The biogeochemical role of Actinobacteria in Altamira Cave, Spain

Abstract The walls and ceiling of Altamira Cave, northern Spain, are coated with different coloured spots (yellow, white and grey). Electron microscopy revealed that the grey spots are composed of bacteria and bioinduced CaCO 3 crystals. The morphology of the spots revealed a dense network of microo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS microbiology ecology 2012-07, Vol.81 (1), p.281-290
Main Authors: Cuezva, Soledad, Fernandez-Cortes, Angel, Porca, Estefania, Pašić, Lejla, Jurado, Valme, Hernandez-Marine, Mariona, Serrano-Ortiz, Penelope, Hermosin, Bernardo, Cañaveras, Juan Carlos, Sanchez-Moral, Sergio, Saiz-Jimenez, Cesareo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actinobacteria
Actinobacteria - classification
Actinobacteria - isolation & purification
Actinobacteria - metabolism
Bacteria
Calcium Carbonate - metabolism
calcium carbonate polymorphs
Carbon Dioxide - metabolism
cave colonization
Caves - chemistry
Caves - microbiology
CO 2 uptake
Crystals
Ecology
Microbiology
Microorganisms
Rocks
Scanning electron microscopy
Spain
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Summary:Abstract The walls and ceiling of Altamira Cave, northern Spain, are coated with different coloured spots (yellow, white and grey). Electron microscopy revealed that the grey spots are composed of bacteria and bioinduced CaCO 3 crystals. The morphology of the spots revealed a dense network of microorganisms organized in well-defined radial and dendritic divergent branches from the central area towards the exterior of the spot, which is coated with overlying spheroidal elements of CaCO 3 and CaCO 3 nest-like aggregates. Molecular analysis indicated that the grey spots were mainly formed by an unrecognized species of the genus Actinobacteria. CO 2 efflux measurements in rocks heavily covered by grey spots confirmed that bacteria-forming spots promoted uptake of the gas, which is abundant in the cave. The bacteria can use the captured CO 2 to dissolve the rock and subsequently generate crystals of CaCO 3 in periods of lower humidity and/or CO 2. A tentative model for the formation of these grey spots, supported by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy data, is proposed.
ISSN:0168-6496
1574-6941
DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01391.x