ArticleNPJ biofilms and microbiomes2024
Microbial diversity and secondary metabolism potential in relation to dark alterations in Paleolithic Lascaux Cave.
Article in NPJ biofilms and microbiomes, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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4 citing papers in PubMed.
- The influence of human activities on the microbial community structure and function of a karst cave in southwest China.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Reconstruction of 1,979 prokaryotic metagenome-assembled genomes from 37 global cave environments.Scientific data · 2025Article
- Functional Characterisation of Microbial Communities Related to Black Stain Formation in Lascaux Cave.Environmental microbiology reports · 2025Article
- Metabolic traits of sediment bacteria in karst caves in the light of environmental changes.Frontiers in microbiology · 2025Article
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8 authors.
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Abstract
Tourism in Paleolithic caves can cause an imbalance in cave microbiota and lead to cave wall alterations, such as dark zones. However, the mechanisms driving dark zone formation remain unclear. Using shotgun metagenomics in Lascaux Cave's Apse and Passage across two years, we tested metabarcoding-derived functional hypotheses regarding microbial diversity and metabolic potential in dark zones vs unmarked surfaces nearby. Taxonomic and functional metagenomic profiles were consistent across years but divergent between cave locations. Aromatic compound degradation genes were prevalent inside and outside dark zones, as expected from past biocide usage. Dark zones exhibited enhanced pigment biosynthesis potential (melanin and carotenoids) and melanin was evidenced chemically, while unmarked surfaces showed genes for antimicrobials production, suggesting that antibiosis might restrict the development of pigmented microorganisms and dark zone extension. Thus, this work revealed key functional microbial traits associated with dark zone formation, which helps understand cave alteration processes under severe anthropization.
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