2024-03-29T01:19:30Zhttp://digital.csic.es/dspace-oai/requestoai:digital.csic.es:10261/451762018-09-12T08:43:52Zcom_10261_15com_10261_6col_10261_268
00925njm 22002777a 4500
dc
Porca, Estefanía
author
Jurado, Valme
author
Martín Sánchez, Pedro Mª
author
Hermosín, Bernardo
author
Bastian, Fabiola
author
Alabouvette, Claude
author
2011-11
Aerobiology of caves is still in its infancy. At present, no clear information has been generated on the
limits of acceptance of fungal spores in air which permit classification of the atmosphere of a cave as not
dangerous for the conservation of rock-art paintings. We had the unique opportunity to visit and sample
different caves in Spain and France, under different managements. We obtained a collection of data
related with contamination episodes that permitted the formulation of a tentative index of fungal hazard
in show caves. This is supported by the concentration of fungal spores in the cave air, the knowledge of
the cave history and management, and a detailed survey of the different halls of the caves. The index
classifies the risks into five categories: category 1 identifies a cave without fungal problems, category
2 is an alarm signal for caves, category 3 is a cave threatened by fungi, category 4 is assigned to a cave
already affected by fungi, and category 5 is a cave with an irreversible ecological disturbance. This index,
a working hypothesis, is launched to promote interest and forum discussion and should be validated by
the scientific community after being updated with more surveys and cave analyses carried out under
different managements and with different contamination episodes.
Ecological Indicators 11(6): 1594-1598 (2011)
1470-160X
http://hdl.handle.net/10261/45176
10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.04.003
1872-7034
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100007169
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003329
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003339
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100011011
Aerobiology
Show caves
Fungi
Fungal outbreaks
Aerobiology: an ecological indicator for early detection and control of fungal outbreaks in caves