1
|
Zeng G, Lu W, Wang Y, Peng H, Chen P, Weng X, Chen J, Zhang L, Du H, Luo W, Wang S. Methane sink of subterranean space in an integrated atmosphere-soil-cave system. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118904. [PMID: 38614203 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
CH4 serves as an important greenhouse gas, yet limited knowledge is available in global and regional CH4 cycling, particularly in widely distributed karst terrain. In this study, we investigated an upland in Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station, and explored CH4 concentration and/or flux in atmosphere, soil and cave using a closed static chamber method and an eddy covariance system. Meanwhile, we monitored atmospheric temperature, precipitation, temperature and wind velocity in the cave entrance. The results demonstrated that atmospheric CH4 and actual soil CH4 fluxes in the source area of eddy covariance system were -0.19 ± 8.64 nmols-1m-2 and -0.16 nmols-1m-2 respectively. The CH4 concentrations in Shawan Cave exhibited 10 ∼ 100-fold lower than that of the external atmosphere. CH4 oxidation rate dominated by methane-oxidizing bacteria was 1.98 nmols-1m-2 in Shawan Cave when it combined with temperature difference between cave and external atmosphere. Therefore, CH4 sink in global karst subterranean spaces was estimated at 106.2 Tg CH4 yr-1. We supplemented an understanding of CH4 cycling paths and fluxes in karst terrain, as well as CH4 sinks in karst subterranean space. Further works require to establish a karst ecosystem observation network to conduct long-term integrated studies on CH4 fluxes regarding atmosphere, soils, plants and caves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guangneng Zeng
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang, 550025, China; Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Puding, 562100, China
| | - Wangbiao Lu
- College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Yanwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Puding, 562100, China
| | - Haijun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Guizhou Provincial Environmental Science Research and Design Institute, Guiyang, 550008, China
| | - Xu Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Puding, 562100, China
| | - Jia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Puding, 562100, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Puding, 562100, China
| | - Haijun Du
- School of Chemical Engineering, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Weijun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Puding, 562100, China.
| | - Shijie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China; Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Puding, 562100, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Havlena ZE, Hose LD, DuChene HR, Baker GM, Powell JD, Labrado AL, Brunner B, Jones DS. Origin and modern microbial ecology of secondary mineral deposits in Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, NV, USA. GEOBIOLOGY 2024; 22:e12594. [PMID: 38700397 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Lehman Caves is an extensively decorated high desert cave that represents one of the main tourist attractions in Great Basin National Park, Nevada. Although traditionally considered a water table cave, recent studies identified abundant speleogenetic features consistent with a hypogenic and, potentially, sulfuric acid origin. Here, we characterized white mineral deposits in the Gypsum Annex (GA) passage to determine whether these secondary deposits represent biogenic minerals formed during sulfuric acid corrosion and explored microbial communities associated with these and other mineral deposits throughout the cave. Powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), scanning electron microscopy with electron dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and electron microprobe analyses (EPMA) showed that, while most white mineral deposits from the GA contain gypsum, they also contain abundant calcite, silica, and other phases. Gypsum and carbonate-associated sulfate isotopic values of these deposits are variable, with δ34SV-CDT between +9.7‰ and +26.1‰, and do not reflect depleted values typically associated with replacement gypsum formed during sulfuric acid speleogenesis. Petrographic observations show that the sulfates likely co-precipitated with carbonate and SiO2 phases. Taken together, these data suggest that the deposits resulted from later-stage meteoric events and not during an initial episode of sulfuric acid speleogenesis. Most sedimentary and mineral deposits in Lehman Caves have very low microbial biomass, with the exception of select areas along the main tour route that have been impacted by tourist traffic. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that microbial communities in GA sediments are distinct from those in other parts of the cave. The microbial communities that inhabit these oligotrophic secondary mineral deposits include OTUs related to known ammonia-oxidizing Nitrosococcales and Thaumarchaeota, as well as common soil taxa such as Acidobacteriota and Proteobacteria. This study reveals microbial and mineralogical diversity in a previously understudied cave and expands our understanding of the geomicrobiology of desert hypogene cave systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoë E Havlena
- Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
| | - Louise D Hose
- Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | | | | | - J Douglas Powell
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Ely Ranger District, Nevada, USA
| | - Amanda L Labrado
- The Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin Brunner
- Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel S Jones
- Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
- National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ghezzi D, Jiménez-Morillo NT, Foschi L, Donini E, Chiarini V, De Waele J, Miller AZ, Cappelletti M. The microbiota characterizing huge carbonatic moonmilk structures and its correlation with preserved organic matter. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:25. [PMID: 38659019 PMCID: PMC11040949 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00562-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Moonmilk represents complex secondary structures and model systems to investigate the interaction between microorganisms and carbonatic rocks. Grotta Nera is characterized by numerous moonmilk speleothems of exceptional size hanging from the ceiling, reaching over two meters in length. In this work we combined microbiological analyses with analytical pyrolysis and carbon stable isotope data to determine the molecular composition of these complex moonmilk structures as well as the composition of the associated microbiota. RESULTS Three moonmilk structures were dissected into the apical, lateral, and core parts, which shared similar values of microbial abundance, richness, and carbon isotopes but different water content, microbiota composition, and organic matter. Moonmilk parts/niches showed higher values of microbial biomass and biodiversity compared to the bedrock (not showing moonmilk development signs) and the waters (collected below dripping moonmilk), indicating the presence of more complex microbial communities linked to carbonate rock interactions and biomineralization processes. Although each moonmilk niche was characterized by a specific microbiota as well as a distinct organic carbon profile, statistical analyses clustered the samples in two main groups, one including the moonmilk lateral part and the bedrock and the other including the core and apical parts of the speleothem. The organic matter profile of both these groups showed two well-differentiated organic carbon groups, one from cave microbial activity and the other from the leaching of vascular plant litter above the cave. Correlation between organic matter composition and microbial taxa in the different moonmilk niches were found, linking the presence of condensed organic compounds in the apical part with the orders Nitrospirales and Nitrosopumilales, while different taxa were correlated with aromatic, lignin, and polysaccharides in the moonmilk core. These findings are in line with the metabolic potential of these microbial taxa suggesting how the molecular composition of the preserved organic matter drives the microbiota colonizing the different moonmilk niches. Furthermore, distinct bacterial and archaeal taxa known to be involved in the metabolism of inorganic nitrogen and C1 gases (CO2 and CH4) (Nitrospira, Nitrosopumilaceae, Nitrosomonadaceae, Nitrosococcaceae, and novel taxa of Methylomirabilota and Methanomassiliicoccales) were enriched in the core and apical parts of the moonmilk, probably in association with their contribution to biogeochemical cycles in Grotta Nera ecosystem and moonmilk development. CONCLUSIONS The moonmilk deposits can be divided into diverse niches following oxygen and water gradients, which are characterized by specific microbial taxa and organic matter composition originating from microbial activities or deriving from soil and vegetation above the cave. The metabolic capacities allowing the biodegradation of complex polymers from the vegetation above the cave and the use of inorganic nitrogen and atmospheric gases might have fueled the development of complex microbial communities that, by interacting with the carbonatic rock, led to the formation of these massive moonmilk speleothems in Grotta Nera.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Ghezzi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Nicasio Tomás Jiménez-Morillo
- MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra Apartado 94, Évora, 7006-554, Portugal
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Av. de la Reina Mercedes, 10, Sevilla, 41012, Spain
| | - Lisa Foschi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Eva Donini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Veronica Chiarini
- Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, via Gradenigo 6, Padua, 35131, Italy
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Zamboni 67, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Jo De Waele
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Zamboni 67, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Ana Zélia Miller
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Av. de la Reina Mercedes, 10, Sevilla, 41012, Spain.
- HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Largo dos Colegiais 2, Évora, 7004-516, Portugal.
| | - Martina Cappelletti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, Bologna, 40126, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Martin-Pozas T, Cuezva S, Fernandez-Cortes A, Gonzalez-Pumariega M, Elez J, Duarte E, de la Rasilla M, Canaveras JC, Saiz-Jimenez C, Sanchez-Moral S. Adaptive response of prokaryotic communities to extreme pollution flooding in a Paleolithic rock art cave (Pindal Cave, northern Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:171137. [PMID: 38401719 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
A flood event affecting Pindal Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage site, introduced a substantial amount of external sediments and waste into the cave. This event led to the burial of preexisting sediments, altering the biogeochemical characteristics of the cave ecosystem by introducing heightened levels of organic matter, nitrogen compounds, phosphorus, and heavy metals. The sediments included particulate matter and waste from a cattle farm located within the water catchment area of the cavity, along with diverse microorganisms, reshaping the cave microbial community. This study addresses the ongoing influence of a cattle farm on the cave ecosystem and aims to understand the adaptive responses of the underground microbial community to the sudden influx of waste allochthonous material. Here, we show that the flood event had an immediate and profound effect on the cave microbial community, marked by a significant increase in methanogenic archaea, denitrifying bacteria, and other microorganisms commonly associated with mammalian intestinal tracts. Furthermore, our findings reveal that one year after the flood, microorganisms related to the flood decreased, while the increase in inorganic forms of ammonium and nitrate suggests potential nitrification, aligning with increased abundances of corresponding functional genes involved in nitrogen cycling. The results reveal that the impact of pollution was neither recent nor isolated, and it was decisive in stopping livestock activity near the cave. The influence of the cattle farm has persisted since its establishment over the impluvium area, and this influence endures even a year after the flood. Our study emphasizes the dynamic interplay between natural events, anthropogenic activities, and microbial communities, offering insights into the resilience of cave ecosystems. Understanding microbial adaptation in response to environmental disturbances, as demonstrated in this cave ecosystem, has implications for broader ecological studies and underscores the importance of considering temporal dynamics in conservation efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Martin-Pozas
- Department of Geology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Soledad Cuezva
- Spanish Geological Survey (IGME-CSIC), 28003 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | | | - Javier Elez
- Department of Geology, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Elsa Duarte
- Department of History, University of Oviedo, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - Juan Carlos Canaveras
- Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain.
| | - Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
- Department of Agrochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Soil and Water Protection, Institute of Natural Resources and Agricultural Biology (IRNAS-CSIC), 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - Sergio Sanchez-Moral
- Department of Geology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lange-Enyedi NT, Németh P, Borsodi AK, Spötl C, Makk J. Calcium carbonate precipitating extremophilic bacteria in an Alpine ice cave. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2710. [PMID: 38302670 PMCID: PMC10834452 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53131-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Extensive research has provided a wealth of data on prokaryotes in caves and their role in biogeochemical cycles. Ice caves in carbonate rocks, however, remain enigmatic environments with limited knowledge of their microbial taxonomic composition. In this study, bacterial and archaeal communities of the Obstans Ice Cave (Carnic Alps, Southern Austria) were analyzed by next-generation amplicon sequencing and by cultivation of bacterial strains at 10 °C and studying their metabolism. The most abundant bacterial taxa were uncultured Burkholderiaceae and Brevundimonas spp. in the drip water, Flavobacterium, Alkanindiges and Polaromonas spp. in the ice, Pseudonocardia, Blastocatella spp., uncultured Pyrinomonadaceae and Sphingomonadaceae in carbonate precipitates, and uncultured Gemmatimonadaceae and Longimicrobiaceae in clastic cave sediments. These taxa are psychrotolerant/psychrophilic and chemoorganotrophic bacteria. On a medium with Mg2+/Ca2+ = 1 at 21 °C and 10 °C, 65% and 35% of the cultivated strains precipitated carbonates, respectively. The first ~ 200 µm-size crystals appeared 2 and 6 weeks after the start of the cultivation experiments at 21 °C and 10 °C, respectively. The crystal structure of these microbially induced carbonate precipitates and their Mg-content are strongly influenced by the Mg2+/Ca2+ ratio of the culture medium. These results suggest that the high diversity of prokaryotic communities detected in cryogenic subsurface environments actively contributes to carbonate precipitation, despite living at the physical limit of the presence of liquid water.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nóra Tünde Lange-Enyedi
- Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budaörsi út 45, Budapest, 1112, Hungary
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Science, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Péter Németh
- Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, HUN-REN Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences, Budaörsi út 45, Budapest, 1112, Hungary.
- Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Nanolab, University of Pannonia, Egyetem út 10, Veszprém, 8200, Hungary.
| | - Andrea K Borsodi
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Science, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- Institute of Aquatic Ecology, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina út 29, Budapest, 1113, Hungary
| | - Christoph Spötl
- Institute of Geology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Judit Makk
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Science, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Biagioli F, Coleine C, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Feng Y, Saiz-Jimenez C, Selbmann L. Outdoor climate drives diversity patterns of dominant microbial taxa in caves worldwide. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167674. [PMID: 37813267 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
The cave microbiota is assumed to be shaped by indoor microclimate, biotic and abiotic factors, which are largely dependent from outside environmental conditions; however, this knowledge is available at local or regional scales only. To address this knowledge gap, we reanalyzed over 1050 bacterial and fungal communities of caves worldwide, and found that outdoor temperature and rainfall play a critical role in explaining differences in microbial diversity patterns of global caves, selecting specific dominant taxa across gradients of growing aridity conditions with arid climate leading to a reduction in total cave microbial diversity. Moreover, we found that fungal (from 186 to 1908 taxa) and bacterial (from 467 to 1619 taxa) diversity increased under temperate-tropical and temperate-continental climatic regions, respectively, highlighting an opposite preference for the two microbial compartments. We hypothesized that outdoor geographical, climatic variables and lithology are critical epistatic drivers in assembling microbial communities and their dominant taxa, whose ecological responses could be useful to predict the fate of these subterranean environments in the context of climate change. Our work elucidates the intimate connection between caves microbiota and surface ecosystems highlighting the sensitivity of cave microbial communities to climatic changes and environmental degradation. This work also provides a natural benchmark for the biogeographic information for caves globally and for protection strategies aiming at conservation of underground environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Biagioli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Av. Reina Mercedes 10, E-41012 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Youzhi Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 210006 Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, 210095 Nanjing, China
| | - Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
- Microbiología Ambiental y Patrimonio Cultural, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Av. Reina Mercedes 10, E-41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Via al Porto Antico, 16128 Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Martin-Pozas T, Cuezva S, Fernandez-Cortes A, Benavente D, Saiz-Jimenez C, Sanchez-Moral S. Prokaryotic communities inhabiting a high-radon subterranean ecosystem (Castañar Cave, Spain): Environmental and substrate-driven controls. Microbiol Res 2023; 277:127511. [PMID: 37852679 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Castañar Cave (Caceres, Spain) is a unique show cave known for its high natural radiation levels. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of its prokaryotic diversity, specifically focusing on investigating the influence of environmental conditions and substrate characteristics on the prokaryotic community structure in the cave sediments. Additionally, the research aims to evaluate the potential impact of human activities on the cave ecosystem. The identification of distinct bioclimatic zones within the cave was made possible through a combination of environmental and microbial monitoring (ATP assays). The results reveal sediment texture as a significant factor, notably affecting the structure, diversity, and phylogenetic variability of the microbial community, including both Bacteria and Archaea. The proportion of clay minerals in sediments plays a crucial role in regulating moisture levels and nutrient availability. These substrate properties collectively exert a significant selective pressure on the structure of prokaryotic communities within cave sediments. The molecular approach shows that heterotrophic bacteria, including those with chitinolytic enzymes, primarily inhabit the cave. Furthermore, chemoautotrophic nitrifiers such as the archaea Nitrososphaeria and the genus Nitrospira, as well as methanotrophic bacteria from the phyla Methylomirabilota, Pseudomonadota, and Verrucomicrobiota, are also present. Remarkably, despite being a show cave, the cave microbiota displays minimal impacts from human activities and the surface ecosystem. Prokaryotic populations exhibit stability in the innermost areas, while the tourist trail area experiences slightly higher biomass increases due to visitor traffic. This suggests that conservation efforts have successfully limited the entry of external nutrients into the innermost cave areas. Additionally, the results suggest that integrating biomarkers like ATP into environmental monitoring can significantly enhance the methods used to study the negative impacts of tourism on cave ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Martin-Pozas
- Department of Geology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Soledad Cuezva
- Department of Geology, Geography and Environment, University of Alcala, 28805 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - David Benavente
- Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain.
| | - Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
- Department of Agrochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Soil and Water Protection, Institute of Natural Resources and Agricultural Biology (IRNAS-CSIC), 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - Sergio Sanchez-Moral
- Department of Geology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gogoleva N, Chervyatsova O, Balkin A, Kuzmina L, Shagimardanova E, Kiseleva D, Gogolev Y. Microbial tapestry of the Shulgan-Tash cave (Southern Ural, Russia): influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilms. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:82. [PMID: 37990336 PMCID: PMC10662634 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00538-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cave biotopes are characterized by stable low temperatures, high humidity, and scarcity of organic substrates. Despite the harsh oligotrophic conditions, they are often inhabited by rich microbial communities. Abundant fouling with a wide range of morphology and coloration of colonies covers the walls of the Shulgan-Tash cave in the Southern Urals. This cave is also famous for the unique Paleolithic painting discovered in the middle of the last century. We aimed to investigate the diversity, distribution, and potential impact of these biofilms on the cave's Paleolithic paintings, while exploring how environmental factors influence the microbial communities within the cave. RESULTS The cave's biofilm morphotypes were categorized into three types based on the ultrastructural similarities. Molecular taxonomic analysis identified two main clusters of microbial communities, with Actinobacteria dominating in most of them and a unique "CaveCurd" community with Gammaproteobacteria prevalent in the deepest cave sections. The species composition of these biofilms reflects changes in environmental conditions, such as substrate composition, temperature, humidity, ventilation, and CO2 content. Additionally, it was observed that cave biofilms contribute to biocorrosion on cave wall surfaces. CONCLUSIONS The Shulgan-Tash cave presents an intriguing example of a stable extreme ecosystem with diverse microbiota. However, the intense dissolution and deposition of carbonates caused by Actinobacteria pose a potential threat to the preservation of the cave's ancient rock paintings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gogoleva
- Research Department for Limnology, Mondsee, Universität Innsbruck, Mondsee, 5310, Austria.
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420111, Russia.
| | | | - Alexander Balkin
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420111, Russia
- Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Orenburg, 460000, Russia
| | - Lyudmila Kuzmina
- Ufa Institute of Biology, Ufa Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, 450054, Russia
| | - Elena Shagimardanova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420111, Russia
- Loginov Moscow Clinical Scientific Center, Moscow, 111123, Russia
| | - Daria Kiseleva
- Institute of Geology and Geochemistry, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, 620016, Russia
- Institute of Fundamental Education, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, Ekaterinburg, 620002, Russia
| | - Yuri Gogolev
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420111, Russia
- Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Federal Research Center "Kazan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Kazan, 420111, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Theodorescu M, Bucur R, Bulzu PA, Faur L, Levei EA, Mirea IC, Cadar O, Ferreira RL, Souza-Silva M, Moldovan OT. Environmental Drivers of the Moonmilk Microbiome Diversity in Some Temperate and Tropical Caves. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:2847-2857. [PMID: 37606696 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02286-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Moonmilk is a cave deposit that was used for medical and cosmetic purposes and has lately raised interest for its antimicrobial potential. We studied five moonmilk samples from four caves with different microclimatic conditions, two temperate in north-western and northern Romania (Ferice, Fața Apei, and Izvorul Tăușoarelor caves) and one tropical in Minas Gerais, Brazil (Nestor Cave). The physicochemical and mineralogical analyses confirmed the presence of calcite and dolomite as the main phase in the moonmilk. A 16S rRNA gene-based metabarcoding approach showed the most abundant bacteria phyla Proteobacteria, GAL15, Actinobacteriota, and Acidobacteriota. The investigated caves differed in the dominant orders of bacteria, with the highest distance between the Romanian and Nestor Cave samples. Climate and, implicitly, the soil microbiome can be responsible for some differences we found between all the samples. However, other factors can be involved in shaping the moonmilk microbiome, as differences were found between samples in the same cave (Ferice). In our five moonmilk samples, 1 phylum, 70 orders (~ 36%), and 252 genera (~ 47%) were unclassified, which hints at the great potential of cave microorganisms for future uses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mihail Theodorescu
- Cluj-Napoca Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Clinicilor 5, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ruxandra Bucur
- Cluj-Napoca Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Clinicilor 5, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Virgil Fulicea 3, 400022, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Paul-Adrian Bulzu
- Department of Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Luchiana Faur
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Virgil Fulicea 3, 400022, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, 13 Septembrie 13, 050711, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Erika Andrea Levei
- Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, Donath 67, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ionuț Cornel Mirea
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Virgil Fulicea 3, 400022, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, 13 Septembrie 13, 050711, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Oana Cadar
- Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, Donath 67, 400293, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira
- Centro de Estudos em Biologia Subterrânea, Setor de Biodiversidade Subterrânea, Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Campus Universitário, Lavras, Minas Gerais, 37202-553, Brazil
| | - Marconi Souza-Silva
- Centro de Estudos em Biologia Subterrânea, Setor de Biodiversidade Subterrânea, Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Campus Universitário, Lavras, Minas Gerais, 37202-553, Brazil
| | - Oana Teodora Moldovan
- Cluj-Napoca Department, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology, Clinicilor 5, 400006, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- Romanian Institute of Science and Technology, Virgil Fulicea 3, 400022, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- Centro Nacional sobre la Evolucion Humana, Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002, Burgos, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Martin-Pozas T, Fernandez-Cortes A, Cuezva S, Cañaveras JC, Benavente D, Duarte E, Saiz-Jimenez C, Sanchez-Moral S. New insights into the structure, microbial diversity and ecology of yellow biofilms in a Paleolithic rock art cave (Pindal Cave, Asturias, Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 897:165218. [PMID: 37419360 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
In the absence of sunlight, caves harbor a great diversity of microbial colonies to extensive biofilms with different sizes and colors visible to the naked eye. One of the most widespread and visible types of biofilm are those with yellow hues that can constitute a serious problem for the conservation of cultural heritage in many caves, such as Pindal Cave (Asturias, Spain). This cave, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its Paleolithic parietal art, shows a high degree of development of yellow biofilms that represents a real threat to the conservation of painted and engraved figures. This study aims to: 1) identify the microbial structures and the most characteristic taxa composing the yellow biofilms, 2) seek the linked microbiome reservoir primarily contributing to their growth; 3) seed light on the driving vectors that contribute to their formation and determine the subsequent proliferation and spatial distribution. To achieve this goal, we used amplicon-based massive sequencing, in combination with other techniques such as microscopy, in situ hybridization and environmental monitoring, to compare the microbial communities of yellow biofilms with those of drip waters, cave sediments and exterior soil. The results revealed microbial structures related to the phylum Actinomycetota and the most characteristic bacteria in yellow biofilms, represented by the genera wb1-P19, Crossiella, Nitrospira, and Arenimonas. Our findings suggest that sediments serve as potential reservoirs and colonization sites for these bacteria that can develop into biofilms under favorable environmental and substrate conditions, with a particular affinity for speleothems and rugged-surfaced rocks found in condensation-prone areas. This study presents an exhaustive study of microbial communities of yellow biofilms in a cave, which could be used as a procedure for the identification of similar biofilms in other caves and to design effective conservation strategies in caves with valuable cultural heritage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Martin-Pozas
- Department of Geology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Soledad Cuezva
- Department of Geology, Geography and Environment, University of Alcala, Campus Cientifico-Tecnologico, 28802 Alcala de Henares, Spain.
| | - Juan Carlos Cañaveras
- Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain.
| | - David Benavente
- Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Alicante, Campus San Vicente del Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain.
| | - Elsa Duarte
- Department of History, University of Oviedo, 33011 Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
- Department of Agrochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Soil and Water Protection, Institute of Natural Resources and Agricultural Biology (IRNAS-CSIC), 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - Sergio Sanchez-Moral
- Department of Geology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sansupa C, Suphaphimol N, Nonthijun P, Ronsuek T, Yimklan S, Semakul N, Khrueraya T, Suwannarach N, Purahong W, Disayathanoowat T. Life on the wall: the diversity and activity of microbes on 13th - century AD. Lan Na mural painting. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1220901. [PMID: 37779706 PMCID: PMC10540211 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1220901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Diverse microorganisms from the three domains of life (Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryota) cause deterioration in mural paintings worldwide; however, few studies have simultaneously targeted these three domains. This study aims to survey the microbiome and its potential for biodeterioration on unpreserved Lan Na mural paintings in Sean Khan temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand. The overview of the archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities was reported by Illumina sequencing, whereas the potential for deterioration was revealed by culturable techniques and a literature search. The abundant microbes reported in this study were also found in other ancient mural paintings worldwide. Halococcus, a salt-tolerant archaeon, as well as the eubacterial genus Crossiella dominated the prokaryotic community. On the other hand, the main fungal group was the genus Candida (Ascomycota). However, a low number of fungi and bacteria were isolated. Most of the isolates showed the ability to survive in the drought conditions of mural paintings but could not perform discoloration activities. The deterioration activity mainly affected calcium compounds, which are the main components of painting substrates. Aspergillus and several bacterial isolates could dissolve calcium compounds, but only Trichaptum species could induce crystal formation. These results suggest that deterioration of painting substrate should be taken into consideration in addition to deterioration of color in mural paintings. For the Lan Na painting in Sean Khan temple, the plaster is the prime target for biodeterioration, and thus we suggest that the preservation effort should focus on this component of the mural painting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chakriya Sansupa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nattaphon Suphaphimol
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Paradha Nonthijun
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Teewararat Ronsuek
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Saranphong Yimklan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Natthawat Semakul
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | - Nakarin Suwannarach
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Witoon Purahong
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Terd Disayathanoowat
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cheng X, Xiang X, Yun Y, Wang W, Wang H, Bodelier PLE. Archaea and their interactions with bacteria in a karst ecosystem. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1068595. [PMID: 36814573 PMCID: PMC9939782 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1068595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Karst ecosystems are widely distributed around the world, accounting for 15-20% of the global land area. However, knowledge on microbial ecology of these systems does not match with their global importance. To close this knowledge gap, we sampled three niches including weathered rock, sediment, and drip water inside the Heshang Cave and three types of soils overlying the cave (forest soil, farmland soil, and pristine karst soil). All these samples were subjected to high-throughput sequencing of V4-V5 region of 16S rRNA gene and analyzed with multivariate statistical analysis. Overall, archaeal communities were dominated by Thaumarchaeota, whereas Actinobacteria dominated bacterial communities. Thermoplasmata, Nitrosopumilaceae, Aenigmarchaeales, Crossiella, Acidothermus, and Solirubrobacter were the important predictor groups inside the Heshang Cave, which were correlated to NH4 + availability. In contrast, Candidatus Nitrososphaera, Candidatus Nitrocosmicus, Thaumarchaeota Group 1.1c, and Pseudonocardiaceae were the predictors outside the cave, whose distribution was correlated with pH, Ca2+, and NO2 -. Tighter network structures were found in archaeal communities than those of bacteria, whereas the topological properties of bacterial networks were more similar to those of total prokaryotic networks. Both chemolithoautotrophic archaea (Candidatus Methanoperedens and Nitrosopumilaceae) and bacteria (subgroup 7 of Acidobacteria and Rokubacteriales) were the dominant keystone taxa within the co-occurrence networks, potentially playing fundamental roles in obtaining energy under oligotrophic conditions and thus maintaining the stability of the cave ecosystem. To be noted, all the keystone taxa of karst ecosystems were related to nitrogen cycling, which needs further investigation, particularly the role of archaea. The predicted ecological functions in karst soils mainly related to carbohydrate metabolism, biotin metabolism, and synthesis of fatty acid. Our results offer new insights into archaeal ecology, their potential functions, and archaeal interactions with bacteria, which enhance our understanding about the microbial dark matter in the subsurface karst ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China,School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China,Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Xing Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China,College of Life Science, Shangrao Normal University, Shangrao, China
| | - Yuan Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China,College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Weiqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China,School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongmei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China,School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China,*Correspondence: Hongmei Wang, ✉ ; ✉
| | - Paul L. E. Bodelier
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Microbial diversity and proxy species for human impact in Italian karst caves. Sci Rep 2023; 13:689. [PMID: 36639707 PMCID: PMC9839721 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26511-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, the highly adapted cave microbial communities are challenged by the expanding anthropization of these subterranean habitats. Although recent advances in characterizing show-caves microbiome composition and functionality, the anthropic effect on promoting the establishment, or reducing the presence of specific microbial guilds has never been studied in detail. This work aims to investigate the whole microbiome (Fungi, Algae, Bacteria and Archaea) of four Italian show-caves, displaying different environmental and geo-morphological conditions and one recently discovered natural cave to highlight potential human-induced microbial traits alterations. Results indicate how show-caves share common microbial traits in contrast to the natural one; the first are characterized by microorganisms related to outdoor environment and/or capable of exploiting extra inputs of organic matter eventually supplied by tourist flows (i.e. Chaetomium and Phoma for fungi and Pseudomonas for bacteria). Yet, variation in microalgae assemblage composition was reported in show-caves, probably related to the effect of the artificial lighting. This study provides insights into the potential microbiome cave contamination by human-related bacteria (e.g. Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus) and commensal/opportunistic human associated fungi (e.g. Candida) and dermatophytes. This work is critical to untangle caves microbiome towards management and conservation of these fragile ecosystems.
Collapse
|