Cave entrance dependent spore dispersion offilamentous fungi isolated from various sediments of iron ore cave in Brazil: a colloquy on human threats while caving

Abstract

Caves are stable environments with characteristics favoring the development of fungi. The fungal community present in a cave also includes pathogenic and opportunistic species out of which some are also served as energy sources in such energy stared ecosystems. Studies on microbial diversity and their role on such energy starved ecosystem are scarce. The present study was aimed to identify the cultivable f ilamentous fungi present in the various sediment of an iron ore cave and to recognize them as pathogenic and/or opportunistic species. Further the impact of cave entrance on the spore depositions on various distances dependent sediments were analyzed. The results suggest a diverse microbial community inhabiting the cave and an influence of cave entrance over spore deposition on various sediments. We counted a total of 4,549 f ilamentous fungi that included 34 species of 12 genera: Acremonium Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Paecilomyces, Purpureocillium, Penicillium, Torula, Trichoderma, Mucor and Rhizopus. A positive signif icant relation was observed between spore deposition and distance from cave entrance (p= 0.001). Areas of potential mycoses risks were recognized. This is the f irst study on microbiological community of an iron ore cave in the country.