Skip to main content

Microbiological and environmental issues in show caves

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology volume 28, pages 2453–2464 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Cultural tourism expanded in the last half of the twentieth century, and the interest of visitors has come to include caves containing archaeological remains. Some show caves attracted mass tourism, and economical interests prevailed over conservation, which led to a deterioration of the subterranean environment and the rock art. The presence and the role of microorganisms in caves is a topic that is often ignored in cave management. Knowledge of the colonisation patterns, the dispersion mechanisms, and the effect on human health and, when present, over rock art paintings of these microorganisms is of the utmost importance. In this review the most recent advances in the study of microorganisms in caves are presented, together with the environmental implications of the findings.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

References

  • Abdelahad N, Bazzichelli G (1988) Geitleria calcarea Friedmann, Cyanophycee cavernicole nouvelle pour l’Italie. Nova Hedwigia 46:265–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Aboal M, Asencio AD, Prefasi M (1994) Studies on cave cyanophytes from southeastern Spain: Scytonema julianum (Meneghini ex Franck) Richter. Algol Stud 75:31–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Akatova E, Roldan M, Hernandez-Marine M, Gonzalez JM, Saiz-Jimenez C (2009) On the efficiency of biocides and cleaning treatments in restoration works of subterranean monuments. In: Science and cultural heritage in the mediterranean area, Regione Siciliana, Palermo, p 316–322

  • Albertano P, Bruno L, Bellezza S (2005) New strategies for the monitoring and control of cyanobacterial films on valuable lithic faces. Plant Biosyst 139:311–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Alonso-Zarza AM, Martín-Pérez A, Martín-García R, Gil-Peña I, Meléndez A, Martínez-Flores E, Hellstrom J, Muñoz-Barco P (2011) Structural and hostrock controls on the distribution, morphology and mineralogy of speleothems in the Castañar Cave (Spain). Geol Mag 148:211–225

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amann R, Fuchs BM (2008) Single-cell identification in microbial communities by improved fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques. Nature Rev Microbiol 6:339–348

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amend AS, Seifert KA, Samson R, Bruns TD (2010) Indoor fungal composition is geographically patterned and more diverse in temperate zones than in the tropics. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:13748–13753

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker BJ, Tyson GW, Webb RI, Flanagan J, Hugenholtz P, Allen EE, Banfield JF (2006) Lineages of acidophilic Archaea revealed by community genomic analysis. Science 314:1933–1935

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barns SM, Cain EC, Sommerville L, Kuske CR (2007) Acidobacteria phylum sequences in uranium-contaminated subsurface sediments greatly expand the known diversity within the phylum. Appl Environ Microbiol 73:3113–3116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barton HA, Northup DE (2007) Geomicrobiology in cave environments: past, current and future perspectives. J Cave Karst Stud 69:163–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastian F, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C (2009a) Bacteria and free-living amoeba in Lascaux Cave. Res Microbiol 160:38–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bastian F, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C (2009b) Impact of biocide treatments on the bacterial communities of the Lascaux Cave. Naturwissenschaften 96:863–868

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bastian F, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C (2009c) The impact of arthropods on fungal community structure in Lascaux Cave. J Appl Microbiol 106:1456–1462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bastian F, Jurado V, Novakova A, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C (2010) The microbiology of the Lascaux Cave. Microbiology 156:644–652

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blehert DS, Lorch JM, Ballmann AE, Cryan PM, Meteyer CU (2011) Bat white-nose syndrome in North America. Microbe 6:267–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Brochier-Armanet C, Boussau B, Gribaldo S, Forterre P (2008) Mesophilic crenarchaeota: proposal for a third archaeal phylum, the Thaumarchaeota. Nature Rev Microbiol 6:245–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calaforra JM, Pulido-Bosch A (2003) Evolution of the gypsum karst of Sorbas (SE Spain). Geomorphology 50:173–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cañaveras JC, Cuezva S, Sanchez-Moral S, Lario J, Laiz L, Gonzalez JM, Saiz-Jimenez C (2006) On the origin of fiber calcite crystals in moon milk deposits. Naturwissenschaften 93:27–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caumartin V (1963) Review of the microbiology of underground environments. Natl Speleol Soc Bull 25:1–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Chelius MK, Moore JC (2004) Molecular phylogenetic analysis of archaea and bacteria in Wind Cave, South Dakota. Geomicrobiol J 21:123–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chelius MK, Beresford G, Horton H, Quirk M, Selby G, Simpson RT, Horrocks R, Moore JC (2009) Impacts of alterations of organic inputs on the bacterial community within the sediments of Wind Cave, South Dakota, USA. Int J Speleol 38:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Wu L, Boden R, Hillebrand A, Kumaresan D, Moussard H, Baciu M, Lu Y, Murrell JC (2009) Life without light: microbial diversity and evidence of sulfur- and ammonium-based chemolithotrophy in Movile Cave. ISME J 3:1093–1104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cuezva S, Sanchez-Moral S, Saiz-Jimenez C, Cañaveras JC (2009) Microbial communities and associated mineral fabrics in Altamira Cave, Spain. Int J Speleol 38:83–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuezva S, Fernandez-Cortes A, Porca A, Pašić L, Jurado V, Hernandez-Marine M, Serrano-Ortiz P, Hermosin B, Cañaveras JC, Sanchez-Moral S, Saiz-Jimenez C (2012) The biogeochemical role of Actinobacteria in Altamira Cave, Spain. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01391.x

  • Cunningham KI, Northup DE, Pollastro RM, Wright WG, Larock EJ (1995) Bacteria, fungi and biokarst in Lechuguilla Cave, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. Environ Geol 25:2–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson SC, Pace NR (2002) Novel kingdom-level eukaryotic diversity in anoxic environments. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 99:8324–8329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DeSantis TZ, Hugenholtz P, Larsen N, Rojas M, Brodie EL, Keller K, Huber T, Dalevi D, Hu P, Andersen GL (2006) Greengenes, a chimera-checked 16S rRNA gene database and workbench compatible with ARB. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:5069–5072

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Docampo S, Trigo MM, Recio M, Melgar M, García-Sánchez J, Cabezudo B (2011) Fungal spore content of the atmosphere of the Cave of Nerja (southern Spain): diversity and origin. Sci Total Environ 409:835–843

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Engel AS (2007) Observations on the biodiversity of sulfidic karst habitats. J Cave Karst Stud 69:187–206

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Engel AS (2010) Microbial diversity of cave ecosystems. In: Barton LL, Mandl M, Loy A (eds) Geomicrobiology: molecular and environmental perspective. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 219–238

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Engel AS, Meisinger DB, Porter ML, Payn RA, Schmid M, Stern LA, Schleifer KH, Lee NM (2010) Linking phylogenetic and functional diversity to nutrient spiraling in microbial mats from Lower Kane Cave (USA). ISME J 4:98–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez-Cortes A, Cuezva S, Sanchez-Moral S, Porca E, Jurado V, Saiz-Jimenez C (2011) Detection of human-induced environmental disturbances in a show cave. Environ Sci Poll Res 18:1037–1045

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez JM, Portillo MC, Saiz-Jimenez C (2006) Metabolically active crenarchaeota in Altamira Cave. Naturwissenschaften 93:42–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Groth I, Saiz-Jimenez C (1999) Actinomycetes in hypogean environments. Geomicrobiol J 16:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groth I, Vetermann R, Schuetze B, Schumann P, Saiz-Jimenez C (1999) Actinomycetes in karstic caves of Northern Spain (Altamira and Tito Bustillo). J Microbiol Methods 36:115–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Groth I, Schumann P, Laiz L, Sanchez-Moral S, Cañaveras JC, Saiz-Jimenez C (2001) Geomicrobiological study of the Grotta dei Cervi, Porto Badisco, Italy. Geomicrobiol J 18:241–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Marine M, Canals T (1994) Herpyzonema pulverulentum (Mastigocladaceae) a new cavernicolous atmophytic and lime-incrusted cyanophyte. Algol Stud 75:123–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes AJ, Tujula NA, Holley M, Contos A, James JM, Rogers P, Gillings MR (2001) Phylogenetic structure of unusual aquatic microbial formations in Nullarbor caves, Australia. Environ Microbiol 3:256–264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hugenholtz PB, Goebel M, Pace NR (1998) Impact of culture-independent studies on the emerging phylogenetic view of bacterial diversity. J Bacteriol 180:4765–4774

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen PH (2006) Identifying the dominant soil bacterial taxa in libraries of 16S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:1719–1728

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones DS, Albrecht HL, Dawson KS, Schaperdoth I, Freeman KH, Pi Y, Pearson A, Macalady JL (2012) Community genomic analysis of an extremely acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing biofilm. ISME J 6:158–170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado V, Groth I, Gonzalez JM, Laiz L, Saiz-Jimenez C (2005a) Agromyces salentinus sp. nov. and A. neoliticus sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55:153–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado V, Groth I, Gonzalez JM, Laiz L, Schuetze B, Saiz-Jimenez C (2005b) Agromyces italicus, sp. nov., Agromyces humatus, sp. nov., and Agromyces lapidis, sp. nov., isolated from Roman catacombs. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55:871–875

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado V, Groth I, Gonzalez JM, Laiz L, Saiz-Jimenez C (2005c) Agromyces subbeticus sp. nov., isolated from a cave in southern Spain. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55:1897–1901

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado V, Gonzalez JM, Laiz L, Saiz-Jimenez C (2006) Aurantimonas altamirensis sp. nov., a member of the order Rhizobiales isolated from Altamira Cave. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56:2583–2585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado V, Boiron P, Kroppenstedt RM, Laurent F, Couble A, Laiz L, Klenk HP, Gonzalez JM, Saiz-Jimenez C, Mouniée D, Bergeron E, Rodríguez-Nava V (2008) Nocardia altamirensis sp. nov., isolated from Altamira Cave, Cantabria, Spain. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58:2210–2214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado V, Fernandez-Cortes A, Cuezva S, Laiz L, Cañaveras JC, Sanchez-Moral S, Saiz-Jimenez C (2009a) The fungal colonization of rock art caves. Naturwissenschaften 96:1027–1034

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado V, Klenk H-P, Saiz-Jimenez C, Kroppenstedt R, Mouniée D, Laiz L, Couble A, Potter G, Boiron G, Rodríguez-Nava V (2009b) Hoyosella altamirensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the order Actinomycetales isolated from a cave biofilm. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:3105–3110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurado V, Laiz L, Rodriguez-Nava V, Boiron P, Hermosin B, Sanchez-Moral S, Saiz-Jimenez C (2010a) Pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms in caves. Int J Speleol 39:15–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurado V, Porca E, Cuezva S, Fernandez-Cortes A, Sanchez-Moral S, Saiz-Jimenez C (2010b) Fungal outbreak in a show cave. Sci Total Environ 408:3632–3638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kajihiro ES (1965) Occurrence of dermatophytes in fresh bat guano. Appl Microbiol 13:720–724

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kubátová A, Koukol O, Nováková A (2011) Geomyces destructans, phenotypic features of some Czech isolates. Czech Mycol 63:65–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamprinou V, Hernández-Mariné M, Canals T, Kormas K, Economou-Amilli A, Pantazidou AI (2011) Two new stigonematalean cyanobacteria: Iphinoe spelaeobios gen. nov., sp. nov. and Loriellopsis cavernicola gen. nov., sp. nov. from Greek and Spanish caves. Morphology and molecular evaluation. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 61:2907–2915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lamprinou V, Skaraki K, Kotoulas G, Economou-Amilli A, Pantazidou AI (2012) Toxopsis calypsus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Cyanobacteria, Nostocales) from cave ‘Francthi’, Peloponnese, Greece—morphological and molecular evaluation. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.038679-0

  • Langecker TG, Wilkens H, Parzefall J (1996) Studies on the trophic structure of an energy-rich Mexican cave (Cueva de las Sardinas) containing sulfurous water. Memor Biospeol 23:121–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee NM, Meisinger DB, Aubrecht R, Kovacik L, Saiz-Jimenez C, Baskar S, Baskar R, Liebl W, Porter M, Engel AS (2012) Caves and karst environments. In: Bell EM (ed) Life at extremes: environments, organisms and strategies for survival. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 320–344

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lefévre M (1974) La maladie verte de Lascaux. Stud Conserv 19:126–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Legatzki A, Ortiz M, Neilson J, Dominguez S, Andersen G, Toomey R, Pryor B, Pierson L, Maier R (2011) Bacterial and archaeal community structure of two adjacent calcite speleothems in Kartchner Caverns, Arizona, USA. Geomicrobiol J 28:99–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luong M-L, Békal S, Vinh DC, Lauzon D, Leung V, Al-Rawahi GN, Ng B, Burdz T, Bernard K (2008) First report of isolation and characterization of Aurantimonas altamirensis from clinical samples. J Clin Microbiol 46:2435–2437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin-Sanchez PM, Nováková A, Bastian F, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C (2012) The use of biocides for the control of fungal outbreaks in subterranean environments: the case of the Lascaux Cave in France. Environ Sci Technol 46:3762–3770

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meisinger DB, Zimmermann J, Ludwig W, Schleifer K-H, Wanner G, Schmid M, Bennett PC, Engel AS, Lee NM (2007) In situ detection of novel Acidobacteria in microbial mats from a chemolithoautotrophically based cave ecosystem (Lower Kane Cave, WY, USA). Environ Microbiol 9:1523–1534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melim LA, Northup DE, Spilde MN, Jones B, Boston PJ, Bixby RJ (2008) Reticulated filaments in cave pool speleothems: microbe or mineral? J Cave Karst Stud 70:135–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendes RE, Denys GA, Fritsche TR, Jones NR (2009) Case report of Aurantimonas altamirensis bloodstream infection. J Clin Microbiol 47:514–515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller AZ, Hernández-Mariné M, Jurado V, Dionísio A, Barquinha P, Fortunato E, Afonso MJ, Chaminé HI, Saiz-Jimenez C (2012) Enigmatic reticulated filaments in subsurface granite. Environ Microbiol Rep (in press)

  • Molin S, Givskov M (1999) Application of molecular tools for in situ monitoring of bacterial growth activity. Environ Microbiol 1:383–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nieves-Rivera AM, Santos-Flores CJ, Dugan FM, Miller TE (2009) Guanophilic fungi in three caves of southwestern Puerto Rico. Int J Speleol 38:61–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Northup DE, Barns SM, Yu LE, Spilde MN, Schelble RT, Dano KE, Crossey LJ, Connolly CA, Boston PJ, Natvig DO, Dahm CN (2003) Diverse microbial communities inhabiting ferromanganese deposits in Lechuguilla and Spider Caves. Environ Microbiol 5:1071–1086

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Northup DE, Melim LA, Spilde MN, Hathaway JJM, Garcia MG, Moya M, Stone FD, Boston PJ, Dapkevicius MLNE, Riquelme C (2011) Lava cave microbial communities within mats and secondary mineral deposits: implications for life detection on other planets. Astrobiology 11:601–618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nováková A (2009a) Pidoplitchkoviella terricola—an interesting fungus from the Domica Cave (Slovakia). Int J Speleol 38:23–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Nováková A (2009b) Microscopic fungi isolated from the Domica Cave system (Slovak Karst National Park, Slovakia). A review. Int J Speleol 38:71–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Nováková A, Kolařík M (2010) Chrysosporium speluncarum, a new species resembling Ajellomyces capsulatus, obtained from bat guano in caves of temperate Europe. Mycol Prog 9:253–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peck SB (1986) Bacterial deposition of iron and manganese oxides in North American caves. Natl Speleol Soc Bull 48:26–30

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Porca E, Jurado V, Martin-Sanchez PM, Hermosin B, Bastian F, Alabouvette C, Saiz-Jimenez C (2011) Aerobiology: an ecological indicator for early detection and control of fungal outbreaks in caves. Ecol Indic 11:1594–1598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porca E, Jurado V, Žgur-Bertok D, Saiz-Jimenez C, Pašić L (2012) Comparative analysis of yellow microbial communities growing on the walls of geographically distinct caves indicates a common core of microorganisms involved in their formation. FEMS Microbiol Ecol. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01383.x

  • Portillo MC, Gonzalez JM, Saiz-Jimenez C (2007) Metabolically active microbial communities of yellow and grey colonizations on the walls of Altamira Cave, Spain. J Appl Microbiol 104:681–691

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Portillo MC, Saiz-Jimenez C, Gonzalez JM (2009) Molecular characterization of total and metabolically active bacterial communities of ‘‘white colonizations’’ in the Altamira Cave, Spain. Res Microbiol 160:41–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rathsack K, Reitner J, Stackebrandt E, Tindall BJ (2011) Reclassification of Aurantimonas altamirensis (Jurado et al. 2006), Aurantimonas ureilytica (Weon et al. 2007) and Aurantimonas frigidaquae (Kim et al. 2008) as members of a new genus, Aureimonas gen. nov., as Aureimonas altamirensis gen. nov., comb. nov., Aureimonas ureilytica comb. nov. and Aureimonas frigidaquae comb. nov., and emended descriptions of the genera Aurantimonas and Fulvimarina. I. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 61:2722–2728

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roldan M, Oliva F, Gonzalez Del Valle MA, Saiz-Jimenez C, Hernandez-Marine M (2006) Does green light influence the fluorescence properties and structure of phototrophic biofilms. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:3026–3031

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rooney DC, Hutchens E, Clipson N, Baldini J, McDermott F (2010) Microbial community diversity of moonmilk deposits at Ballynamintra Cave, Co. Waterford, Ireland. Microb Ecol 60:753–761

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saiz-Jimenez C (1999) Biogeochemistry of weathering processes in monuments. Geomicrobiol J 16:27–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saiz-Jimenez C, Cuezva S, Jurado V, Fernandez-Cortes A, Porca E, Benevante D, Cañaveras JC, Sanchez-Moral S (2011) Paleolithic art in peril: policy and science collide at Altamira Cave. Science 334:42–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarbu SM, Kane TC, Kinkle BK (1996) A chemoautotrophically based cave ecosystem. Science 272:1953–1955

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schabereiter-Gurtner C, Saiz-Jimenez C, Piñar G, Lubitz W, Rölleke S (2002a) Altamira cave Paleolithic paintings harbor partly unknown bacterial communities. FEMS Microbiol Lett 211:7–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schabereiter-Gurtner C, Saiz-Jimenez C, Piñar G, Lubitz W, Rölleke S (2002b) Phylogenetic 16S rRNA analysis reveals the presence of complex and partly unknown bacterial communities in Tito Bustillo cave, Spain, and on its Palaeolithic paintings. Environ Microbiol 4:392–400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schabereiter-Gurtner C, Saiz-Jimenez C, Piñar G, Lubitz W, Rölleke S (2004) Phylogenetic diversity of bacteria associated with Paleolithic paintings and surrounding rock walls in two Spanish caves (Llonin and La Garma). FEMS Microbiol Ecol 47:235–247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith T, Olson R (2007) A taxonomic survey of lamp flora (Algae and Cyanobacteria) in electrically lit passages within Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. Int J Speleol 36:105–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Stomeo F, Portillo MC, Gonzalez JM, Laiz L, Saiz-Jimenez C (2008) Pseudonocardia in white colonizations in two caves with Paleolithic paintings. Int Biodeter Biodegr 62:483–486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sugita T, Kikuchi K, Makimura K, Urata K, Someya T, Kamei K, Niimi M, Uehara Y (2005) Trichosporon species isolated from guano samples obtained from bat-inhabited caves in Japan. Appl Environ Microbiol 71:7626–7629

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Téllez-Castillo CJ, González Granda D, Bosch Alepuz M, Jurado Lobo V, Saiz-Jimenez C, Juan JL, Millán Oria J (2010) Isolation of Aurantimonas altamirensis from pleural effusions. J Med Microbiol 59:1126–1129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urzì C, DeLeo F, Bruno L, Albertano P (2010) Microbial diversity in paleolithic caves: a study case on the phototrophic biofilms of the Cave of Bats (Zuheros, Spain). Microb Ecol 60:116–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaughan MJ, Maier RM, Pryor BM (2011) Fungal communities on speleothem surfaces in Kartchner Caverns, Arizona, USA. Int J Speleol 40:65–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Went FE (1969) Fungi associated with stalactite growth. Science 166:385–386

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JP, Gu YQ, Zou CS, Mo MH (2007) Phylogenetic diversity of bacteria in an earth-cave in Guizhou province, Southwest of China. J Microbiol 45:105–112

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann J, Gonzalez JM, Ludwig W, Saiz-Jimenez C (2005) Detection and phylogenetic relationships of a highly diverse uncultured acidobacterial community on paleolithic paintings in Altamira Cave using 23S rRNA sequence analyses. Geomicrobiol J 22:379–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the “Research Programme in Technologies for the Assessment and Conservation of Cultural Heritage” (Consolider CSD2007-00058). Thanks go to Dr. Sergio Sanchez-Moral, Madrid, Spain and Dr. Ana Zelia Miller, Lisbon, Portugal, for permission to use photographic images. Figure 2 was reproduced with kind permission from Springer Science + Business Media B.V.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (IRNAS-CSIC), Avda. Reina Mercedes, 10, 41012, Sevilla, Spain

    Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez

Authors
  1. Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saiz-Jimenez, C. Microbiological and environmental issues in show caves. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 28, 2453–2464 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-012-1070-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-012-1070-x

Keywords

  • Show caves
  • Bacteria
  • Archaea
  • Fungi
  • Cyanobacteria
  • Algae
  • Rock art
  • Conservation
  • Pathogenic microorganisms