Artificial lighting systems in show caves support the growth of autotrophic organisms (the socalled lampenflora), mainly composed of cyanobacteria, diatoms, chlorophytes, mosses and ferns. In the frame of a recent research developed inside the CaveLab Project (Work Package 4), we reviewed all the scientific papers published from 1900 up to date focusing on diatoms occurring in hypogean habitats, revealing a remarkable taxonomical richness, including a total of 363 taxa, belonging to 82 genera. The most frequent and abundant species recorded in caves are generally aerophilic and cosmopolitan and their distribution and abundance are mainly driven by air humidity and light intensity. In order to provide a characterization of the benthic diatom flora inhabiting the show cave of Bossea (NW‐Italy) and to provide a first indication on the autecology of the most abundant species, we collected 29 samples from wet walls inside the touristic section of the cave. In total, 23 diatom taxa were identified. In general, diatom assemblages were mainly composed of aerophilous taxa, mostly found in dim light conditions and resistant to strong humidity fluctuations. Four species, belonging to the genera Achnanthidium, Microcostatus, Nupela and Sellaphora, and presumably new to science, are illustrated with LM and SEM pictures.
Diatom flora in subterranean habitats: the study case of Bossea show cave (NWItaly)
FALASCO, Elisa;ISAIA, MARCO;PIANO, ELENA;BONA, Francesca
2014-01-01
Abstract
Artificial lighting systems in show caves support the growth of autotrophic organisms (the socalled lampenflora), mainly composed of cyanobacteria, diatoms, chlorophytes, mosses and ferns. In the frame of a recent research developed inside the CaveLab Project (Work Package 4), we reviewed all the scientific papers published from 1900 up to date focusing on diatoms occurring in hypogean habitats, revealing a remarkable taxonomical richness, including a total of 363 taxa, belonging to 82 genera. The most frequent and abundant species recorded in caves are generally aerophilic and cosmopolitan and their distribution and abundance are mainly driven by air humidity and light intensity. In order to provide a characterization of the benthic diatom flora inhabiting the show cave of Bossea (NW‐Italy) and to provide a first indication on the autecology of the most abundant species, we collected 29 samples from wet walls inside the touristic section of the cave. In total, 23 diatom taxa were identified. In general, diatom assemblages were mainly composed of aerophilous taxa, mostly found in dim light conditions and resistant to strong humidity fluctuations. Four species, belonging to the genera Achnanthidium, Microcostatus, Nupela and Sellaphora, and presumably new to science, are illustrated with LM and SEM pictures.
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