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Biofilms in caves: easy method for the assessment of dominant phototrophic groups/taxa in situ

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Abstract

Domination of certain aerophytic phototrophic group or specific taxon in biofilms is connected with biofilm features recognised in situ. Well-developed, gelatinous, olive to dark-green biofilms are composed mostly of coccoid cyanobacterial forms. The same features, characterised biofilms dominated by one coccoid taxon, except the latter were vividly coloured. Gloeobacter caused the appearance of purple, Gloeocapsa representatives yellow and Chroococcidiopsis black biofilm. The brown to the dark colour of heterocytous biofilms was mainly caused by Nostoc. Simple trichal Cyanobacteria were occasionally present in biofilm, except in one blue-coloured sample. According to the principal component analysis (PCA), well-developed and gelatinous biofilms were correlated with Cyanobacteria, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed richness of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in such biofilms. Biofilm with calcified cyanobacterium (Geitleria cf. calcarea) was also found. Chlorophyta-abundant biofilms (many rich in Desmococcus), thinner than cyanobacterial, were predominantly green and occasionally yellow and blue. Many were dry when observed in situ (confirmed with PCA), with few being moistened (i.e. Klebsormidium-dominant). Diatom biofilms were usually developed on sediment, mosses or near seeping water (demonstrated by PCA) and were also thinner than cyanobacterial ones. Compared to cyanobacterial biofilms, SEM showed less developed EPS in those rich in diatoms and green algae, where microorganisms are more exposed to the environment. The study demonstrates an easy method for biofilm assessment based on visual characterisation and provides encouragement for more frequent biofilm investigation in caves that can be important from an ecological, biological, biotechnological point of view and which assessment can have an irreplaceable role in potential monitoring and protection.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to family, friends and cave managers for the support in biofilm sampling, Dr. Miljana Jakovljević for the help with figures, editor and the anonymous reviewers for valuable comments and suggestions which implementation improved the quality of this manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Grant No. 451-03-68/2020-14/200026 and Grant No. 451-03-68/2020-14/200178).

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  1. Center for Ecology and Technoeconomics, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Slađana Popović & Željka Milovanović

  2. Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden ‘Jevremovac’, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Jelena Krizmanić, Marija Pećić & Gordana Subakov Simić

  3. Department of Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Danijela Vidaković

  4. Institute of Public Health of Serbia Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut, Belgrade, Serbia

    Vesna Karadžić

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  1. Slađana Popović
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Popović, S., Krizmanić, J., Vidaković, D. et al. Biofilms in caves: easy method for the assessment of dominant phototrophic groups/taxa in situ. Environ Monit Assess 192, 720 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08686-4

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