Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance and Seasonal Variation on Aerobiota in Highly Visited Show Caves in Slovenia.

ABSTRACT: Aerosols in caves are natural tracers and, together with climatic parameters, provide a detailed insight into atmospheric conditions, responses to climatic changes and anthropogenic influences in caves. Microbiological air monitoring in show caves is becoming increasingly useful to understand changes in cave ecosystems and to implement and review measures for sustainable cave use and tourism development. In 2017 and 2018, air along tourist trails in caves Postojnska jama and Škocjanske jame (Slovenia) was sampled before and after tourist visits. Samples were analysed using culture-dependent methods, flow cytometry, detection of β-D-glucan and lipopolysaccharide and compared with CO₂ and temperature data to measure anthropogenic influences and seasonality on aerobiota. While the

SUBMITTER: Tomazin R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10608856 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature