Abstract
Few studies have evaluated the trophic level in tropical caves, and none related the microbial biomass dynamics in the immobilization of carbon and nitrogen. Here, four tropical caves of Terra Ronca State Park, Brazil, were studied: Angélica, São Bernardo, Terra Ronca I, and Terra Ronca II caves. Physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters (microbial biomass and respiration) were estimated in the dry and wet seasons. São Bernardo, Terra Ronca I, and Terra Ronca II caves presented higher nitrogen and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) values in the wet season than in the dry season. On the other hand, the Angélica cave showed larger amounts of nitrogen and lower MBN values in the dry season. These results indicate that caves can be adjusted in two ecological theories known as “stoichiometric decomposition” and “microbial nitrogen mining”—to the effects of nutrient availability on organic matter decomposition. The caves studied showed different environmental dynamics in relation to organic matter decomposition, which allows them to be considered unique and possess specific characteristics. Microbial biomass dynamics can be an important parameter to evaluate the availability of nutrients and ecological dynamics of the trophic network in subterranean environments.
Highlights
Limestone caves are habitats in karst landscapes where surface water sinks into soluble rock in the subsurface and flows in a network of subterranean stream passages (Ford & Willians, 2013)
Hydrological flow regimes, watershed geometry, aqueous geochemistry, and bedrock geology differ between karst areas (Bonacci, Pipan, & Culver, 2008; Simon, Pipan, & Culver, 2007), many caves have similar characteristics and stable environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity (Griebler et al, 2010; Hahn & Fuchs, 2009)
The microbial parameters in this study were good indicators for evaluating the nutrient dynamics in the studied environments, and with this knowledge, we can perform better health monitoring to follow the changes in these habitats
Summary
Limestone caves are habitats in karst landscapes where surface water sinks into soluble rock in the subsurface and flows in a network of subterranean stream passages (Ford & Willians, 2013). Hydrological flow regimes, watershed geometry, aqueous geochemistry, and bedrock geology differ between karst areas (Bonacci, Pipan, & Culver, 2008; Simon, Pipan, & Culver, 2007), many caves have similar characteristics and stable environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity (Griebler et al, 2010; Hahn & Fuchs, 2009). Many researchers consider temperate caves to be extreme oligotrophic environments (
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