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Cited by 73

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 95 of the 95 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Microbial Diversity and Mineralogical-Mechanical Properties of Calcitic Cave Speleothems in Natural and in Vitro Biomineralization Conditions

Dhami, Navdeep K., Mukherjee, Abhijit, Watkin, Elizabeth L. J.·2018·Frontiers in Microbiology
DOI 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00040PMC PMC5810276
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Abstract

Natural mineral formations are a window into important processes leading to carbon storage and mineralized carbonate structures formed through abiotic and biotic processes. In the current study, we made an attempt to undertake a comprehensive approach to characterize the mineralogical, mechanical, and microbial properties of different kinds of speleothems from karstic caves; with an aim to understand the bio-geo-chemical processes in speleothem structures and their impact on nanomechanical properties. We also investigated the biomineralization abilities of speleothem surface associated microbial communities in vitro. Mineralogical profiling using techniques such as X-ray powder Diffraction (XRD) and Tescan Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA) demonstrated that calcite was the dominant mineral in the majority of speleothems with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDS) indicating a few variations in the elemental components. Differing proportions of polymorphs of calcium carbonate such as aragonite and vaterite were also recorded. Significant variations in trace metal content were recorded through Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed differences in morphological features of the crystals which varied from triangular prismatic shapes to etched spiky forms. Microbial imprints and associations were seen in a few sections. Analysis of the associated microbial diversity showed significant differences between various speleothems at Phylum level; although Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were found to be the predominant groups. Genus level microbial associations showed a relationship with the geochemistry, mineralogical composition, and metal content of the speleothems. The assessment of nanomechanical properties measured by Nanoindentation revealed that the speleothems with a dominance of calcite were stronger than the speleothems with mixed calcium carbonate polymorphs and silica content. The in vitro metabolic activity of the microbial communities associated with the surfaces of the speleothems resulted in calcium carbonate crystal precipitation. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated these populations, in contrast to the populations seen in natural systems. The precipitation of calcium carbonate crystals in vitro indicated that microbial metabolic activity may also play an important role in the synthesis and dissociation of biominerals in the natural environment. Our study provides novel evidence of the close relationship between mineralogy, microbial ecology, geochemistry, and nanomechanical properties of natural formations.

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Crossref · 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00040

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Figures

FIGURE 1 (i,ii) Geographical location of Margaret River Caves, Western Australia, Australia [source: Google (Googlemaps, 2016)].
FIGURE 1 (i,ii) Geographical location of Margaret River Caves, Western Australia, Australia [source: Google (Googlemaps, 2016)].CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 2 Cave speleothems collected from (i–iii) Lake Cave (iv) Moondyne Cave (v,vi) Mammoth Cave.
FIGURE 2 Cave speleothems collected from (i–iii) Lake Cave (iv) Moondyne Cave (v,vi) Mammoth Cave.CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 3 Scanning electron micrographs of: (i,ii) Lake Cave moonmilk; (iii,iv) Lake Cave stalagmite; (v,vi) Lake Cave stalactite; (vii,viii) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (ix,x) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (xi,xii) Mammoth Cave stalactite (Arrows indicate hyphal networks and microborings) at lower and higher magnifications.
FIGURE 3 Scanning electron micrographs of: (i,ii) Lake Cave moonmilk; (iii,iv) Lake Cave stalagmite; (v,vi) Lake Cave stalactite; (vii,viii) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (ix,x) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (xi,xii) Mammoth Cave stalactite (Arrows indicate hyphal networks and microborings) at lower and higher magnifications.CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 4 Energy dispersive X ray spectrum of: (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite.
FIGURE 4 Energy dispersive X ray spectrum of: (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite.CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 5 X ray diffraction analysis of: (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite (where c denotes calcite; a denotes aragonite; v denotes vaterite; q denotes quartz).
FIGURE 5 X ray diffraction analysis of: (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite (where c denotes calcite; a denotes aragonite; v denotes vaterite; q denotes quartz).CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 6 TIMA analysis of: (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite.
FIGURE 6 TIMA analysis of: (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite.CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 7 Microstructures for nanoindentation through optical microscope fitted with Nanoindenter for: (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite.
FIGURE 7 Microstructures for nanoindentation through optical microscope fitted with Nanoindenter for: (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite.CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 8 Load indentation graphs of (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite.
FIGURE 8 Load indentation graphs of (i) Lake Cave moonmilk; (ii) Lake Cave stalagmite; (iii) Lake Cave Stalactite; (iv) Moondyne Cave stalagmite; (v) Mammoth Cave stalagmite and (vi) Mammoth Cave stalactite.CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 9 Bacterial population composition at Phylum level associated with different Cave speleothems (based upon 16S rRNA gene sequencing presented as a fraction from total population).
FIGURE 9 Bacterial population composition at Phylum level associated with different Cave speleothems (based upon 16S rRNA gene sequencing presented as a fraction from total population).CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 10 Bacterial population composition at Phylum level in laboratory enriched conditions (based upon 16S rRNA gene sequencing presented as a fraction from total population).
FIGURE 10 Bacterial population composition at Phylum level in laboratory enriched conditions (based upon 16S rRNA gene sequencing presented as a fraction from total population).CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 11 Scanning electron micrograph of crystals precipitated in (i,ii) Lake Cave moonmilk enrichment set; (iii,iv) Lake Cave stalagmite enrichment set; (v,vi) Moondyne Cave stalagmite enrichment set (vii,viii) Mammoth Cave stalagmite enrichment set.
FIGURE 11 Scanning electron micrograph of crystals precipitated in (i,ii) Lake Cave moonmilk enrichment set; (iii,iv) Lake Cave stalagmite enrichment set; (v,vi) Moondyne Cave stalagmite enrichment set (vii,viii) Mammoth Cave stalagmite enrichment set.CC BY · PubMed Central
FIGURE 12 X ray diffraction analysis of carbonate crystals precipitated in (i) Lake Cave moonmilk enrichment set (ii) Mammoth Cave stalagmite enrichment set (where c denotes calcite; v denotes vaterite).
FIGURE 12 X ray diffraction analysis of carbonate crystals precipitated in (i) Lake Cave moonmilk enrichment set (ii) Mammoth Cave stalagmite enrichment set (where c denotes calcite; v denotes vaterite).CC BY · PubMed Central

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Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Eberhard, 2011, Impacts of drying climate on aquatic cave fauna in Jewel cave and other caves in Southwest Western Australia., J. Australas. Cave Karst Manag. Assoc., 83, 6
  2. 2016, Margaret River Western Australia.
  3. Hill, 1986, Cave Minerals of the World
  4. Hill, 1997, Cave Minerals of the World.
  5. Hoffman, 1991, VDLUFA-Methodenbuch: Die Untersuchung von Böden
  6. Jasinska, 1997, Fauna of Aquatic Root Mats in Caves of Southwestern Australia: Origins and Ecology.
  7. Skinner, 2004, “Biomineralization,” in, Biochemistry, 117
  8. White, 1962, Introduction to the symposium on cave mineralogy., Natl. Speleol. Soc. Bull., 24, 55

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Metadata

Authors
Dhami, N. K., Mukherjee, A., & Watkin, E. L. J.
Venue
Frontiers in Microbiology
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2018-02-02
Volume
9
ISSN
1664-302X
DOI
10.3389/fmicb.2018.00040
PMC
PMC5810276
Cited by
73
References
95
Licence
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (unspecified)
Funders
Curtin University of Technology

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