Bacterial and Fungal Diversity of Quaternary Cave Sediment Deposits

Epure, L.; Meleg, Ioana N.; Munteanu, Cristian-Mihai; Roban, Relu-Dumitru; Moldovan, Oana Teodora

doi:10.1080/01490451.2013.815292

Cited by 25 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The effect is even more pronounced if the activities of extracellular enzymes are expressed specifically per unit of biomass (not shown). The second hypothesis, i.e., the input of external microorganisms into caves, was also proposed by other researchers [7,36]. Our results support this hypothesis based on significantly richer microbial community in sediments compacted by trampling.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

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Tourist Traffic Significantly Affects Microbial Communities of Sandstone Cave Sediments in the Protected Landscape Area “Labské Pískovce” (Czech Republic): Implications for Regulatory Measures

et al. 2018

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Abstract:In the Protected Landscape Area "Labské pískovce" (Czech Republic), there are many sandstone caves accessible by permission only and where climbing equipment is commonly required. The tradition of visiting the caves dates back to turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and visitors traditionally record their visits in log-books. We have gathered attendance data from 12 caves from log-books and via survey (2-year form collection period). The attendance varied from less than 10 to~650 visitors annually. Signs of inadequate behavior of visitors were observed, especially waste disposal and smoking in the caves. Sediment step-compression increased significantly the ratios of fungi/bacteria and gram-positive to gram-negative (G+/G−) phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) as well as PLFA of actinobacteria and activities of sediment phosphatases, glucosidases, and peroxidases. The number of visitors was correlated positively with the G+/G− ratio and sediment nutrients but negatively with sediment moisture and the activity of peroxidases. The results indicate a significant effect of attendance on sediment microbial communities, most likely caused by the import of nutrients into caves. Hence, reconsideration of the cave attendance policy is recommended.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…Protection of these ecosystems is therefore of interest for biodiversity preservation [7,36]. Although the effect of visitors on microbial communities overall is positive, from a nature conservation point of view, where unaffected and natural ecosystems should be protected, the observed effect is negative.…”

Section: Implications For Regulationmentioning

confidence: 98%

Tourist Traffic Significantly Affects Microbial Communities of Sandstone Cave Sediments in the Protected Landscape Area “Labské Pískovce” (Czech Republic): Implications for Regulatory Measures

et al. 2018

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“…The higher abundances of Alphaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria in surface soils from the Heshang Cave ecosystem were similar to those found from other soils (Janssen, 2006; Spain et al, 2009). Heshang Cave sediments were dominated by Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, Gemmatimonadetes, and Firmicutes, which have also been identified from cave sediments elsewhere around the word, such as in the Western Carpathians of Romania (Epure et al, 2014) and Jinjia Cave from the east Gansu Province of China (Wu et al, 2015). Actinobacteria dominated the weathered cave wall communities in Heshang Cave, and this phylum is commonly found in cave environments, such as the weathered rocks of the Buda thermal Karst System (Borsodi et al, 2012), Grotta dei Cervi in Italy (Groth et al, 2001) and other cave walls (Mulec et al, 2012a,b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

The Relationship between pH and Bacterial Communities in a Single Karst Ecosystem and Its Implication for Soil Acidification

et al. 2016

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Enhanced monsoon duration and soil acidification from acid rain are expected to impact the distribution of microbial communities in surface and subsurface environments, although these impacts are poorly understood for most systems. In central China, soluble carbonate bedrock forms extensive karst landscapes. Current predictions are that the amount of monsoonal precipitation and acid rainfall in central China will increase, which is expected to lead to changes in the pH balance of karst ecosystems. To evaluate the role of pH, total organic carbon, and other geochemical parameters (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, NOx, SO42-) in shaping bacterial communities within a single karst system in central China, samples were collected from the thin surface soils overlying Heshang Cave, cave sediments, and weathered cave passage rocks from the entrance, twilight, and dark zones, as well as from epikarstic drip waters inside the cave. Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and multivariate statistical analyses revealed that each tested community was distinct and the community variability was significantly correlated with pH, total organic carbon, and potassium concentrations. Specifically, surface soils were dominated by Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Planctomycetes, and diversity significantly decreased with acidic pH values. Nitrospirae, Gemmatimonadetes, Firmicutes, and Chloroflexi were unique to cave sediments, while Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria dominated weathered rocks and drip waters, respectively. The results reveal important implications regarding the effects of acidification on bacterial communities in karst areas, and on the control of pH in shaping bacterial communities throughout a karst system. Increased water flux into and through karst habitats due to monsoonal precipitation may result in deeper penetration of acidic solutions into karst and shift the bacterial communities inside the cave in the future.

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“…Genetic sequences can be used to determine the diversity of bacteria and fungi in soils. Most of the taxa detected in a recent investigation of Quaternary cave deposits are novel and apparently related to extremophiles (maybe these are most likely to survive).…”

Section: Biomarkers Reveal the Presence Of Ancient Microorganismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient biomolecules: Their origins, fossilization, and role in revealing the history of life

2014

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The discovery of traces of a blood meal in the abdomen of a 50-million-year-old mosquito reminds us of the insights that the chemistry of fossils can provide. Ancient DNA is the best known fossil molecule. It is less well known that new fossil targets and a growing database of ancient gene sequences are paralleled by discoveries on other classes of organic molecules. New analytical tools, such as the synchrotron, reveal traces of the original composition of arthropod cuticles that are more than 400 my old. Pigments such as melanin are readily fossilized, surviving virtually unaltered for ∼200 my. Other biomarkers provide evidence of microbial processes in ancient sediments, and have been used to reveal the presence of demosponges, for example, more than 635 mya, long before their spicules appear in the fossil record. Ancient biomolecules are a powerful complement to fossil remains in revealing the history of life.

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Bacterial and Fungal Diversity of Quaternary Cave Sediment Deposits

Cited by 25 publications

References 40 publications

Tourist Traffic Significantly Affects Microbial Communities of Sandstone Cave Sediments in the Protected Landscape Area “Labské Pískovce” (Czech Republic): Implications for Regulatory Measures

Tourist Traffic Significantly Affects Microbial Communities of Sandstone Cave Sediments in the Protected Landscape Area “Labské Pískovce” (Czech Republic): Implications for Regulatory Measures

The Relationship between pH and Bacterial Communities in a Single Karst Ecosystem and Its Implication for Soil Acidification

Ancient biomolecules: Their origins, fossilization, and role in revealing the history of life

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