Lampenflora in a Show Cave in the Great Basin Is Distinct from Communities on Naturally Lit Rock Surfaces in Nearby Wild Caves.

ABSTRACT: In show caves, artificial lighting is intended to illuminate striking cave formations for visitors. However, artificial lighting also promotes the growth of novel and diverse biofilm communities, termed lampenflora, that obtain their energy from these artificial light sources. Lampenflora, which generally consist of cyanobacteria, algae, diatoms, and bryophytes, discolor formations and introduce novel ecological interactions in cave ecosystems. The source of lampenflora community members and patterns of diversity have generally been understudied mainly due to technological limitations. In this study, we investigate whether members of lampenflora communities in an iconic show cave-Lehman Caves-in Great Basin National Park (GRBA) in the western United States also occur in nearby unlit and ra

SUBMITTER: Burgoyne J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8227912 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature