Search Results (104)

Cave systems are a kind of natural laboratory for interdisciplinary research on karstogenesis in the context of global changes. In this study, we investigate the concentration of ²²²Rn at 65 points in 37 representative caves of Bulgarian karst through continuous monitoring with passive and active detectors with a duration of 1 to 13 years. The concentration changes strongly both in the long term and seasonally, with values from 0.1 to 13 kBq m⁻³. These variations are analyzed from different perspectives (location and morphological features of the cave system, cave climate, ventilation regime, etc.). The seasonal change in the direction and intensity of ventilation is a leading factor determining the gas composition of the cave atmosphere during the year. Parallel measurements of ²²²Rn and CO₂ concentrations in the cave air show that both gases have a similar seasonal fluctuation. Cases of coincidences of an anomalous increase in the concentration of ²²²Rn with manifestations of seismic activity and micro-displacements along tectonic cracks in the caves have also been registered. The dependencies between the ²²²Rn concentration in the caves and in the soil above them are also discussed, as well as the possible connections between global trends in climate change and trends in ²²²Rn emissions. Special attention is paid to the risks of radiation exposure in show caves. A calculation procedure has been developed to achieve the realistic assessment of the effective dose of cave guides. It is based on information about the annual course of the ²²²Rn concentration in the respective cave and the time schedule of the guides’ stay in it. The calculation showed that the effective dose may exceed the permitted limits, and it is thus necessary to control it. Full article

Caves and other subterranean ecosystems are characterized by stable, low temperatures, high humidity, and limited nutrient input, creating unique environments for extremophilic microorganisms. Among them, fungi play key roles in organic matter degradation, mineral interactions, and biogeochemical cycling, yet the diversity and adaptations of cold-adapted fungi in cave habitats remain insufficiently explored. This study investigated psychrophilic and psychrotolerant fungi inhabiting the stone surfaces of Ravništarka Cave in Eastern Serbia. Biofilm samples were collected from nine sites and analyzed using culture-based isolation on both nutrient-rich and diluted media, followed by incubation at 10 °C, 25 °C, and 37 °C. Fungal identification combined morphological characteristics with molecular analyses of the ITS region and BenA gene, while ecological roles were assigned using FUNGuild. A total of 41 fungal species were documented, spanning Ascomycota (53.1%), Basidiomycota (43.7%), and Mortierellomycota (3.1%) phyla. The genus Penicillium exhibited the greatest species richness, with 14 taxa documented, including P. chrysogenum, P. glandicola, and P. solitum, all previously associated with cold or oligotrophic environments. The psychrotolerant species Mortierella alpina was the only representative of Mortierellomycota. Ecological guild assignment revealed fungi functioning at different trophic levels, highlighting their multifunctional ecological roles in extreme subterranean habitats. Full article

In this paper, Nanocnide simingshanensis is described as a new species based on morphological and molecular analyses, and its taxonomic relationships are discussed. The new species is currently known only from the Siming Mountain region of Yuyao County and the Yaolin National Forest Park of Tonglu County, both in Zhejiang Province, eastern China, where it grows in shrubs at an elevation of about 650 m under deciduous broad-leaved forests and at a limestone cave entrance. Morphological analysis strongly supports that N. simingshanensis should be classified into the genus Nanocnide. This species is distinguished from the related species N. pilosa and N. lobata by having long straight hirsute hairs perpendicular to the stem, petioles and peduncles, longer petioles, larger leaf blades, and female inflorescences developing on branchlets. It differs from N. zhejiangensis and N. japonica by having glomerulate male inflorescences shorter than leaves (vs. cymose inflorescences longer than leaves). Nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that N. pilosa and N. lobata are the closest extant relatives to the new species. Full article

China’s southwestern karst landscapes support remarkable cavefish diversity, especially within Sinocyclocheilus, the world’s largest cavefish genus. Using integrative taxonomic methods, we describe Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis sp. nov., found in a subterranean river in Guizhou Province. This species lacks horn-like cranial structures; its eyes are either reduced to a dark spot or absent. It possesses a pronounced nuchal hump and a forward-protruding, duckbill-shaped head. Morphometric analysis of 28 individuals from six species shows clear separation from related taxa. Nano-CT imaging reveals distinct vertebral and cranial features. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial cytb and ND4 genes place S. wanlanensis within S. angularis group as sister to S. bicornutus, with p-distances of 1.7% (cytb) and 0.7% (ND4), consistent with sister-species patterns within the genus. Sinocyclocheilus wanlanensis is differentiated from S. bicornutus by its eyeless or degenerate-eye condition and lack of bifurcated horns. It differs from S. zhenfengensis, its morphologically closest species, in having degenerate or absent eyes, shorter maxillary barbels, and pelvic fins that reach the anus. The combination of morphological and molecular evidence supports its recognition as a distinct species. Accurate documentation of such endemic and narrowly distributed taxa is important for conservation and for understanding speciation in cave habitats. Full article

To address the stability control challenges of the “support-surrounding rock” system in fully mechanized top-coal caving faces within steeply dipping coal seams, this study employs an integrated approach combining theoretical analysis and numerical simulations, revealing the three-dimensional boundary morphology of the top-coal limit equilibrium zone and establishing a quantitative framework for boundary delineation. The results show that the boundary spatial morphology of the limit equilibrium zone in the fully mechanized caving stope in steeply dipping coal seams is an “asymmetric arc-shaped ribbon-like curved surface”. Along the inclined direction of the working face, the boundary distribution presents an “asymmetric circular-arc arch”, with the vault located in the middle-upper part of the working face. Along the strike direction of the working face, the distance from the boundary to the longwall face shows a gradually increasing pattern from top to bottom. Upon comparing the results from the numerical simulation, theoretical calculation, and field monitoring, a consistent overall pattern emerges. This consistency validates the rationality of the analytical representation of the boundary of the top-coal limit equilibrium zone. The research findings hold significant importance in predicting the stability of the “support-surrounding rock” system and the top-coal cavability. They can offer a scientific foundation for guiding the stability control practices of the support–surrounding rock within this type of mining stope. Full article

Three new species of Trichorhina are described from iron ore caves in the Serra dos Carajás Mountain Range, located in the Amazon Forest, Brazil. Trichorhina tucupi n. sp. occurs in Serra Leste, Serra da Bocaina and Serra do Tarzan Mountain Ranges. Trichorhina tacaca n. sp. occurs in caves in the Serra Norte Mountain Range. Trichorhina piloi n. sp. occurs in the Serra Sul and Serra Norte Mountain Ranges. Statistical methods were applied to investigate the putative morphological patterns of these species and to investigate their potential use in distinguishing Trichorhina species from epigean and hypogean habitats. Full article

This study examines the morphology and development of Dobreștilor–Brusturet Cave, located in the Brusturet gorge at the western edge of the Bran–Dragoslavele Corridor, an important tourist route in the Romanian Carpathians. The research aims to analyze the geomorphological characteristics and establish the heritage value of the Dobreştilor Cave geomorphosite, supporting protection efforts for invertebrate species that led to the cave’s designation as a natural monument. The inventory of physical features prompted the Piatra Craiului National Park Scientific Council to consider including this speleological site in a thematic geotourism circuit called “The Road of Gorges and Caves in the Upper Basin of the Dâmbovițean”, integrated within protected areas. This represents the first geomorphological study of the cave. Given its ecological significance within the national park’s strict protection zone, recreational tourism is prohibited. The cave should only be used as a geotourism resource for scientific research and education. Morphogenetic analysis reveals that the cave has evolved in a vadose hydrological regime since the Pleistocene, with cavity expansion influenced by free-flowing water alternating with that under pressure during torrential episodes, concomitant with the precipitation of calcium carbonate that formed various speleothems. This research supports documentation for promotional materials and could assist local authorities in the Dâmbovicioara commune with geotourism development decisions, potentially integrating the site into a proposed “Moieciu–Fundata–Dâmbovicioara–Rucăr Geological and Geomorphological Complex”. Full article

Cave environments represent extreme and underexplored ecosystems wherein fungi play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and ecological dynamics. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of fungal diversity in air samples from caves across Portugal, with six samples from five locations being assessed through culture-dependent and metabarcoding approaches. From the five bat roosts studied, eleven morphologically distinct fungal colonies were isolated, with genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Chaetomium identified. Concurrently, Oxford Nanopore sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of fungal rDNA revealed 286 genera, with Aspergillus, Candida, and Calyptella dominating across the sites. Diversity indices and community composition analyses, including Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) and hierarchical clustering, highlighted distinct fungal profiles influenced by site-specific environmental factors and human activity. The data underscores the dual role of fungi in bat roosts as essential decomposers, emphasizing their adaptability to oligotrophic conditions. These findings advance our understanding of subterranean fungal ecology and emphasize the need for targeted conservation efforts to protect cave ecosystems from anthropogenic impacts. Full article

My essay aims at considering the mythological figure of Melusina and her literary development, starting from the Middle Ages up to the Romantic period. The main purpose is to determine how this fictional entity, originally regarded as the symbol of nature and its fecundity, has changed over the time in relation to the historical and cultural complex and how this has reverberated in terms of interpretation of the identity of the literary character. I will consider the medieval versions of Jean D’Arras (1392), with some consequent references to Coudrette (1401–1405) and von Ringoltingen (1456), and the German romantic fairytale rewriting of Ludwig Tieck (1800). If the thematic nucleus remains the same, the configuration of the female character changes by reflecting the new Romantic poetics in terms of interest towards femininity, subjectivity and the study of the morphology of the Earth. In particular, Melusina is no longer seen as a mere and passive object, but as a subject who for the first time, hiding in an emblematic cave, reveals to the reader her own interiority and her own truth, totally assimilating herself to the external environment. The conclusion will show how the cultural subtext modifies the interpretation of this atavistic character. Full article

We describe a new species (Sinospelaeobdella jiangxiensissp. n.) from a natural cave in southwestern Jiangxi Province, China, according to external and internal morphology and COI gene sequences. S. jiangxiensissp. n. is distinguishable from other species of Sinospelaeobdella primarily by morphological characteristics, including body length, the position of the fifth pair of eyes and the first pair of testes, the number of caeca, and the shape and number of auricular projections. We also estimate its phylogenetic position within the genus Sinospelaeobdella. Molecular phylogenetic analyses supported the morphological delimitation of S. jiangxiensissp. n. as separate from S. wulingensis. Both the morphological and molecular data support S. jiangxiensissp. n. as a new species, so the results provide critical data for the determination and conservation of Sinospelaeobdella, and enhance the documented diversity of this recently established genus. Full article

The gypsum karst of Sorbas (Almería, Spain) is home to a diverse community of Collembola. Over seven years of sampling, 7875 specimens were collected from 83 cave visits, representing four orders: Symphypleona (5251 specimens), Entomobryomorpha (2552), Poduromorpha (32), and Neelipleona (29). A total of 25 species were identified. The most abundant are listed in descending order of abundance: Pygmarrhopalites ruizporteroae sp. nov., Pseudosinella najtae, Pygmarrhopalites subbifidus, Troglopedetes machadoi, Pseudosinella sexocellata sp. nov., Pygmarrhopalites torresi sp. nov., and Heteromurus major. Additionally, partial redescriptions of Pseudosinella najtae and Troglopedetes machadoi are provided. This research enhances the taxonomic framework of subterranean Collembola and provides new insights into species differentiation and adaptation. The methodologies applied allow for high-resolution morphological characterization, essential for species delimitation. The results highlight the potential for further discoveries in gypsum caves and emphasize the need for advanced imaging techniques in Collembola taxonomy. Full article

Sinocyclocheilus grahami (Regan, 1904) is the only known cavefish used both in traditional medicine and aquaculture in the world, and it is also a national protected animal. However, its taxonomy and distribution remain ambiguous, hindering effective conservation and resource utilization. This study clarifies the taxonomy of S. grahami through field surveys, specimen examination, and literature reviews, combined with principal component analysis (PCA) for morphological comparison. The results indicate that S. grahami and S. guanduensis show no significant morphological differences, supporting the recognition of S. guanduensis as a junior synonym of S. grahami. Sinocyclocheilus huanglongdongensis, and S. hei, once synonyms of S. grahami, should be valid. The species faces a significant population decline, and its distribution is now restricted to a few unpolluted streams around Dianchi Lake. While artificial breeding has been successful, further studies are needed to determine the medicinal efficacy of these individuals. To address the conservation and sustainable use of this species, habitat restoration should be prioritized, particularly in protecting cave environments and maintaining groundwater connectivity. Additionally, artificial breeding and release in restored habitats are essential to establish a sustainable ecological governance system that supports biodiversity and regional development. Full article

Fungi play vital roles in ecosystems through parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism. Additionally, they are widely used in industry as bioactive compound producers and biological control agents. Biomphalaria glabrata is a freshwater snail often controlled with chemical molluscicides. However, developing effective alternatives to these chemical treatments is essential. This study evaluated the molluscicidal potential of culture supernatant from Hypocreales fungi isolated from a cave in the Brazilian Cerrado against the B. glabrata. The isolates were identified based on morphological features and ITS rDNA sequences. Fifteen filtrates of Hypocreales fungi were obtained and tested both pure and in different dilutions (10% and 50%) against newly hatched snails during 96 h of exposure. The fungal isolates were identified as belonging to the genera of Clonostachys (1), Cylindrocladiella (1), Fusarium (1), Gliocladiopsis (1), Keithomyces (1), Marquandomyces (1), Ovicillium (1), Pochonia (1), Purpureocillium (1), Sarcopodium (1), Sarocladium (1), Trichoderma (3), and Volutella (1). The results showed 93.33% (14) of the fungal filtrates induced significant mortality, indicating their molluscicidal activity, with Pochonia chlamydosporia FCCUFG 100 and Volutella aeria FCCUFG 107 causing 100% mortality in all dilutions. These results reveal the potential of Hypocreales fungi from a Brazilian Cerrado cave as a promising approach for snail control. Full article

The study of the intersection between biodiversity and biotechnology has revealed a rich source of innovations. Fungi, with their vast range of morphologies and lifestyles, thrive in various habitats, including caves. With impressive metabolic characteristics, they play a key role in producing essential biotechnological compounds for various economic sectors. This paper aims to consolidate evidence on the biotechnological potential of fungi isolated from caves, highlighting the urgency of conserving and exploring these ecosystems. For this purpose, we conducted a comprehensive literature search using scientific databases (SciELO, Medline Complete, Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus (Elsevier), and Google Scholar). We adopted an interdisciplinary approach by collecting information from 22 papers published between 2013 and 2024. Based on these data, our survey revealed broad potential, including antimicrobial compounds, antioxidants, antitumor agents, enzymes, and organic acids. We emphasize that accurately identifying and depositing fungal isolates in reference collections are crucial for reliable research and effective industrial applications, driving metabolic bioactivity and the production of substances with the potential to inhibit pathogens. Conserving and protecting the cave environment is imperative, considering its continuous potential for discovery and contribution to scientific advancement. Full article

The Yucatan Peninsula (YP) presents heterogeneous environments in a karstic landscape that has been formed from permeable sedimentary rocks dating from the Cretaceous period. Its aquifers now face significant pressure from tourism, agriculture, soil use changes and population growth. Aquifer delimitation typically relies on environmental and socioeconomic criteria, overlooking the subterranean fauna. Stygobiotic crustaceans are highly diverse in the YP’s subterranean karstic systems, expressing adaptations to extreme environments while often also displaying the primitive morphology of evolutionary relics. With distributions restricted to specific environments, they are potential markers of water reserves. A literature review recovered records of 75 species of crustaceans from 132 subterranean systems in the YP, together with geomorphological, hydrological, hydrogeochemical and historical precipitation data. Fourteen UPGMA clusters were informative for mapping species composition, whereby the “Ring of Cenotes”, “Caribbean Cave” and “Cozumel Island” regions were delineated as consolidated aquifers. These aquifers are distinguished by abiotic factors as well: freshwater species dominate the Ring of Cenotes, while marine-affinity species characterize the Caribbean Cave and Cozumel Island aquifers. Stygobiotic crustaceans, being linked to geologically ancient water reserves and having a restricted distribution, offer a complementary tool for aquifer delimitation. Their presence suggests long-term and stable water availability. The use of these unique organisms for integrative aquifer delimitation can provide a way to improve the monitoring networks of regional aquifers. Full article