Influence of pH on the Morphology and Cell Volume of Microscopic Algae, Widely Distributed in Terrestrial Ecosystems

Terrestrial algae are a group of photosynthetic organisms that can survive in extreme conditions. pH is one of the most important factors influencing the distribution of algae in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The impact of different pH levels on the cell volume and other morphological characteristics of authentic and reference strains of , , , , and were studied. , and were the most resistant species, retaining their morphology in the range of pH 4-11.5 and pH 3.5-11, respectively. The change in pH towards acidic and alkaline levels caused an increase in the volume of and cells, according to a polynomial regression model. The volume of cells increased from a low to high pH according to a linear regression model. Changes in pH levels did not have a significant impact on the volume of and cells. Low and high levels of pH caused an increase in oil-containing substances in and cells. Our study revealed a high resistance of the studied species to extreme pH levels, which allows for us to recommend these strains for broader use in biotechnology and conservation studies of natural populations.