojna Cave and the Škocjan Caves in Slovenia. In this study, we examined the species composition of these microorganisms through taxonomic analysis and compared differences in diversity between sampling and after three years of cultivation in the laboratory. We also investigated their biochemical characteristics using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). We found that diversity significantly decreased in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The percentage of microalgae in the samples increased, with a greater increase observed in eukaryotes. FTIR spectra of microalgae minimally differed among themselves, both locationally and temporally, indicating that cave microalgae have a characteristic FTIR profile. Microalgae have significant biotechnological importance as they serve as inexpensive factories for producing compounds that are highly valued in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical industries, and in biomedicine. Additionally, they enable us to reduce atmospheric CO2 emissions while simultaneously being used for biofuel production or cleaning polluted waters. In short, the opportunities they offer are numerous and promising for creating a greener future.
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