IDENTIFYING ACTINOBACTERIA IN PRISTINE VS HUMAN-IMPACTED CAVE AND KARST SITES

Caves and karst sites are studied for their biodiversity, the important roles they play in watershed health, and local economies as they are tourist attractions around the world. In Southwest Virginia, outdoor recreation and ecotourism are growing industries, with the many caves in the region serving as common attractions. With the increase in human visitation, the preservation of these environments must also be considered. “Actinobacteria mats” are often found on cave walls, ceilings, and speleothems, and studying and comparing strains found within these communities could serve as indicators of “healthy”, or natural, cave biomes and serve as the basis for ecotourism management and conservation practices by state park and cave preserve managers.

In this study, we begin the characterization of microbiological facets of karst environments in The Cedars Natural Area Preserve (Lee County, VA) and other caves in the biodiverse watersheds of Southwest Virginia. To better understand the impacts of anthropogenic activity and ecotourism on caves and karst resources in the region, we are investigating whether human activity impacts the strains of Actinobacteria we see in frequently-visited vs pristine caves in close proximity to each other. We assess the human impact on caves according to factors such as how long cavers are allowed inside a cave, how many people are allowed at a time, the frequency in which cavers visit the sites, the structure of visitation, gear and hygiene regulations, and the presence of metazoans. We also test multiple methods for sampling the bacterial mats, including using gas-tight syringes to collect water droplets pooling on the bacterial mats and using gloved hands to gently rub mats and then scraping the sample collected on the glove into a sterile tube. By studying how human ecotourism may impact these bacterial communities, we can learn how cave tourism management can be improved for optimal preservation, sustainability, and low-impact accessibility.