6533b86efe1ef96bd12cbeb7
RESEARCH PRODUCT
The microbiology of Lascaux Cave.
Valme JuradoCesáreo Sáiz-jiménezAlena NovákováFabiola BastianClaude Alabouvettesubject
Entomopathogenic fungiFUNGAL ECOLOGYGeological Phenomena[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]FungusBiologyMicrobiologyMicrobiology03 medical and health sciencesCaveFusarium[SDV.BBM] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biochemistry Molecular BiologyHumans[SDV.BBM]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biochemistry Molecular BiologyNatural enemiesMICROBIAL COMMUNITIES[SDV.MP.MYC]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology/MycologyEcosystem030304 developmental biology0303 health sciencesgeographygeography.geographical_feature_categoryBacteria030306 microbiologyFungal ecologyEcologyFungiAlgal growthEukaryotaPaleontologysocial sciencesMicroclimatebiology.organism_classificationmusculoskeletal system[SDV.MP.MYC] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Microbiology and Parasitology/MycologyhumanitiesQuaternary Ammonium Compounds[SDE]Environmental SciencesUpper PaleolithicPaintingsFranceFusarium solaniDisinfectantsdescription
Lascaux Cave (Montignac, France) contains paintings from the Upper Paleolithic period. Shortly after its discovery in 1940, the cave was seriously disturbed by major destructive interventions. In 1963, the cave was closed due to algal growth on the walls. In 2001, the ceiling, walls and sediments were colonized by the fungus Fusarium solani. Later, black stains, probably of fungal origin, appeared on the walls. Biocide treatments, including quaternary ammonium derivatives, were extensively applied for a few years, and have been in use again since January 2008. The microbial communities in Lascaux Cave were shown to be composed of human-pathogenic bacteria and entomopathogenic fungi, the former as a result of the biocide selection. The data show that fungi play an important role in the cave, and arthropods contribute to the dispersion of conidia. A careful study on the fungal ecology is needed in order to complete the cave food web and to control the black stains threatening the Paleolithic paintings. © 2010 SGM.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-01-01 | Microbiology (Reading, England) |