Publication details
MYCOBIOTA OF CALCITE MOONMILK FROM CAVES IN THE MORAVIAN KARST AND SLOVAKIA
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Zborník z mezinárodnej vedeckej konferencie Hydrogeochémia 09 |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Microbiology, virology |
| Keywords | calcite moonmilk; cave mycobiota; fibrous calcite; Moravian Karst; microscopic fungi |
| Description | Cave systems present stable environments, extreme for life, where microbial activity can play an active or passive role in the formation of characteristic subaerial structures. The diversity of microbial community can be various due to conditions of caves environment (temperature, humidity, availability of light and nutrient substrate, abundance of speleomicrofauna and presence of visitors). The origin of moonmilk has been discussed, however the influence of microbial activity on moonmilk genesis is not clearly explained. Calcite moonmilk, a microcrystalline aggregate cave deposit was screened for the presence of culturable fungi. Sampling sites were in four caves of the Moravian Karst in Czech Republic and three caves in Slovakia. Total of 35 strains of sporulating fungi belonging to nineteen genera and three non-sporulating fungi were isolated from all samples of calcite moonmilk. Most of the isolates represented anamorphic fungi. The identified species are common mesophilic fungi widespread in the biosphere able of adaptation to lower temperatures. No relation between the substrate (moonmilk) and a particular group of fungal species was proved. |
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