Spacio-temporal distribution and tourist impact on airborne bacteria in a cave (Škocjan Caves, Slovenia)

Mulec, Janez (avtor), Oarga-Mulec, Andreea (avtor), Šturm, Samo (avtor), Tomazin, Rok (avtor), Matos, Tadeja (avtor)

(1) Background: Airborne microbes are an integral part of a cave ecosystem. Cave allochtonous airborne microbiota, which occurs mainly during aerosolization from an underground river, from animals, and from visitors, is particularly pronounced in show caves. The impacts of tourists and natural river aerosolization on the cave air were estimated in large cave spaces within the Škocjan Caves; (2) Methods: Simultaneously with the measurements of atmospheric parameters, cultivable airborne bacteria were impacted, counted and identified using MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry); (3) Results: A mix of bacteria typically associated with humans and with natural habitats, including a large percentage of non-identified isolates, was found in the cave air. Few of the isolates were attributed to Risk Group 2. A strong positive correlation between tourist numbers and the rise in the concentration of airborne bacteria was indicated. Concentration of airborne bacteria rises to particularly high levels close to the underground river during periods of high discharge. A 10-times lower discharge reflected an approximately 20-times lower concentration of airborne bacteria; (4) Conclusions: Caves that are open and visited contain a diverse airborne microbiota originating from different sources. Enormous cave chambers that display relatively dynamic cave climate conditions do not normally support the enhancement of airborne bacterial concentrations.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: karst caves, tourists, bacteria, Škocjan Caves, Slovenia, show cave, tourism impact, aerobiology, biomass, MALDI-TOF MS
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: MF - Medicinska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2017
• Št. strani: 14 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 9, iss. 3, art. 28
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-131014
• UDK: 579:551.44(497.4)
• ISSN pri članku: 1424-2818
• DOI: 10.3390/d9030028
• COBISS.SI-ID: 41852973
• Datum objave v RUL: 21.09.2021

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Diversity
• Skrajšan naslov: Diversity
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 1424-2818
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517523737

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.
• Začetek licenciranja: 01.09.2017

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: kraške jame, turisti, bakterije, Škocjanske jame, Slovenija

Projekti

• Financer: ARRS - Agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: J7-7100
• Naslov: Naravni viri kraških turističnih jam: ravnovesje med varovanjem, izkoriščanjem in promocijo

• Financer: ARRS - Agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: L7-8268
• Naslov: Krasoslovne raziskave za trajnostno rabo Škocjanskih jam kot svetovne dediščine