1
|
Jurado V, Martin-Pozas T, Fernandez-Cortes A, Calaforra JM, Sanchez-Moral S, Saiz-Jimenez C. Gypsum Cave Biofilm Communities are Strongly Influenced by Bat- And Arthropod-Related Fungi. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:80. [PMID: 38829422 PMCID: PMC11147836 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02395-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
The Gypsum Karst of Sorbas, Almeria, southeast Spain, includes a few caves whose entrances are open and allow the entry and roosting of numerous bats. Caves are characterized by their diversity of gypsum speleothems, such as stalactites, coralloids, gypsum crusts, etc. Colored biofilms can be observed on the walls of most caves, among which the Covadura and C3 caves were studied. The objective was to determine the influence that bat mycobiomes may have on the fungal communities of biofilms. The results indicate that the fungi retrieved from white and yellow biofilms in Covadura Cave (Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota) showed a wide diversity, depending on their location, and were highly influenced by the bat population, the guano and the arthropods that thrive in the guano, while C3 Cave was more strongly influenced by soil- and arthropod-related fungi (Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota), due to the absence of roosting bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valme Jurado
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, IRNAS-CSIC, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Tamara Martin-Pozas
- Departamento de Biologia y Geologia, Universidad de Almeria, 04120, Almeria, Spain
| | | | - Jose Maria Calaforra
- Departamento de Biologia y Geologia, Universidad de Almeria, 04120, Almeria, Spain
| | | | - Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, IRNAS-CSIC, 41012, Sevilla, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gutierrez‐Patricio S, Osman JR, Gonzalez‐Pimentel JL, Jurado V, Laiz L, Concepción AL, Saiz‐Jimenez C, Miller AZ. Microbiological exploration of the Cueva del Viento lava tube system in Tenerife, Canary Islands. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 16:e13245. [PMID: 38643985 PMCID: PMC11033209 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Cueva del Viento, located in the Canary Islands, Spain, is the Earth's sixth-longest lava tube, spanning 18,500 m, and was formed approximately 27,000 years ago. This complex volcanic cave system is characterized by a unique geomorphology, featuring an intricate network of galleries. Despite its geological significance, the geomicrobiology of Cueva del Viento remains largely unexplored. This study employed a combination of culture-dependent techniques and metabarcoding data analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the cave's microbial diversity. The 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding approach revealed that the coloured microbial mats (yellow, red and white) coating the cave walls are dominated by the phyla Actinomycetota, Pseudomonadota and Acidobacteriota. Of particular interest is the high relative abundance of the genus Crossiella, which is involved in urease-mediated biomineralization processes, along with the presence of genera associated with nitrogen cycling, such as Nitrospira. Culture-dependent techniques provided insights into the morphological characteristics of the isolated species and their potential metabolic activities, particularly for the strains Streptomyces spp., Paenarthrobacter sp. and Pseudomonas spp. Our findings underscore the potential of Cueva del Viento as an ideal environment for studying microbial diversity and for the isolation and characterization of novel bacterial species of biotechnological interest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jorge R. Osman
- Instituto de Geología Económica Aplicada (GEA)Universidad de ConcepciónConcepciónChile
| | - José Luis Gonzalez‐Pimentel
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS‐CSIC)SevillaSpain
- Laboratorio HERCULESUniversidade de ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
| | - Valme Jurado
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS‐CSIC)SevillaSpain
| | - Leonila Laiz
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS‐CSIC)SevillaSpain
| | | | - Cesareo Saiz‐Jimenez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS‐CSIC)SevillaSpain
| | - Ana Zélia Miller
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS‐CSIC)SevillaSpain
- Laboratorio HERCULESUniversidade de ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Turrini P, Chebbi A, Riggio FP, Visca P. The geomicrobiology of limestone, sulfuric acid speleogenetic, and volcanic caves: basic concepts and future perspectives. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1370520. [PMID: 38572233 PMCID: PMC10987966 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1370520] [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: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Caves are ubiquitous subterranean voids, accounting for a still largely unexplored surface of the Earth underground. Due to the absence of sunlight and physical segregation, caves are naturally colonized by microorganisms that have developed distinctive capabilities to thrive under extreme conditions of darkness and oligotrophy. Here, the microbiomes colonizing three frequently studied cave types, i.e., limestone, sulfuric acid speleogenetic (SAS), and lava tubes among volcanic caves, have comparatively been reviewed. Geological configurations, nutrient availability, and energy flows in caves are key ecological drivers shaping cave microbiomes through photic, twilight, transient, and deep cave zones. Chemoheterotrophic microbial communities, whose sustenance depends on nutrients supplied from outside, are prevalent in limestone and volcanic caves, while elevated inorganic chemical energy is available in SAS caves, enabling primary production through chemolithoautotrophy. The 16S rRNA-based metataxonomic profiles of cave microbiomes were retrieved from previous studies employing the Illumina platform for sequencing the prokaryotic V3-V4 hypervariable region to compare the microbial community structures from different cave systems and environmental samples. Limestone caves and lava tubes are colonized by largely overlapping bacterial phyla, with the prevalence of Pseudomonadota and Actinomycetota, whereas the co-dominance of Pseudomonadota and Campylobacterota members characterizes SAS caves. Most of the metataxonomic profiling data have so far been collected from the twilight and transient zones, while deep cave zones remain elusive, deserving further exploration. Integrative approaches for future geomicrobiology studies are suggested to gain comprehensive insights into the different cave types and zones. This review also poses novel research questions for unveiling the metabolic and genomic capabilities of cave microorganisms, paving the way for their potential biotechnological applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Turrini
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alif Chebbi
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Visca
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Poli A, Zanellati A, Piano E, Biagioli F, Coleine C, Nicolosi G, Selbmann L, Isaia M, Prigione V, Varese GC. Cultivable fungal diversity in two karstic caves in Italy: under-investigated habitats as source of putative novel taxa. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4164. [PMID: 38378919 PMCID: PMC10879487 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54548-1] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial diversity of caves is largely understudied and its possible applications are still unknown. Autochthonous fungi, in particular, may have the potential to biomineralize metals and may be used as promising agents for bioremediation of polluted sites; thus, unearthing the fungal diversity in hypogean ecosystems is nowadays of utmost importance. To start addressing this knowledge gap, the cultivable mycobiota of two neighbouring caves-one natural and one exploited for touristic purposes-were characterised and compared by studying fungi isolated from sediments collected at increasing distances from the entrance. Overall, 250 fungal isolates ascribable to 69 taxa (mainly Ascomycota) were found, a high percentage of which was reported in caves for the first time. The sediments of the touristic cave displayed a richer and more diversified community in comparison with the natural one, possibly due to visitors carrying propagules or organic material. Considering that these environments are still poorly explored, chances to detect new fungal lineages are not negligible.
Collapse
Grants
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- 2017HTXT2R Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca
- IR0000005 European Commission - NextGenerationEU
- IR0000005 European Commission - NextGenerationEU
- IR0000005 European Commission - NextGenerationEU
- Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
- European Commission – NextGenerationEU
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Poli
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10100, Torino, Italy
| | - A Zanellati
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10100, Torino, Italy
| | - E Piano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - F Biagioli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - C Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - G Nicolosi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - L Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo Dell'Università, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - M Isaia
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - V Prigione
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10100, Torino, Italy.
| | - G C Varese
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10100, Torino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
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
|
6
|
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
|
7
|
Tsouggou N, Oikonomou A, Papadimitriou K, Skandamis PN. 16S and 18S rDNA Amplicon Sequencing Analysis of Aesthetically Problematic Microbial Mats on the Walls of the Petralona Cave: The Use of Essential Oils as a Cleaning Method. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2681. [PMID: 38004693 PMCID: PMC10673238 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of microbial communities on cave walls and speleothems is an issue that requires attention. Traditional cleaning methods using water, brushes, and steam can spread the infection and cause damage to the cave structures, while chemical agents can lead to the formation of toxic compounds and damage the cave walls. Essential oils (EOs) have shown promising results in disrupting the cell membrane of bacteria and affecting their membrane permeability. In this study, we identified the microorganisms forming unwanted microbial communities on the walls and speleothems of Petralona Cave using 16S and 18S rDNA amplicon sequencing approaches and evaluated the efficacy of EOs in reducing the ATP levels of these ecosystems. The samples exhibited a variety of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, the SAR supergroup, Opisthokonta, Excavata, Archaeplastida, and Amoebozoa. These phyla are often found in various habitats, including caves, and contribute to the ecological intricacy of cave ecosystems. In terms of the order and genus taxonomy, the identified biota showed abundances that varied significantly among the samples. Functional predictions were also conducted to estimate the differences in expressed genes among the samples. Oregano EO was found to reduce ATP levels by 87% and 46% for black and green spots, respectively. Consecutive spraying with cinnamon EO further reduced ATP levels, with reductions of 89% for black and 88% for green spots. The application of a mixture solution caused a significant reduction up to 96% in ATP levels of both areas. Our results indicate that EOs could be a promising solution for the treatment of microbial communities on cave walls and speleothems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Tsouggou
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control & Hygiene, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece; (N.T.); (P.N.S.)
| | - Alexandra Oikonomou
- Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology and Speleology, Hellenic Republic Ministry of Culture and Sports, Ardittou 34b, 11636 Athens, Greece;
| | - Konstantinos Papadimitriou
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control & Hygiene, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece; (N.T.); (P.N.S.)
| | - Panagiotis N. Skandamis
- Laboratory of Food Quality Control & Hygiene, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece; (N.T.); (P.N.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tomazin R, Simčič S, Stopinšek S, Kopitar AN, Kukec A, Matos T, Mulec J. Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance and Seasonal Variation on Aerobiota in Highly Visited Show Caves in Slovenia. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2381. [PMID: 37894039 PMCID: PMC10608856 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aerosols in caves are natural tracers and, together with climatic parameters, provide a detailed insight into atmospheric conditions, responses to climatic changes and anthropogenic influences in caves. Microbiological air monitoring in show caves is becoming increasingly useful to understand changes in cave ecosystems and to implement and review measures for sustainable cave use and tourism development. In 2017 and 2018, air along tourist trails in caves Postojnska jama and Škocjanske jame (Slovenia) was sampled before and after tourist visits. Samples were analysed using culture-dependent methods, flow cytometry, detection of β-D-glucan and lipopolysaccharide and compared with CO2 and temperature data to measure anthropogenic influences and seasonality on aerobiota. While the presence of tourists significantly increased concentrations of airborne microorganisms (p < 0.05), β-D-glucan and CO2 did not show such a trend and were more dependent on seasonal changes. Locally, concentrations of cultivable microorganisms above 1000 CFU/m3 were detected, which could have negative effects on the autochthonous microbiota and possibly on human health. A mixture of bacteria typically associated with humans was found in the air and identified with MALDI-TOF MS. Using MALDI-TOF MS, we achieved a 69.6% success rate in identification. Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus mitis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Moraxella spp. were recognized as good indicators of cave anthropisation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rok Tomazin
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.T.); (S.S.); (A.N.K.); (T.M.)
| | - Saša Simčič
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.T.); (S.S.); (A.N.K.); (T.M.)
| | - Sanja Stopinšek
- Health Centre Hrastnik, Novi dom 11, SI-1430 Hrastnik, Slovenia;
| | - Andreja Nataša Kopitar
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.T.); (S.S.); (A.N.K.); (T.M.)
| | - Andreja Kukec
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Tadeja Matos
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 4, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (R.T.); (S.S.); (A.N.K.); (T.M.)
| | - Janez Mulec
- Karst Research Institute, Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Titov trg 2, SI-6230 Postojna, Slovenia
- UNESCO Chair on Karst Education, University of Nova Gorica, SI-5271 Vipava, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Isola D, Bartoli F, Morretta S, Caneva G. The Roman Houses of the Caelian Hill (Rome, Italy): Multitemporal Evaluation of Biodeterioration Patterns. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1770. [PMID: 37512942 PMCID: PMC10384389 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Like other hypogeal environments, the Roman Houses of the Caelian Hill are prone to unwanted biological growth. Wide conservative interventions have been carried out at the beginning of this millenium to reduce biodeterioration and physical-chemical damages. Retracing the last monitoring work, we assessed the site's current state of conservation and biodeterioration intending to check the previous treatments' effectiveness and deepen the common knowledge of the subterranean biota and their possible biodeteriogenic effects. Starting from the past test areas and the previous identifications of the occurring biodeteriogens, we further isolated and identified the main eubacterial, fungal, and phototrophic settlers, focusing on some detrimental traits for wall paintings (i.e., acid production and carbonate precipitation). The achieved results proved the success of the performed interventions in reducing the wall's water content. Otherwise, the new conditions raise, in the long term, new concerns about lampenflora, carbonate precipitations, and salt efflorescence. Here, the Caelian Houses' new status is documented. The possible favouring conditions for the different groups of biodeteriogens, along with the taxonomical novelties, additional risks tied to the anthropization of the resident culturable microbial community, and the possible relation between the black fungus Cyphellophora olivacea and roots, are reported and discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Isola
- Department of Sciences, University Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Business Organization (DEIM), University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Flavia Bartoli
- Department of Sciences, University Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
- National Research Center (CNR), Institute of Heritage Science, SP35d, 9, 00010 Montelibretti, Italy
| | - Simona Morretta
- Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma Archeologia Belle Arti Paesaggio, Ministero della Cultura, Piazza dei Cinquecento, 67, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Caneva
- Department of Sciences, University Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Università di Palermo, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Piano E, Biagioli F, Nicolosi G, Coleine C, Poli A, Prigione V, Zanellati A, Addesso R, Varese GC, Selbmann L, Isaia M. Tourism affects microbial assemblages in show caves. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 871:162106. [PMID: 36764528 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic disturbance on natural ecosystems is growing in frequency and magnitude affecting all ecosystems components. Understanding the response of different types of biocoenosis to human disturbance is urgently needed and it can be achieved by adopting a metacommunity framework. With the aid of advanced molecular techniques, we investigated sediment communities of Fungi, Bacteria and Archaea in four Italian show caves, aiming to disentangle the effects induced by tourism on their diversity and to highlight changes in the driving forces that shape their community composition. We modelled diversity measures against proxies of tourism pressure. With this approach we demonstrate that the cave tourism has a direct effect on the community of Bacteria and an indirect influence on Fungi and Archaea. By analysing the main driving forces influencing the community composition of the three microbial groups, we highlighted that stochastic factors override dispersal-related processes and environmental selection in show caves compared to undisturbed areas. Thanks to this approach, we provide new perspectives on the dynamics of microbial communities under human disturbance suggesting that a proper understanding of the underlying selective mechanisms requires a comprehensive and multi-taxonomic approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Piano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy
| | - Federico Biagioli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Nicolosi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Anna Poli
- Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Valeria Prigione
- Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Zanellati
- Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Rosangela Addesso
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Giovanna Cristina Varese
- Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Marco Isaia
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|