Microbial tapestry of the Shulgan-Tash cave (Southern Ural, Russia): influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilms
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 col...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Environmental Microbiome |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00538-1 |
| _version_ | 1827633093005017088 |
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| author | Natalia Gogoleva Olga Chervyatsova Alexander Balkin Lyudmila Kuzmina Elena Shagimardanova Daria Kiseleva Yuri Gogolev |
| author_facet | Natalia Gogoleva Olga Chervyatsova Alexander Balkin Lyudmila Kuzmina Elena Shagimardanova Daria Kiseleva Yuri Gogolev |
| author_sort | Natalia Gogoleva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:54:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f77ab4b2dece43109a71ccac8d734eea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2524-6372 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:54:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Microbiome |
| spelling | doaj.art-f77ab4b2dece43109a71ccac8d734eea2023-11-26T14:17:42ZengBMCEnvironmental Microbiome2524-63722023-11-0118112310.1186/s40793-023-00538-1Microbial tapestry of the Shulgan-Tash cave (Southern Ural, Russia): influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilmsNatalia Gogoleva0Olga Chervyatsova1Alexander Balkin2Lyudmila Kuzmina3Elena Shagimardanova4Daria Kiseleva5Yuri Gogolev6Research Department for Limnology, Mondsee, Universität InnsbruckState Nature Reserve “Shulgan-Tash”Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal UniversityUfa Institute of Biology, Ufa Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of SciencesInstitute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal UniversityInstitute of Geology and Geochemistry, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of SciencesInstitute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal UniversityAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00538-1Karst caveBiofilmShulgan-Tash16S rRNA geneCrossiellaNitrosococcaceae wb1-P19 |
| spellingShingle | Natalia Gogoleva Olga Chervyatsova Alexander Balkin Lyudmila Kuzmina Elena Shagimardanova Daria Kiseleva Yuri Gogolev Microbial tapestry of the Shulgan-Tash cave (Southern Ural, Russia): influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilms Environmental Microbiome Karst cave Biofilm Shulgan-Tash 16S rRNA gene Crossiella Nitrosococcaceae wb1-P19 |
| title | Microbial tapestry of the Shulgan-Tash cave (Southern Ural, Russia): influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilms |
| title_full | Microbial tapestry of the Shulgan-Tash cave (Southern Ural, Russia): influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilms |
| title_fullStr | Microbial tapestry of the Shulgan-Tash cave (Southern Ural, Russia): influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial tapestry of the Shulgan-Tash cave (Southern Ural, Russia): influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilms |
| title_short | Microbial tapestry of the Shulgan-Tash cave (Southern Ural, Russia): influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilms |
| title_sort | microbial tapestry of the shulgan tash cave southern ural russia influences of environmental factors on the taxonomic composition of the cave biofilms |
| topic | Karst cave Biofilm Shulgan-Tash 16S rRNA gene Crossiella Nitrosococcaceae wb1-P19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00538-1 |
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