Microphytes

Diatoms and cyanobacteria grow epilithically on primary mineral substrates, on plants(epiphytic) or epizoically on animals. Diatoms mainly form the microphytobenthos.

Filamentous algae

Organisms with thin, single-row, branched or unbranched cell filaments are called filamentous algae. Benthic filamentous algae mainly belong to the Cyanobacteria, Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta and Phaeophyceae. Both benthic microalgae and filamentous algae species have generation times of hours to days. The population growth of both groups depends directly on the prevailing environmental conditions, which results in their seasonality.