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Perrier F, Bourges F, Girault F, Lartiges B, Bonnet S, Genty D, Denele Y, Regard V, Régnier É, Bouquerel H, Lei B, Rivet T, Losno R. Radon-222 signatures of atmospheric dynamics in the Pech Merle Painted Cave, France: Consequences for management and conservation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 949:174648. [PMID: 39009146 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Radon-222, a radioactive noble gas with a half-life of 3.8 days produced by radium-226, is a health hazard in caves, but also a powerful tracer of atmospheric dynamics. Here we show how airborne radon-222 can be analysed in a cave with multiple openings, the Pech Merle Cave in South-West France. This two-level cave hosts prehistoric remains and Gravettian paintings in its lower level. Radon concentration, monitored at 15 points with one-hour sampling intervals for more than one year, including two points for more than three years, showed mean values from 1274 ± 11 to 5281 ± 20 Bq m-3, with transient values above 15,000 Bq m-3. Seasonal variations were observed, with a weak normal cycle (low in winter) at two points in the upper level and a pronounced inverse seasonal cycle (low in summer) at the other points in the cave. The radon-222 source (effective radium-226 concentration, ECRa) was measured in the laboratory for floor deposits, soil and rock samples. While ECRa values obtained for rocks and speleothems are smaller than 1 Bq kg-1, most ECRa values for soils are larger than 10 Bq kg-1. Quantitative modelling confirms that the floor fillings inside the cave are responsible for the stationary lower concentrations, while the higher concentrations observed in winter are explained by percolation of outside air, which collects radon-222 as it passes through the soil layers. In addition, Stored Available Radon (SAR) is sufficient to account for transient variations. While air currents occur when visitors enter the cave or when the cave is deliberately ventilated, the climatic processes revealed by their radon-222 signatures appear to be essentially natural. These processes, enhanced by global climate change, could cause or accelerate the deterioration of prehistoric paintings. Radon-222 source analysis using ECRa-based modelling and SAR appears essential for the preservation of underground heritage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Perrier
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - François Bourges
- Géologie Environnement Conseil, 30 rue de la République, F-09200 Saint-Girons, France
| | - Frédéric Girault
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Bruno Lartiges
- Géosciences Environnement-Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, CNRS (Toulouse), Toulouse, France
| | - Stéphane Bonnet
- Géosciences Environnement-Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, CNRS (Toulouse), Toulouse, France
| | - Dominique Genty
- Environnements et Paléoenvironnements Océaniques et Continentaux, Université de Bordeaux, F-33615 Pessac Cedex, France
| | - Yoann Denele
- Géosciences Environnement-Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, CNRS (Toulouse), Toulouse, France
| | - Vincent Regard
- Géosciences Environnement-Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, IRD, UPS, CNRS (Toulouse), Toulouse, France
| | - Édouard Régnier
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CNRS, F-91691 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hélène Bouquerel
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Bo Lei
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France; School of Resource Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Thierry Rivet
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Rémi Losno
- Université Paris Cité, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
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Bontemps Z, Moënne-Loccoz Y, Hugoni M. Stochastic and deterministic assembly processes of microbial communities in relation to natural attenuation of black stains in Lascaux Cave. mSystems 2024; 9:e0123323. [PMID: 38289092 PMCID: PMC10878041 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01233-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Community assembly processes are complex and understanding them represents a challenge in microbial ecology. Here, we used Lascaux Cave as a stable, confined environment to quantify the importance of stochastic vs deterministic processes during microbial community dynamics across the three domains of life in relation to an anthropogenic disturbance that had resulted in the side-by-side occurrence of a resistant community (unstained limestone), an impacted community (present in black stains), and a resilient community (attenuated stains). Metabarcoding data showed that the microbial communities of attenuated stains, black stains, and unstained surfaces differed, with attenuated stains being in an intermediate position. We found four scenarios to explain community response to disturbance in stable conditions for the three domains of life. Specifically, we proposed the existence of a fourth, not-documented yet scenario that concerns the always-rare microbial taxa, where stochastic processes predominate even after disturbance but are replaced by deterministic processes during post-disturbance recovery. This suggests a major role of always-rare taxa in resilience, perhaps because they might provide key functions required for ecosystem recovery.IMPORTANCEThe importance of stochastic vs deterministic processes in cave microbial ecology has been a neglected topic so far, and this work provided an opportunity to do so in a context related to the dynamics of black-stain alterations in Lascaux, a UNESCO Paleolithic cave. Of particular significance was the discovery of a novel scenario for always-rare microbial taxa in relation to disturbance, in which stochastic processes are replaced later by deterministic processes during post-disturbance recovery, i.e., during attenuation of black stains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zélia Bontemps
- UMR 5557 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Villeurbanne, France
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratories, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yvan Moënne-Loccoz
- UMR 5557 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mylène Hugoni
- UMR 5557 Ecologie Microbienne, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, Villeurbanne, France
- UMR 5240 Microbiologie Adaptation et Pathogénie, INSA Lyon, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), France
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Bontemps Z, Prigent-Combaret C, Guillmot A, Hugoni M, Moënne-Loccoz Y. Dark-zone alterations expand throughout Paleolithic Lascaux Cave despite spatial heterogeneity of the cave microbiome. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:31. [PMID: 37032363 PMCID: PMC10084675 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00488-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cave anthropization related to rock art tourism can lead to cave microbiota imbalance and microbial alterations threatening Paleolithic artwork, but the underpinning microbial changes are poorly understood. Caves can be microbiologically heterogeneous and certain rock wall alterations may develop in different rooms despite probable spatial heterogeneity of the cave microbiome, suggesting that a same surface alteration might involve a subset of cosmopolitan taxa widespread in each cave room. We tested this hypothesis in Lascaux, by comparing recent alterations (dark zones) and nearby unmarked surfaces in nine locations within the cave. RESULTS Illumina MiSeq metabarcoding of unmarked surfaces confirmed microbiome heterogeneity of the cave. Against this background, the microbial communities of unmarked and altered surfaces differed at each location. The use of a decision matrix showed that microbiota changes in relation to dark zone formation could differ according to location, but dark zones from different locations displayed microbial similarities. Thus, dark zones harbor bacterial and fungal taxa that are cosmopolitan at the scale of Lascaux, as well as dark zone-specific taxa present (i) at all locations in the cave (i.e. the six bacterial genera Microbacterium, Actinophytocola, Lactobacillus, Bosea, Neochlamydia and Tsukamurella) or (ii) only at particular locations within Lascaux. Scanning electron microscopy observations and most qPCR data evidenced microbial proliferation in dark zones. CONCLUSION Findings point to the proliferation of different types of taxa in dark zones, i.e. Lascaux-cosmopolitan bacteria and fungi, dark zone-specific bacteria present at all locations, and dark zone-specific bacteria and fungi present at certain locations only. This probably explains why dark zones could form in various areas of the cave and suggests that the spread of these alterations might continue according to the area of distribution of key widespread taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zélia Bontemps
- CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR5557 Ecologie Microbienne, University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Claire Prigent-Combaret
- CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR5557 Ecologie Microbienne, University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Alice Guillmot
- CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR5557 Ecologie Microbienne, University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mylène Hugoni
- CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR5557 Ecologie Microbienne, University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
- CNRS, INSA de Lyon, UMR Microbiologie Adaptation et Pathogénie, University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - Yvan Moënne-Loccoz
- CNRS, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR5557 Ecologie Microbienne, University of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne, France.
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Differential transcriptomic responses to heat stress in surface and subterranean diving beetles. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16194. [PMID: 36171221 PMCID: PMC9519976 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20229-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Subterranean habitats are generally very stable environments, and as such evolutionary transitions of organisms from surface to subterranean lifestyles may cause considerable shifts in physiology, particularly with respect to thermal tolerance. In this study we compared responses to heat shock at the molecular level in a geographically widespread, surface-dwelling water beetle to a congeneric subterranean species restricted to a single aquifer (Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae). The obligate subterranean beetle Paroster macrosturtensis is known to have a lower thermal tolerance compared to surface lineages (CTmax 38 °C cf. 42–46 °C), but the genetic basis of this physiological difference has not been characterized. We experimentally manipulated the thermal environment of 24 individuals to demonstrate that both species can mount a heat shock response at high temperatures (35 °C), as determined by comparative transcriptomics. However, genes involved in these responses differ between species and a far greater number were differentially expressed in the surface taxon, suggesting it can mount a more robust heat shock response; these data may underpin its higher thermal tolerance compared to subterranean relatives. In contrast, the subterranean species examined not only differentially expressed fewer genes in response to increasing temperatures, but also in the presence of the experimental setup employed here alone. Our results suggest P. macrosturtensis may be comparatively poorly equipped to respond to both thermally induced stress and environmental disturbances more broadly. The molecular findings presented here have conservation implications for P. macrosturtensis and contribute to a growing narrative concerning weakened thermal tolerances in obligate subterranean organisms at the molecular level.
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Wang Y, Wang C, Yang X, Ma K, Guo P, Sun Q, Jia S, Pan J. Analysis and control of fungal deterioration on the surface of pottery figurines unearthed from the tombs of the Western Han Dynasty. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:956774. [PMID: 36046016 PMCID: PMC9421245 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.956774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In April 2020, 232 tombs of the Western Han Dynasty were found in Sundayuan, Heze City. In total, 141 pottery figurines of significant historical, cultural, and artistic value were unearthed from the tombs. Some of the figurines are currently being stored in warehouses, and the surface of some of the figurines show fungal deterioration. To thoroughly analyze the fungal deterioration on the surface of the pottery figurines and find appropriate control methods, we used high-through sequencing, scanning electron microscopy observation, pure cultures of culturable fungi, and optical microscopy observation and molecular identification of culturable fungi. We conducted fungistatic and simulation experiments in the laboratory to find appropriate control methods. We found that the fungi on the surface of the figurines were mainly of the phylum Ascomycota, and a few fungi were of the phyla Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota. We isolated seven culturable fungal strains and observed their colony morphology. The seven fungal strains were Lecanicillium aphanocladii, Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Clonostachys rosea, Mortierella sp., Mortierella alpina, Aspergillus flavus, and Cladosporium halotolerans. Through the fungistatic and simulation experiments conducted in the laboratory, we found that 50 mg/ml cinnamaldehyde and 0.5% K100 (2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one) have a good fungistatic effect. They can not only inhibit the growth of fungi on medium, but also inhibit the growth of fungi on the surface of pottery figurines. This study has good reference significance for the analysis and control of fungal deterioration of unearthed pottery figurines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Cen Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kaixuan Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Peifeng Guo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qirui Sun
- Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Jinan, China
| | - Shili Jia
- Department of Cultural Relics and Museums, College of History and Culture, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, China
| | - Jiao Pan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Cultural Heritage and History of Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jiao Pan, ;
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Sainz C, Fábrega J, Rábago D, Celaya S, Fernandez A, Fuente I, Fernandez E, Quindos J, Arteche JL, Quindos L. Use of Radon and CO 2 for the Identification and Analysis of Short-Term Fluctuations in the Ventilation of the Polychrome Room Inside the Altamira Cave. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063662. [PMID: 35329349 PMCID: PMC8955978 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A study is presented on rapid episodes of air exchange in the Polychrome Room of the Altamira Cave (Cantabria, Spain) using continuous monitoring of radon and CO2 tracer gases, as well as environmental parameters such as internal and external air temperature. For this, criteria have been developed to carry out an inventory of these types of events during the 2015–2020 period. Most of the degassing-recharging events occur over several hours or days, especially during spring and autumn. This means that the room can be significantly ventilated during these short periods of time, posing an exchange of energy and matter with potential impact in the preservation of the rock art present inside. In addition, the hypothesis that temperature gradients between the internal and external atmosphere is one of the main factors that induces degassing has been tested. To this end, correlation analysis has been carried out between the different magnitudes involved in this study, such as radon and CO2 concentrations, and air temperature gradients. A total of 37 degassing-recharging events have been analyzed for the 5 year studied period. The distribution of the duration of the events have been described, as well as that of the correlations between the degassing and recharge stages of each event, showing significant values of r coefficients for the correlation with temperature gradients between the internal and external atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Sainz
- Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (C.S.); (J.F.); (S.C.); (A.F.); (I.F.); (E.F.); (J.Q.); (L.Q.)
- The Cantabrian International Institute for Prehistoric Research (IIIPC), 39005 Santander, Spain
| | - Julia Fábrega
- Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (C.S.); (J.F.); (S.C.); (A.F.); (I.F.); (E.F.); (J.Q.); (L.Q.)
| | - Daniel Rábago
- Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (C.S.); (J.F.); (S.C.); (A.F.); (I.F.); (E.F.); (J.Q.); (L.Q.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Santiago Celaya
- Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (C.S.); (J.F.); (S.C.); (A.F.); (I.F.); (E.F.); (J.Q.); (L.Q.)
- The Cantabrian International Institute for Prehistoric Research (IIIPC), 39005 Santander, Spain
| | - Alicia Fernandez
- Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (C.S.); (J.F.); (S.C.); (A.F.); (I.F.); (E.F.); (J.Q.); (L.Q.)
| | - Ismael Fuente
- Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (C.S.); (J.F.); (S.C.); (A.F.); (I.F.); (E.F.); (J.Q.); (L.Q.)
| | - Enrique Fernandez
- Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (C.S.); (J.F.); (S.C.); (A.F.); (I.F.); (E.F.); (J.Q.); (L.Q.)
| | - Jorge Quindos
- Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (C.S.); (J.F.); (S.C.); (A.F.); (I.F.); (E.F.); (J.Q.); (L.Q.)
| | | | - Luis Quindos
- Radon Group, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain; (C.S.); (J.F.); (S.C.); (A.F.); (I.F.); (E.F.); (J.Q.); (L.Q.)
- The Cantabrian International Institute for Prehistoric Research (IIIPC), 39005 Santander, Spain
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7
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Comparison of historical and current temperatures in show caves (Slovenia). SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2021; 4:1. [PMID: 34901750 PMCID: PMC8643192 DOI: 10.1007/s42452-021-04881-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Historical air temperatures at three karst caves in Slovenia have been compared to current data time series. In Postojnska Jama (PJ), the most visited show cave in Slovenia, the significant temperature difference between historical and modern measurements at the Pulpito site relates to the months April to November. Mean monthly temperatures measured at the Sepolcro site (PJ) in the modern period (2016–2019) are year round significantly higher than in the historical period (1935–1937). The temperature increase over the last 85 years in PJ is attributed to outside temperature rise and additional heat input from visitors, especially for Sepolcro site. A comparison of current (2017–2019) and historical (1956–1957) temperature data in touristically poorly visited Predjama Cave shows lower increase as in PJ and is completely related to outside cave conditions. In the case of Škocjanske Jame (Tiha Jama), air temperature has not significantly increased since the historical 1928 measurements because the monitoring site looks to be morphologically isolated from significant impacts of outside climate and visitors.
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Diagnostics and Monitoring to Preserve a Hypogeum Site: The Case of the Mithraeum of Marino Laziale (Rome). HERITAGE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/heritage4040235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Conservation of hypogea and their accessibility by the visitors is a hard question, due to the interaction of different factors such as the intrinsic characteristics of the hypogeal environments and the presence of public. A particular case is represented by the Mithraeum of Marino Laziale, located a few kilometers away from Rome and accidentally discovered in the 1960s. The uniqueness of the discovery was the presence of a well-preserved painting of the Mithraic scene (II century A.D.) probably due to the oblivion of the place of worship over the centuries as well as the isolation from the outdoor environment. Unfortunately, despite a recent complete restoration and recovery of the archaeological area, which ended in 2015, the area was never open to the visitors and only two years after completing the works it was no longer safe to use. Hence, the need for a new planning of interventions starting from the deep knowledge of this cultural heritage and from the analysis of past incorrect actions to arrive at the opening—without any risk for the archaeological findings and visitors—and management of this site, never exposed to the public. Therefore, since 2018 a diagnostic campaign and microclimate monitoring have been started. The data collected during the two years of investigations have been fundamental to assess the conservation state of the hypogeal environment and the potential risks for the preservation of the three paintings (the Mithraic scene and two dadophores). Long-term monitoring of indoor environmental conditions assumes the role of an essential tool for the planning of preventive conservation strategies but also for the control of the site after its opening to the visitors. Furthermore, the characterization of the microclimate is non-invasive, sufficiently economical and accurate. In this paper, the characterization of surfaces in the Mithraic gallery through optical microscopy, UV fluorescence/imaging techniques, FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD and the microclimatic parameters variation in the presence or absence of visitors are used to define the strategies for the opening and fruition of the Mithraeum. The strategies for the sustainable fruition of this unique archaeological site have been defined through a conservation protocol approved by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and necessary for the site managers and curators of the Municipality of Marino Laziale to finally support its opening.
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Balestra V, Lana E, Carbone C, De Waele J, Manenti R, Galli L. Don’t forget the vertical dimension: assessment of distributional dynamics of cave-dwelling invertebrates in both ground and parietal microhabitats. SUBTERRANEAN BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.40.71805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological studies on factors shaping underground communities are poor, especially those considering simultaneously organisms with different degrees of adaptation to cave life. In this study, we assessed the annual dynamics and use of both horizontal and vertical microhabitats of a whole community with the aim of understanding whether cave-dwelling organisms have a similar distribution among vertical and ground-level microhabitats and to find out which microhabitat features influence such distribution. We monthly assessed from 2017 to 2018, by direct observation combined with quadrat sampling method on the ground and transects on the walls, richness and abundance of 62 cave-dwelling species in a cave of Northern Italy. Environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, relative humidity and mineralogical composition of the substrates were measured during each monitoring session, influencing the dynamics of the whole community and revealing significant differences between ground and wall microhabitats. A gradient of variation of the species assemblages occurred from the entrance toward inner areas, however, evidence that the dynamics of the walls are very different from those occurring at the ground independent from the distance from the surface are shown. Biodiversity indices highlighted sampling area diversity and a discrete total cave fauna biodiversity with the highest values found near the entrance and the lowest in the inner part of the cave.
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Huntley J, Aubert M, Oktaviana AA, Lebe R, Hakim B, Burhan B, Aksa LM, Geria IM, Ramli M, Siagian L, Brand HEA, Brumm A. The effects of climate change on the Pleistocene rock art of Sulawesi. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9833. [PMID: 33986305 PMCID: PMC8119963 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87923-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The equatorial tropics house some of the earliest rock art yet known, and it is weathering at an alarming rate. Here we present evidence for haloclasty (salt crystallisation) from Pleistocene-aged rock art panels at 11 sites in the Maros-Pangkep limestone karsts of southern Sulawesi. We show how quickly rock art panels have degraded in recent decades, contending that climate-catalysed salt efflorescence is responsible for increasing exfoliation of the limestone cave surfaces that house the ~ 45 to 20-thousand-year-old paintings. These artworks are located in the world's most atmospherically dynamic region, the Australasian monsoon domain. The rising frequency and severity of El Niño-induced droughts from anthropogenic climate change (that is, higher ambient temperatures and more consecutive dry days), combined with seasonal moisture injected via monsoonal rains retained as standing water in the rice fields and aquaculture ponds of the region, increasingly provide ideal conditions for evaporation and haloclasty, accelerating rock art deterioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Huntley
- Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, PERAHU, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.
| | - M Aubert
- Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, PERAHU, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - A A Oktaviana
- Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, PERAHU, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional (ARKENAS), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - R Lebe
- Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya, Sulawesi Selatan, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - B Hakim
- Balai Arkeologi Sulawesi, Sulawesi Selatan, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - B Burhan
- Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - L Muhammad Aksa
- Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya, Sulawesi Selatan, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - I Made Geria
- Pusat Penelitian Arkeologi Nasional (ARKENAS), Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - M Ramli
- Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya, Sulawesi Selatan, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - L Siagian
- Museum Kepresidenan Republik Indonesia, Balai Kirti, Bogor, Indonesia.,Universitas Gadjah Mada (Fakultas Ilmu Budaya-Magister Arkeologi), Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - H E A Brand
- Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - A Brumm
- Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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On the Biodiversity and Biodeteriogenic Activity of Microbial Communities Present in the Hypogenic Environment of the Escoural Cave, Alentejo, Portugal. COATINGS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/coatings11020209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hypogenic caves represent unique environments for the development of specific microbial communities that need to be studied. Caves with rock art pose an additional challenge due to the fragility of the paintings and engravings and to microbial colonization which may induce chemical, mechanical and aesthetic alterations. Therefore, it is essential to understand the communities that thrive in these environments and to monitor the activity and effects on the host rock in order to better preserve and safeguard these ancestral artforms. This study aims at investigating the Palaeolithic representations found in the Escoural Cave (Alentejo, Portugal) and their decay features. These prehistoric artworks, dating back up to 50,000 B.P., are altered due to environmental conditions and microbial activity inside the cave. Microbial cultivation methods combined with culture-independent techniques, biomarkers’ viability assays and host rock analysis allowed us to better understand the microbial biodiversity and biodeteriogenic activity within the hypogenic environment of this important cave site. This study is part of a long-term monitoring program envisaged to understand the effect of this biocolonisation and to understand the population dynamics that thrive in this hypogean environment.
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Aramendia J, de Vallejuelo SFO, Maguregui M, Martinez-Arkarazo I, Giakoumaki A, Martí AP, Madariaga JM, Ruiz JF. Long-term in situ non-invasive spectroscopic monitoring of weathering processes in open-air prehistoric rock art sites. Anal Bioanal Chem 2020; 412:8155-8166. [PMID: 32979075 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02949-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In this work, an innovative non-destructive monitoring methodology based on the analysis over time of open-air rock art sites is presented. This approach is based on the combination of in situ spectroscopic and chemometric studies to diagnose and monitor the state of conservation of rock art sites. Data acquired over a period of time by non-invasive analytical techniques such as portable Raman spectrometry (RS) and handheld energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (HH-EDXRF) spectrometry are compared to detect physicochemical changes that could affect the rock painting integrity. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed procedure, three analysis campaigns (between 2013 and 2016) were carried out, analyzing Levantine rock pictographs preserved in the rock shelter of Solana de las Covachas VI (Albacete, Spain; see Electronic Supplementary Material (ESM) Fig. S1). The analyzed areas showed different types of active weathering processes such as gypsum and calcium oxalate formation, giving rise to conservation issues such as painting fading, surface loss, microbial colonizations, and formation of crusts. Results evidence that the proposed methodology can be very useful to monitor chemical changes in the surface of the walls where the rock art is located, thus obtaining crucial information for its preservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julene Aramendia
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Silvia Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Maite Maguregui
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad, 7, 01006, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Spain
| | - Irantzu Martinez-Arkarazo
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Anastasia Giakoumaki
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (IESL-FORTH), 71110, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Africa Pitarch Martí
- Seminari d'Estudis i Recerques Prehistòriques (SERP), Facultat de Geografia i Història, Departamentd'Història i Arqueologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Montalegre 6, 08001, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel Madariaga
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Juan Francisco Ruiz
- Departamento de Historia, Área de Prehistoria, Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación y Humanidades, University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Avda. de los Alfares 42, 16002, Cuenca, Spain.
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Liñán C, Ojeda L, Benavente J, Del Rosal Y, Vadillo I, Carrasco F. Coupling air temperature records and gravimetric data to interpret ventilation patterns in a Mediterranean karstic system (Nerja-Pintada caves, southern Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 730:139147. [PMID: 32417530 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microclimate and geophysical studies are commonly applied to the characterization of karst systems although they are usually used separately. The main purpose of this manuscript is to show how the analysis of the data from both these research methods is a useful tool in the characterization of karst systems and we present the analysis of a specific case study: the Nerja- Pintada caves system. The joint analysis of the Nerja Cave and external air data (mainly temperatures) and the pre-existing gravimetric data of its surroundings (residual gravity anomaly map) have allowed us: 1) to postulate the existence of an unknown great cavity located near to the Nerja Cave and with direct influence in its ventilation and 2) to propose a new model of the Nerja-Pintada caves ventilation based on the changing connection between a "main cavity" system (Nerja Cave), with basically a transmissive function of airflows and an "annex cavities" sub-system, with different functioning as far as the airflow is concerned: transmissive in the case of Pintada Cave and capacitive in the case of the geophysically-located cave.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Liñán
- Research Institute, Nerja Cave Foundation, Carretera de Maro, s/n, 29787, Nerja, Málaga, Spain; Centre of Hydrogeology of University of Malaga, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaga, 29071, Málaga, Spain.
| | - L Ojeda
- Centre of Hydrogeology of University of Malaga, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaga, 29071, Málaga, Spain.
| | - J Benavente
- Department of Geodynamics, Faculty of Sciences and Water Research Institute, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
| | - Y Del Rosal
- Research Institute, Nerja Cave Foundation, Carretera de Maro, s/n, 29787, Nerja, Málaga, Spain.
| | - I Vadillo
- Centre of Hydrogeology of University of Malaga, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaga, 29071, Málaga, Spain.
| | - F Carrasco
- Centre of Hydrogeology of University of Malaga, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Malaga, 29071, Málaga, Spain.
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Levintal E, Dragila MI, Zafrir H, Weisbrod N. The role of atmospheric conditions in CO 2 and radon emissions from an abandoned water well. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 722:137857. [PMID: 32182515 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Boreholes and wells are complex boundary features at the earth-atmosphere interface, connecting the subsurface hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere to the atmosphere above it. It is important to understand and quantify the air exchange rate of these features and, consequently their contribution as sources for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. Here, we investigate the effect of atmospheric conditions, namely atmospheric pressure and temperature, on air, CO2, and radon transport across the borehole-ambient atmosphere interface and inside a 110-m deep by 1-m diameter borehole in northern Israel. Sensors to measure temperature, relative humidity, CO2, and radon were placed throughout a cased borehole. A standard meteorological station was located above the borehole. Data were logged at a high 0.5-min resolution for 9 months. Results show that climatic driving forces initiated 2 different advective air transport mechanisms. (1) Diurnal and semidiurnal atmospheric pressure cycles controlled daily air transport events (barometric pumping); and (2) There was a correlation between borehole-atmosphere temperature differences and transport on a seasonal scale (thermal-induced convection). Barometric pumping was identified as yielding higher fluxes of vadose zone gases than thermal-induced convection. Air velocities inside the borehole and CO2 emissions to the atmosphere were quantified, fluctuating from zero up to ~6 m/min and ~5 g-CO2/min, respectively. This research revealed the mechanisms involved in the process throughout the year and the potential contribution role played by boreholes to GHG emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elad Levintal
- Environmental Hydrology and Microbiology, The Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
| | - Maria I Dragila
- Department of Crop and Soil Science, Oregon State University, USA
| | | | - Noam Weisbrod
- Environmental Hydrology and Microbiology, The Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
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15
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Bourges F, Genty D, Perrier F, Lartiges B, Régnier É, François A, Leplat J, Touron S, Bousta F, Massault M, Delmotte M, Dumoulin JP, Girault F, Ramonet M, Chauveau C, Rodrigues P. Hydrogeological control on carbon dioxide input into the atmosphere of the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 716:136844. [PMID: 32059316 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration (CDC) is an essential parameter of underground atmospheres for safety and cave heritage preservation. In the Chauvet cave (South France), a world heritage site hosting unique paintings dated 36,000 years BP, a high-sensitivity monitoring, ongoing since 1997, revealed: 1) two compartments with a spatially uniform CDC, a large volume (A) (40,000 to 80,000 m3) with a mean value of 2.20 ± 0.01% vol. in 2016, and a smaller remote room (B) (2000 m3), with a higher mean value of 3.42 ± 0.01%; 2) large CDC annual variations with peak-to-peak amplitude of 2% and 1.6% in A and B, respectively; 3) long-term changes, with an increase of CDC and of its annual amplitude since 1997, then faster since 2013, reaching a maximum of 4.4% in B in 2017, decreasing afterwards. While a large effect of seasonal ventilation is ruled out, monitoring of seepage at two dripping points indicated that the main control of CDC seasonal reduction was transient infiltration. During periods of water deficit, calculated from surface temperature and rainfall, CDC systematically increased. The carbon isotopic composition of CO2, correlated with water excess, is consistent with a time-varying component of CO2 seeping from above. The CO2 flux, which is the primary driver of CDC in A and B, inferred using box modelling, was found to confirm the relationship between water excess and reduced CO2 flux into A, compatible with a more constant flux into B. A buoyancy-driven horizontal CO2 flow model in the vadose zone, hindered by water infiltration, is proposed. Similarly, pluri-annual and long-term CDC changes can likely be attributed to variations of water excess, but also to increasing vegetation density above the cave. As CDC controls the carbonate geochemistry, an increased variability of CDC raises concern for the preservation of the Chauvet cave paintings.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Bourges
- Géologie Environnement Conseil, 30 rue de la République, F-09200 Saint-Girons, France
| | - Dominique Genty
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, UVSQ, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE/IPSL), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Frédéric Perrier
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Université de Paris, 1 rue Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Bruno Lartiges
- Université de Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Géosciences Environnement-Toulouse, 14 av. Edouard Belin, F-31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Édouard Régnier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, UVSQ, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE/IPSL), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Alexandre François
- Laboratoire de Recherches des Monuments Historiques (CRC, USR3224), Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Ministère de la Culture, CRNS, 29 rue de Paris, F-77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France
| | - Johann Leplat
- Laboratoire de Recherches des Monuments Historiques (CRC, USR3224), Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Ministère de la Culture, CRNS, 29 rue de Paris, F-77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France
| | - Stéphanie Touron
- Laboratoire de Recherches des Monuments Historiques (CRC, USR3224), Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Ministère de la Culture, CRNS, 29 rue de Paris, F-77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France
| | - Faisl Bousta
- Laboratoire de Recherches des Monuments Historiques (CRC, USR3224), Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Ministère de la Culture, CRNS, 29 rue de Paris, F-77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France
| | - Marc Massault
- Géosciences Paris-Sud (GEOPS), Université de Paris Saclay, Rue du Belvédère Bâtiment 504, 91400 Orsay, France
| | - Marc Delmotte
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, UVSQ, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE/IPSL), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jean-Pascal Dumoulin
- Laboratoire de Mesure du Carbone 14 (LMC14), LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Frédéric Girault
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Université de Paris, 1 rue Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Michel Ramonet
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, UVSQ, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE/IPSL), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Charles Chauveau
- Service de la Conservation de la Grotte Chauvet, Ministère de la Culture, F-07150 Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, France
| | - Paulo Rodrigues
- Service de la Conservation de la Grotte Chauvet, Ministère de la Culture, F-07150 Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, France
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16
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Guirado E, Ramos-López D, Maldonado A, Moreno-Balcázar J, Calaforra J. Modeling carbon dioxide for show cave conservation. J Nat Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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17
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Huang Z, Zhao F, Li Y, Zhang J, Feng Y. Variations in the bacterial community compositions at different sites in the tomb of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. Microbiol Res 2016; 196:26-33. [PMID: 28164788 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Revised: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To fully understand the bacterial processes in tomb environments, it is necessary to investigate the details of the bacterial communities present under such oligotrophic conditions. Here, high-throughput sequencing based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequences was used to fully evaluate the bacterial communities at different sites in the tomb of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. We also aimed to identify the soil factors that were significant related to bacterial diversity and community composition. The results showed the presence of a broad taxonomic diversity that included nine major phyla. Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated the bacterial profiles in all tomb soil samples. However, significant differences between deposited soils (DS) and covering soils (CSA, CSB and CSC) were revealed by chemistry-based principal component analysis (PCA), the number of OTUs, and the Chao 1 and Shannon indexes. At the family level, hierarchically clustered heatmap and LefSe analyses showed differences in the bacterial community compositions at different sampling sites. Notably, CSA contained significant populations of Nocardioidaceae, Pseudonocardiaceae and Streptomycetaceae, which are often reported to be associated with biodeterioration in cave environments. Further, the most abundant group (>10%) in all soil samples was Streptococcaceae, whose abundance decreased from 34.66% to 13.43% with increasing soil depth. The results of redundancy analysis (RDA) and the Monte Carlo permutation test indicated that soil pH and Cu and Mn levels were significantly related to the bacterial communities in this tomb. This research offers new insight into bacterial communities in cave environments and also provides important information for the protection of this historically important tomb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
| | - Fei Zhao
- Nanjing Institute for Comprehensive utilization of Wild Plants, China CO-OP, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Yonghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Urban and Architectural Heritage Conservation of Ministry of Education, School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Jianwei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Youzhi Feng
- State Key Laboratory Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
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18
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Perrier F, Girault F, Bouquerel H. Effective radium-226 concentration in rocks, soils, plants and bones. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1144/sp451.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
AbstractEffective radium-226 concentration, ECRa, is the product of radium activity concentration, CRa, multiplied by the emanation coefficient, E, which is probability of producing a radon-222 atom in the pore spaces. It is measured by accumulation experiments in the laboratory, achieved routinely for a sample mass >50 g using scintillation flasks to measure the radon concentration. We report on 3370 ECRa values obtained from more than 11 800 such experiments. Rocks (n=1351) have a mean ECRa value of 1.9±0.1 Bq kg−1 (90% of data in the range 0.11–35 Bq kg−1), while soils (n=1524) have a mean ECRa value of 7.5±0.2 Bq kg−1 (90% of data between 1.4 and 28 Bq kg−1). Using this large dataset, we establish that the spatial structure of ECRa is meaningful in geology or sedimentology. For plants (n=85), ECRa is generally <1 Bq kg−1, but values of larger than 10 Bq kg−1 are also observed. Dedicated experiments were performed to measure emanation, E, in plants, and we obtained values of 0.86±0.04 compared with 0.24±0.04 for sands, which leads to estimates of the radium-226 soil-to-plant transfer ratio. For most measured animal bones (n=26), ECRa is >1 Bq kg−1. Therefore, ECRa appears essential for radon modelling, health hazard assessment and also in evaluating the transfer of radium-226 to the biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Perrier
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Diderot, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Girault
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Diderot, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Hélène Bouquerel
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Diderot, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
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19
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Pla C, Cuezva S, Garcia-Anton E, Fernandez-Cortes A, Cañaveras JC, Sanchez-Moral S, Benavente D. Changes in the CO2 dynamics in near-surface cavities under a future warming scenario: Factors and evidence from the field and experimental findings. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 565:1151-1164. [PMID: 27261423 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C Pla
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain.
| | - S Cuezva
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Geomnia Natural Resources SLNE, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - E Garcia-Anton
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - A Fernandez-Cortes
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
| | - J C Cañaveras
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - S Sanchez-Moral
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - D Benavente
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain
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20
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Perrier F, Le Mouël JL. Stationary and transient thermal states of barometric pumping in the access pit of an underground quarry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 550:1044-1056. [PMID: 26855357 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The transition zone between free and underground atmospheres hosts spectacular phenomena, as demonstrated by temperature measurements performed in the 4.6m diameter and 20m deep vertical access pit of an abandoned underground quarry located in Vincennes, near Paris. In summer, a stable stratification of the atmosphere is maintained, with coherent temperature variations associated with atmospheric pressure changes, with a barometric tide S2 larger than 0.1°C peak to peak. When the winter regime of turbulent cold air avalanches is initiated, stratification with pressure induced signals can be restored transiently in the upper part of the pit, while the lower part remains fully mixed and insensitive to pressure variations. The amplitude of the pressure to temperature transfer function increases with frequency below 5×10(-4)Hz, with values at 3×10(-5)Hz varying from 0.1°C·hPa(-1) at the bottom up to 2°C·hPa(-1) towards the top of the pit. These temperature variations are accounted for by cave breathing, which is pressure induced motion of air amplified by the large volume of the quarry. This understanding is supported by a numerical model including advective heat transport, heat diffusion, and heat exchange with the pit walls. Mean lifetime in the pit is of the order of 9 to 13h, and barometric pumping results in an effective ventilation rate of the quarry of the order of 10(-7)s(-1). This study illustrates the important role of barometric pumping in heat and matter transport between atmosphere and lithosphere. The resulting stationary and transient states, revealed in this pit, are probably a general feature of functioning interface systems, and therefore are an important aspect to consider in problems of contaminant transport, or the preservation of precious heritage such as rare ecosystems or painted caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Perrier
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Univ Paris Diderot, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Jean-Louis Le Mouël
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Univ Paris Diderot, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
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21
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Borderie F, Alaoui-Sossé B, Aleya L. Heritage materials and biofouling mitigation through UV-C irradiation in show caves: state-of-the-art practices and future challenges. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:4144-4172. [PMID: 25548019 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-4001-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Biofouling, i.e., colonization of a given substrate by living organisms, has frequently been reported for heritage materials and particularly on stone surfaces such as building facades, historical monuments, and artworks. This also concerns subterranean environments such as show caves, in which the installation of artificial light for tourism has led to the proliferation of phototrophic microorganisms. In Europe nowadays, the use of chemicals in these very sensitive environments is scrutinized and regulated by the European Union. New and environmentally friendly processes must be developed as alternative methods for cave conservation. For several years, the UV irradiation currently used in medical facilities and for the treatment of drinking water has been studied as a new innovative method for the conservation of heritage materials. This paper first presents a review of the biofouling phenomena on stone materials such as building facades and historical monuments. The biological disturbances induced by tourist activity in show caves are then examined, with special attention given to the methods and means to combat them. Thirdly, a general overview is given of the effects of UV-C on living organisms, and especially on photosynthetic microorganisms, through different contexts and studies. Finally, the authors' own experiments and findings are presented concerning the study and use of UV-C irradiation to combat algal proliferation in show caves. Both laboratory and in situ results are summarized and synthesized from their previously published works. The application of UV in caves is discussed and further experiments are proposed to enhance research in this domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Borderie
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Université de Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030, Besançon, France
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