Domica Cave Research Articles

Simulation of overland flow in the Domica cave area flood events using the r.sim.water module

The flash floods are very important hydrometeorological situations affecting the Domica cave area. The flash floods depend on several factors such as the amount of precipitation, land cover, phenological phase of the vegetation, or soil infiltration rate. This paper focuses on the simulation of flood events occurring in the winter and summer seasons on the Silická plateau. The main aim of the paper is the evaluation of the effects of model parameterisation and interpretation of spatial aspects of the overland flow during the flood events. GRASS GIS software, specifically its r.sim.water module was used for hydro-logical modelling of the surface runoff. The simulation included a detailed digital eleva-tion model calculated from airborne laser scanning data and land cover derived from a detailed orthoimagery map. The infiltration rate parameter and the Manning’s roughness coefficient were estimated based on land cover classes. The simulation produced water depth maps describing flood events. The results showed that during the winter season in 2016, a smaller rainfall intensity was necessary for flood occurrence and that this phenomenon is primarily caused by frozen soil, through which no water is being infiltrated. The simulation of summer flood event in 2017 shows similar results of runoff accumulation but with higher rainfall intensity and infiltration rate. The flash flood event in 2021 turned out to be differ-ent, with such extreme rainfall intensity that even higher infiltration rate was insufficient in slowing the surface runoff. The results also proved the suitability of the chosen method for small-scale high-resolution hydrological simulations. URL: https://www.gcass.science.upjs.sk/

LiDAR point clouds processing for large-scale cave mapping: a case study of the Majko dome in the Domica cave

ABSTRACT The cave map, as a result of mapping in limited cave spaces, is a specific cartographic product characterized by a high degree of cartographic abstraction and subjectivity of the cave features. Over the last decade, remote sensing methods have been increasingly used in cave mapping. Specifically, the laser scanning technology can effectively record the vastly fragmented interior of the cave at a high level of detail. The presented paper demonstrates a methodology of making the high-scale cave map from LiDAR point clouds. The innovativeness of the presented approach is in the use of highly detailed model of a cave floor derived from a point cloud as a base data layer for identification of the cave features. The main benefit of the final cave map is in the diminution of the authoŕs subjective perception during the cave mapping resulting in the generalization of the cave spaces geometry and cave features.

Environmental variables do not explain the high size fluctuations in Rhinolophus euryale pre-hibernating aggregation

The Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus euryale, creates in the pre-hibernation period an aggregation in the Domica cave (Slovakia) and despite the harsh winter conditions displays a certain amount of flying activity. The goal of the study was to find out whether some environmental factors influence these conspicuous aggregation dynamics. We used image and statistical analysis of pictures of the aggregation taken automatically in the cave along with atmospheric pressure, humidity, outside and inside cave temperature and oxygen and carbon dioxide contents in the cave. These environmental variables were assumed to explain the observed activity. We hypothesised that the number of bats in particular time periods would correlate with some of these variables, but this was not confirmed. The only significant relations confirmed were those between bat numbers and humidity and carbon dioxide values in the cave. No trend in the spatial positioning of the bats was observed, and no environmental factors influenced the numbers, movements or groupings of bats. On the contrary, bats by their presence (breathing), activity and production of excrements may significantly influence the microclimate of the cave environment.

Multi-level Domica–Baradla cave system (Slovakia, Hungary): Middle Pliocene–Pleistocene evolution and implications for the denudation chronology of the Western Carpathians

The trans-boundary Slovak-Hungarian Domica–Baradla cave system (Slovak and Aggtelek karsts), >26 km in length, consists of evolution levels that have been formed in relation to the incision phases of the Jósva Valley. Existing opinions on the age of the well-known cave system have not been based on the dating of cave sediments deposited during older evolution phases. Previous U-series dating and the first paleomagnetic analyses of dripstones, flowstones and fine-grained allochthonous sediments identified only younger accumulative phases of the cave evolution in Late Pleistocene. Our cosmogenic nuclide dating (10Be and 26Al) of allochthonous fluvial gravels from the upper and lower levels of the Domica Cave (Slovakia) reveal much older evolution phases. Two burial ages at 3.47 ± 0.78 Ma and 2.94 ± 0.50 Ma show that the upper level of the cave system originated in, or before, the Middle Pliocene. Its younger accumulation phases (Early–Middle Pleistocene) are documented based on magnetostratigraphy and U-series dating of fine-grained sediments and flowstones. The Brunhes/Matuyama boundary (780 ka), Kamikatsura excursion (~900 ka), Santa Rosa excursion (~932 ka) and Jaramillo magnetozone (~1.001–1.069 Ma) were identified from the newly studied profile in the Suchá chodba Passage (the ages of flowstones in upper part of this profile are ~130 ka, 173 ka and 199 ka). In some places, several small older (paleokarst?) solutional phreatic cavities are cut by this cave level. The lower evolution level, located 12–18 m below the upper level, originated in the Early Pleistocene (the burial age of allochthonous fluvial gravels is 1.92 ± 0.25 Ma). Low pre-burial denudation rates (3.1–5.6 m/Ma) correspond with the slowdown or interruption of tectonic uplift of the area and the long-term stabilized erosion base level during the formation of these cave levels. Their origin was linked with the formation of large pediments, of which remnants are preserved on both sides of the Jósva Valley (Hungary). The pediments probably correlate to the ‘foothill’ (Middle Pliocene) and ‘river-side’ (Late Pliocene–Early Pleistocene) levels in the denudation chronology of the Western Carpathians.

Az utóbbi 20 év barlangkutatási eredményei a Budai-hegységben (különös tekintettel a Rózsadomb környékére)

A Földtani Közlöny 125. 3-4. számában jelent meg összefoglaló a Budai-hegység barlangjairól (Leél-Őssy Sz. 1995). Az azóta eltelt időszakban (elsősorban a kutatási módszerek fejlődésének, és a megszaporodott hegyvidéki építkezéseknek köszönhetően) nemcsak új feltárások történtek (elsősorban a Rózsadomb térségében, ahol az 1995-ben ismert 30 km-es járathossz csaknem a duplájára, 55 km-re növekedett), hanem az itteni hipogén barlangok genetikájával, ásványvilágával kapcsolatban is számos új eredmény született. A keletkezéssel kapcsolatos új elméletek közül az elváltozott (kovás) zónákkal kapcsolatosakat, és a barlangot kioldó aszcendens termálvizek eredetével és keveredésével kapcsolatos új eredményeket kell kiemelnünk. Az akkor a Budai-hegységben ismert barlangi ásványfajok száma 15-ről 31-re emelkedett. Ebben az időszakban születtek az első konkrét eredményeket tartalmazó korhatározások is. Ezek közül több részben publikálásra került Mindszenty Andrea szerkesztette Budapest: Földtani értékek és az ember c. 2013-as könyvben. Az egész Budai-hegységben ma 239 barlangot ismerünk. Budapesten (a Pilishez tartozó Róka-hegyen lévőkkel együtt) 176 barlang található. A Rózsadomb térségében 102 barlangot kataszterizáltak az Országos Barlangnyilvántartásban. Az elmúlt 20 évben legfontosabb barlangfelfedezések a víz alatti Molnár János-barlangban, a Hideglyuk- és Harcsaszájú, valamint a Pál-völgyi-barlangban történtek: az utóbbi három barlang és a Mátyás-hegyi-barlang közötti összekötő járatok feltárásának köszönhetően, közel 31 km-es hosszával a Pál-völgyi-barlangrendszer lett Magyarország leghosszabb barlangja, megelőzve az Aggtelek-jósvafői Baradla-barlangot (beleértve a Baradla szlovákiai részét, a Domica-barlangot is). Nagy eredmény az eddig csak felszín közeli járatairól ismert Ferenc-hegyi-barlangban a Mélyszint megtalálása. Három új kisbarlang: a Citadella-kristálybarlang, a Királylaki-barlang és a József-hegyi 4. sz. barlang felfedezése pedig különösen értékes ásványkiválásai, ill. nagyon perspektivikus továbbkutatási lehetőségei miatt nagyon jelentős. Ezen kívül további 32 kisbarlangot találtak a kutatók az elmúlt 20 évben a Budai-hegységben, elsősorban a Rózsadomb térségében (1. ábra, 1. táblázat).

Geomorphometric analysis of cave ceiling channels mapped with 3-D terrestrial laser scanning

Abstract. The change of hydrological conditions during the evolution of caves in carbonate rocks often results in a complex subterranean geomorphology, which comprises specific landforms such as ceiling channels, anastomosing half tubes, or speleothems organized vertically in different levels. Studying such complex environments traditionally requires tedious mapping; however, this is being replaced with terrestrial laser scanning technology. Laser scanning overcomes the problem of reaching high ceilings, providing new options to map underground landscapes with unprecedented level of detail and accuracy. The acquired point cloud can be handled conveniently with dedicated software, but applying traditional geomorphometry to analyse the cave surface is limited. This is because geomorphometry has been focused on parameterization and analysis of surficial terrain. The theoretical and methodological concept has been based on two-dimensional (2-D) scalar fields, which are sufficient for most cases of the surficial terrain. The terrain surface is modelled with a bivariate function of altitude (elevation) and represented by a raster digital elevation model. However, the cave is a 3-D entity; therefore, a different approach is required for geomorphometric analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate the benefits of high-resolution cave mapping and 3-D modelling to better understand the palaeohydrography of the Domica cave in Slovakia. This methodological approach adopted traditional geomorphometric methods in a unique manner and also new methods used in 3-D computer graphics, which can be applied to study other 3-D geomorphological forms.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as a tool for identification of combustion products: application to black layers in speleothems

The present study deals with the application of High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) to dark layers, occurring in the speleothems of Domica Cave (Slovakia). Chemical pre-treatment was necessary for sample purification and the effective extraction of carbon soot. For purposes of comparison, soot aggregates obtained from laboratory experiments on the combustion of beech wood and collected from a diesel engine also were studied. HRTEM analyses of combustion products permit a distinction to be made between soot aggregates that originated in different combustion processes. The diameter of spherical, primary particles depends on the conditions of combustion, notably temperature. Burning in diesel engines produces soot with relatively small, primary particles (diameter d p = 34 ± 4 nm). Primary, spherical particles of soot aggregates, obtained from the combustion of beech wood, were larger (diameter d p = 42 ± 5 nm). The diameters of primary particles of soot separated from Domica flowstones (samples DOM1 and DOM2) were similar to the wood samples (d p = 50 ± 9 nm). Another type of carbonaceous particle, obtained in the combustion process, had a spherical shape, but the diameter of about 50–500 nm was significantly larger than that of soot. Analyses performed on two samples (DOM S1 and DOM S2) confirmed that the black laminae owed their colour to particles, formed during wood combustion and later retained in the speleothems.

Large-scale and high-resolution 3-D cave mapping by terrestrial laser scanning: a case study of the Domica Cave, Slovakia

Mapping and modelling the complicated geometry of caves is a challenging task that has traditionally been undertaken by tacheometric surveying methods. These methods are excellent for capturing the general shape of a cave system but they are not suitable for high-speed, high-resolution mapping of complex surfaces found in this environment. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technologies can acquire millions of points represented by 3-D coordinates, at very high spatial densities on complex multifaceted surfaces within minutes. In the last few years, advances in measurement speed, reduction in size / cost and increased portability of this technology has revolutionised the collection of 3-D data. This paper discusses the methodological framework and the advantages / disadvantages of adopting terrestrial laser scanning to rapidly map a complex cave system on the example of the Domica Cave in Slovakia. This cave originated in the largest karst region in the West Carpathians. The collected data set or ‘point cloud’ contains over 11.9 billion measured points, captured in 5 days from 327 individual scanning positions. The dataset represents almost 1600 m of the cave passages. Semi-automatic registration of these scans was carried out using reference spheres placed in each scene and this method archived an overall registration error of 2.24 mm (RMSE). Transformation of the final registered point cloud from its local coordinate system to the national cartographic system was achieved with total accuracy of 21 mm (RMSE). This very detailed data set was used to create a 3-D cave surface model needed for volumetric analyses. In the future, it will be used for spatial analyses or simulating the interaction of surface and subsurface processes contributing to the development of the cave system on the basis of a 3-D GIS platform.

Ceiling erosion in caves: early studies and Zdeněk Roth as author of the concept

Ceiling channels belong to specific geomorphological forms occurring only in caves. Their origin has been commonly connected with the paragenesis. According to review articles, the terms of ceiling channel and paragenesis were defined by Philippe Renault (1958) for the first time. Nevertheless, Zdeněk Roth in his study of morphology and geomorphological evolution of the Domica Cave (southern Slovakia) published in 1937 (in Czech with long French summary) not only described ceiling channels, but he presented also their definition. Roth and other authors used the term later in describing features of several caves in Slovakia and Hungary. Based on original Roth observations, Josef Kunský defined the term generally in his textbook (1950 in Czech, 1956 in Polish and 1958 in French). The description of paragenetic ceiling channels by Renault (1958) can be considered as the first one only in Western European karstology literature.

The thousand-year history of the Slovak Karst inferred from pollen in bat guano inside the Domica Cave (Slovakia)

A thousand years old 105 cm deep deposit of bat guano in the Domica Cave (southern Slovakia, Slovak Karst National Park) has been discovered for science, and three samples were analysed for pollen to identify the bats’ preferred foraging habitats and for insect remains to identify their diet. The bat species concerned, Rhinolophus euryale, is rare in the area, which lies at the northern margin of its distribution. The pollen record captured alder forests between 897–1024 AD, temperate light broad-leaved oak-hornbeam forests with Quercus cerris, Fraxinus ornus, Cornus mas and Corylus avellana between 1522–1800 AD, and almost recently willow shrubs. This pattern may, however, reflect local changes in the surrounding landscape where the bats hunted. Pollen of anemophilous taxa was underrepresented (e.g. Fagus), while entomophilous taxa were overrepresented (e.g. Fraxinus ornus, Loranthus europaeus, Acer, Agrostemma githago). The phenology of the encountered pollen taxa indicates that the bats used the Domica Cave mainly as spring and summer roosts. The pollen record further indicates that the bats prefer to forage in a forest–steppe landscape with open Pannonian broadleaved forests and humid temperate riparian environments. Today, this kind of landscape does not occur further north, which may explain the northern limit of this bat species at the study site.

The occurrence of coliform bacteria in the cave waters of Slovak Karst, Slovakia.

The diversity and abundance of coliform bacteria (taxonomically enterobacterias), an important quality water indicator, were determined for four representative caves in Slovak Karst: Domica Cave, Gombasecká Cave, Milada Cave and Krásnohorská Cave. Three hundred and fifty-two enterobacterial isolates were successfully identified by biochemical testing (commercial ENTEROtest 24) and selected isolates confirmed by molecular techniques (PCR, 16S rDNA sequence analysis). A total of 39 enterobacterial species were isolated from cave waters, with predominance of Escherichia coli, Serratia spp. and Enterobacter spp. PCR amplification of lacZ gene is not specific enough to provide a reliable detection of coliform bacteria isolated from the environment. Sequence analysis of 16S rDNA confirmed that all of the selected isolates belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae. In general, physical and chemical parameters of cave waters in Slovak Karst corresponded to national drinking water quality standards.

A complexity analysis of 222Rn concentration variation: A case study for Domica cave, Slovakia for the period June 2010–June 2011

In this paper we have analyzed 222Rn concentration variation in Domica cave (Slovakia) for the period June 2010–June 2011. In that sense we have applied a complexity analysis on 222Rn concentration time series. We have considered possible existence of a periodical component in the variation of 222Rn concentration and some environmental parameters, as well as possible correlation between them. In addition we have offered novel complexity measures based on the Kolmogorov complexity (KC), i.e. the Kolmogorov complexity spectrum, its highest value (KCM) and the integral Kolmogorov complexity (KCI). These measures have been applied on 222Rn concentration time series: (i) to establish the dependence of 222Rn concentration on cave environmental parameters (wind speed inside the cave, external wind speed, air temperature, atmospheric pressure and CO2 concentration) and (ii) to see whether influence of some parameters make the distribution of measured quantity less or more stochastic.

Temporal variability of radon in the atmosphere of Domica and Va ecka Karst caves (Slovakia)

Continual monitoring of radon activity concentration was performed in two caves: Domica and Važecká. Radon in the air of the Domica cave was monitored from June 2010 to July 2011. Radon research in the Važecká cave started in June 2012 and it is still being carried out. Radon concentration in cave atmosphere exhibited seasonal, short-term and daily variations. Daily average of radon in Domica varied from 0.5 to 2.7 kBq m(-3). Seasonal trend was characterised by the highest concentration in September and the lowest from February to March. Radon concentration in the Važecká cave was significantly higher, and the daily average ranged from 1.0 to 5.3 kBq m(-3). The highest values were registered from June to September and in January. The seasonal and daily variations of 222Rn activity concentration in the atmosphere of both caves are assumed to be associated with the atmospheric temperature. No effect of atmospheric pressure on radon short-term variation was found.

Identification and ß-lactam resistance in aquatic isolates of Enterobacter cloacae and their status in microbiota of Domica Cave in Slovak Karst (Slovakia)

Domica Cave is located in the Slovak Karst National Park in southern Slovakia. Heterotrophic cultivable psychrophilic and mesophilic microbiota were confirmed to be prevalent in this cave. Escherichia coli was the most abundant bacterium, followed by Enterobacter species and Serrratia species. Enterobacter cloacae isolates belong to the group of faecal contaminants (coliforms) of concern in water. Their status in cave ecosystem is questionable, but we observed E. cloacae in water samples all years round suggesting an autochthonous origin. We were concerned with possible contamination of the cave water with resistant E. cloacae from animal farms located 2-3 km from the cave. We tested 36 aquatic isolates of E. cloacae from Domica Cave to β-lactam resistance. The majority of tested isolates were resistant to more antibiotics (from 3 to 10), 5 isolates were resistant to more than 10 antibiotics, and 1 isolate was resistant to ampicillin. Resistance to the broad spectrum of β-lactams correlated with resistance mechanisms due to an expression of blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M genes. The majority of isolates possessed a combination of tested resistance genes. We assume a direct impact of long-term human agricultural activities in the area of the Domica Cave to the conserved microbiota of karst system.

Diverse archaeal community of a bat guano pile in Domica Cave (Slovak Karst, Slovakia)

The molecular diversity of Archaea in a bat guano pile in Cave Domica (Slovakia), temperate cave ecosystem with significant bat colony (about 1600 individuals), was examined. The guano pile was created mainly by an activity of the Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale) and provides a source of organic carbon and other nutrients in the oligotrophic subsurface ecosystem. The upper and the basal parts of guano surface were sampled where the latter one had higher pH and higher admixture of limestone bedrock and increased colonization of invertebrates. The relative proportion of Archaea determined using CARD-FISH in both parts was 3.5-3.9 % (the basal and upper part, respectively). The archaeal community was dominated by non-thermophilic Crenarchaeota (99 % of clones). Phylogenetic analysis of 115 16S rDNA sequences revealed the presence of Crenarchaeota previously isolated from temperate surface soils (group 1.1b, 62 clones), deep subsurface acid waters (group 1.1a, 52 clones) and Euryarchaeota (1 clone). Four of the analyzed sequences were found to have little similarity to those in public databases. The composition of both archaeal communities differed, with respect to higher diversity of Archaea in the upper part of the bat guano pile. High diversity archaeal population is present in the bat guano deposit and consists of both soil- and subsurface-born Crenarchaeota.

Pidoplitchkoviella terricola - an interesting fungus from the Domica Cave (Slovakia)

The microfungus Pidoplitchkoviella terricola – until now it was known only as Kirilenko´s specimen isolated from Quercus robur rhizosphere in Ukraine - was found in earthworm casts in the Domica Cave, NP Slovak Karst, Slovakia. A description and microphotographs of this strain are provided in this article.

Microscopic fungi isolated from the Domica Cave system (Slovak Karst National Park, Slovakia). A review

A broad spectrum, total of 195 microfungal taxa, were isolated from various cave substrates (cave air, cave sediments, bat droppings and/or guano, earthworm casts, isopods and diplopods faeces, mammalian dung, cadavers, vermiculations, insect bodies, plant material, etc.) from the cave system of the Domica Cave (Slovak Karst National Park, Slovakia) using dilution, direct and gravity settling culture plate methods and several isolation media. Penicillium glandicola, Trichoderma polysporum, Oidiodendron cerealis, Mucor spp., Talaromyces flavus and species of the genus Doratomyces were isolated frequently during our study. Estimated microfungal species diversity was compared with literature records from the same substrates published in the past.

Age of Black Coloured Laminae Within Speleothems from Domica Cave and Its Significance for Dating of Prehistoric Human Settlement

The paper deals with the black coloured laminae which occur within speleothems in Domica cave (Slovakia). The laminae are composed of non completely carbonized organic compounds and charcoal particles. The components were formed during combustion of plant material, mainly wood, inside the cave. Thus, they are a by-product of human activity inside the cave. The radiocarbon ages of organic fraction of these laminae fall between 6460 and 6640 cal BP and 7160 and 7330 cal BP. These dates indicate that the origin of the laminae is connected with two episodes of prehistoric occupation of the cave. The first one should be related either to later part of Gemer Linear Pottery or to early Bükk culture populations. The second episode refers to the youngest phase of human occupation in Domica cave reflecting the last period of Bükk populations' existence in the Slovak Karst.