450: Subterranean Spotlights Support Cyanobacteria

This episode: Lighting in caves open to tourists supports the
growth of unwanted photosynthetic bacteria!


Download Episode (6.6 MB, 9.5 minutes)

Show notes:
Microbe of the episode: Dill cryptic virus 2


 


Takeaways




Caves can contain amazing beauty, intricate geological
formations formed by minerals, water, and time. Some, such as
Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, have been fitted with
instruments to allow tourists to pass through and see the
wonders within; definitely a worthwhile experience.


 


Caves also have their own natural microbiota that can live
within them, in the dark, somewhat cold, and nutrient-poor
conditions. But with the lighting installed to allow tourism,
photosynthetic microbes have been able to take hold in the
communities of these show caves. These microbes can
outcompete the natural microbes, and can cause discoloration
and unwanted growths on cave formations. They are difficult
to remove without much effort and the risk of damaging the
cave formations themselves. 


 


This study looked at the effects of the color of lighting in
the caves, as well as other factors, on the growth of these
so-called "lampenflora." It supports new efforts and methods
to control the issue.



 
Journal Paper:
Havlena Z, Kieft TL, Veni G, Horrocks RD, Jones DS. 2021.
Lighting Effects on the Development and Diversity of
Photosynthetic Biofilm Communities in Carlsbad Cavern, New
Mexico. Appl Environ Microbiol 87.


 


Email questions or comments to bacteriofiles at gmail dot
com. Thanks for listening!


Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, or RSS.
Support the show at Patreon, or check out the show
at Twitter or Facebook.