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Microbial and Geochemical Variability in Sediments and Biofilms from Italian Gypsum Caves.

Tamara Martin-Pozas1, Daniele Ghezzi2, Ilenia M D'Angeli3

  • 1Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia, IRNAS-CSIC, Seville, 41012, Spain.

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Summary

Microbial communities in European gypsum caves differ based on location and sample type. Sediments harbor similar bacterial communities, while biofilms and water aggregates show unique compositions linked to cave geochemistry.

Keywords:
CampylobacterotaCrossiellaBefana CaveGypsum cavesKarstMicrobial aggregatesRe Tiberio CaveSanta Ninfa CaveWall biofilmsWb1-P19

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Area of Science:

  • Geomicrobiology
  • Speleology
  • Environmental Microbiology

Background:

  • Gypsum karst regions in Europe, including Emilia-Romagna and Sicily, host unique cave ecosystems.
  • Cave environments present distinct niches such as sediments, wall biofilms, and spring water microbial aggregates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the microbiological and geochemical characteristics of three Italian gypsum caves.
  • To compare microbial community composition across different microhabitats (sediments, biofilms, water aggregates) within these caves.
  • To understand the influence of geochemistry on microbial community structure in gypsum caves.

Main Methods:

  • Sampling of sediments, spring water microbial aggregates, and wall biofilms from Re Tiberio, Befana, and Santa Ninfa caves.
  • Microbiological analysis to determine bacterial and archaeal abundances and community composition.
  • Geochemical analysis to correlate microbial findings with environmental parameters.

Main Results:

  • Wall biofilms were exclusively bacterial; sediments showed minimal archaeal presence.
  • Actinomycetota and Pseudomonadota were dominant in most sediments and biofilms.
  • Befana Cave's water aggregates exhibited distinct microbial profiles (Campylobacterota, Bacteroidota, Desulfobacterota) compared to sediments and biofilms.
  • The dominant genus Crossiella (Actinomycetota) in biofilms was absent in Befana water aggregates and low in sediments.
  • Microbial aggregates in Befana Cave differed significantly from those in previously studied Frasassi and Fetida caves, indicating cave-specific geochemistry influences.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial community composition in gypsum cave spring water aggregates is specific to each cave and influenced by sulfidic spring geochemistry.
  • Sediment-associated microbial communities are broadly similar across different gypsum caves, irrespective of environmental variations.
  • Distinct microbial communities inhabit different niches within gypsum caves, highlighting niche specialization.