Phototrophs in Caves

Mulec, Janez

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-98852-8_6

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 58 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The presence of humans, even in caves, has a documented and substantial impact on the diversity of microbial communities, e.g., [6,9,15,20,52]. In Lehman Caves, the photosynthetic microbial communities around artificial lighting-cyanobacteria, diatoms, and algae-were distinct from communities sampled on rock walls near natural light in the wild caves (Table 2; Figures 2 and 5), suggesting the potential direct impact of human visitors on lampenflora communities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Furthermore, we note that at these sites, NaClO treatments temporarily reduce the visible concentration of lampenflora. Future research investigating the temporal and spatial dynamics of lampenflora communities, and their relationship to periodic cleaning treatments, will be necessary to determine the best practices for controlling lampenflora growth [5,9,15,53]. Although several physical, chemical, and biological methods can be adopted to help control lampenflora, reducing the intensity and period of illumination is the most effective strategy for controlling growth [53].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Opportunistic lampenflora communities around artificial lighting in developed underground environments create novel ecological networks that otherwise would not exist [6][7][8][9]. Lampenflora communities also cause aesthetic changes, physical biodeterioration, e.g., increased porosity, exfoliation, and structural changes, and chemical biodeterioration (e.g., dissolution of speleothems, and alteration and precipitation of mineral mixtures) [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Lampenflora in a Show Cave in the Great Basin Is Distinct from Communities on Naturally Lit Rock Surfaces in Nearby Wild Caves

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In show caves, artificial lighting is intended to illuminate striking cave formations for visitors. However, artificial lighting also promotes the growth of novel and diverse biofilm communities, termed lampenflora, that obtain their energy from these artificial light sources. Lampenflora, which generally consist of cyanobacteria, algae, diatoms, and bryophytes, discolor formations and introduce novel ecological interactions in cave ecosystems. The source of lampenflora community members and patterns of diversity have generally been understudied mainly due to technological limitations. In this study, we investigate whether members of lampenflora communities in an iconic show cave—Lehman Caves—in Great Basin National Park (GRBA) in the western United States also occur in nearby unlit and rarely visited caves. Using a high-throughput environmental DNA metabarcoding approach targeting three loci—the ITS2 (fungi), a fragment of the 16S (bacteria), and a fragment of 23S (photosynthetic bacteria and eukaryotes)—we characterized diversity of lampenflora communities occurring near artificial light sources in Lehman Caves and rock surfaces near the entrances of seven nearby “wild” caves. Most caves supported diverse and distinct microbial-dominated communities, with little overlap in community members among caves. The lampenflora communities in the show cave were distinct, and generally less diverse, from those occurring in nearby unlit caves. Our results suggest an unidentified source for a significant proportion of lampenflora community members in Lehman Caves, with the majority of community members not found in nearby wild caves. Whether the unique members of the lampenflora communities in Lehman Caves are related to distinct abiotic conditions, increased human visitation, or other factors remains unknown. These results provide a valuable framework for future research exploring lampenflora community assemblies in show caves, in addition to a broad perspective into the range of microbial and lampenflora community members in GRBA. By more fully characterizing these communities, we can better monitor the establishment of lampenflora and design effective strategies for their management and removal.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Lampenflora in a Show Cave in the Great Basin Is Distinct from Communities on Naturally Lit Rock Surfaces in Nearby Wild Caves

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In ecosystems exposed to sunlight, sources of energy originate in autotrophs. In aphotic parts of subterranean environments, colonies of phototrophic organisms were documented only in show caves with artificial light 1 . In cave ecosystems, detritus-based food webs are prevalent, while chemosynthesis is an alternative energy source 2 – 5 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The food web in a subterranean ecosystem is driven by intraguild predation

Parimuchová

Dušátková

Kováč

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Trophic interactions of cave arthropods have been understudied. We used molecular methods (NGS) to decipher the food web in the subterranean ecosystem of the Ardovská Cave (Western Carpathians, Slovakia). We collected five arthropod predators of the species Parasitus loricatus (gamasid mites), Eukoenenia spelaea (palpigrades), Quedius mesomelinus (beetles), and Porrhomma profundum and Centromerus cavernarum (both spiders) and prey belonging to several orders. Various arthropod orders were exploited as prey, and trophic interactions differed among the predators. Linear models were used to compare absolute and relative prey body sizes among the predators. Quedius exploited relatively small prey, while Eukoenenia and Parasitus fed on relatively large prey. Exploitation of eggs or cadavers is discussed. In contrast to previous studies, Eukoenenia was found to be carnivorous. A high proportion of intraguild predation was found in all predators. Intraspecific consumption (most likely cannibalism) was detected only in mites and beetles. Using Pianka’s index, the highest trophic niche overlaps were found between Porrhomma and Parasitus and between Centromerus and Eukoenenia, while the lowest niche overlap was found between Parasitus and Quedius. Contrary to what we expected, the high availability of Diptera and Isopoda as a potential prey in the studied system was not corroborated. Our work demonstrates that intraguild diet plays an important role in predators occupying subterranean ecosystems.

show abstract

“…In the natural cave ecosystems, characterized by scarcity of light, water and nutrients but almost constant microclimate conditions, algae are the main photosynthetic components [ 4 ]. The estimations of their total numbers strongly varied (627 [ 365 ] and 340 [ 366 ]), but the most diverse [up to 60%] and commonly the most abundant cave inhabitants are the cyanoprokaryotes, followed by green algae and diatoms (e.g., [ 367 , 368 , 369 , 370 ]). The phycoflora of the artificially illuminated caves (show caves), named lamp flora, although comprising different species, generally exhibit a similar pattern of biodiversity with highest contribution of cyanoprokaryotes, green algae and diatoms [ 371 , 372 ].…”

Section: Phycotoxins Of Aero-terrestrial Airborne and Extremophilic Algaementioning

confidence: 99%

Algal Toxic Compounds and Their Aeroterrestrial, Airborne and other Extremophilic Producers with Attention to Soil and Plant Contamination: A Review

Gärtner

Stoyneva-Gärtner

Uzunov

2021

Toxins

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The review summarizes the available knowledge on toxins and their producers from rather disparate algal assemblages of aeroterrestrial, airborne and other versatile extreme environments (hot springs, deserts, ice, snow, caves, etc.) and on phycotoxins as contaminants of emergent concern in soil and plants. There is a growing body of evidence that algal toxins and their producers occur in all general types of extreme habitats, and cyanobacteria/cyanoprokaryotes dominate in most of them. Altogether, 55 toxigenic algal genera (47 cyanoprokaryotes) were enlisted, and our analysis showed that besides the “standard” toxins, routinely known from different waterbodies (microcystins, nodularins, anatoxins, saxitoxins, cylindrospermopsins, BMAA, etc.), they can produce some specific toxic compounds. Whether the toxic biomolecules are related with the harsh conditions on which algae have to thrive and what is their functional role may be answered by future studies. Therefore, we outline the gaps in knowledge and provide ideas for further research, considering, from one side, the health risk from phycotoxins on the background of the global warming and eutrophication and, from the other side, the current surge of interest which phycotoxins provoke due to their potential as novel compounds in medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics, bioremediation, agriculture and all aspects of biotechnological implications in human life.

show abstract

Phototrophs in Caves

Cited by 8 publications

References 58 publications

Lampenflora in a Show Cave in the Great Basin Is Distinct from Communities on Naturally Lit Rock Surfaces in Nearby Wild Caves

Lampenflora in a Show Cave in the Great Basin Is Distinct from Communities on Naturally Lit Rock Surfaces in Nearby Wild Caves

The food web in a subterranean ecosystem is driven by intraguild predation

Algal Toxic Compounds and Their Aeroterrestrial, Airborne and other Extremophilic Producers with Attention to Soil and Plant Contamination: A Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About