The Norwegian Partner of CAVEICE, an ERANET Project on Cave Ice Microbiology and Isotope Stratigraphy

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Norwegian Partner of CAVEICE, an ERANET Project on Cave Ice Microbiology and Isotope Stratigraphy Cave ice microbiom along a Chronosequence in Svarhamar Ice Cave, North Norway The Norwegian partner of CAVEICE, an ERANET project on cave ice Lise Øvreås(1) & Stein-Erik Lauritzen (2), Departments of Biology (1) and Earth Sciences (2), microbiology and isotope stratigraphy University of Bergen [email protected]; [email protected] Entrances at two Levels (40m difference) Ice mass Figure 1. Key map, Svarthamar cave Fig 2. Close-up of ice stratigraphy Fig. 3. Outline of Svarthamar cave. Ice mass indicated Background and project description Ice caves represent highly that ice accumulation preserved and relatively commenced after AD 1200 unexposed ice environments (Lauritzen 1996 & et al. 2005), constituting a unique archive for Fig. 5. studying the impact of climate As the entire Chrono sequence and anthropogenic pollution on is exposed inside the cave (Figs. the microorganisms living there. 2 &4) ice cores will be drilled and Still there is only scarce samples covering the entire time information about the indigenous span. The ice core will be melted ice-microbiota, and their slowly and the ice water will be vulnerability to climate change. filtered onto 0.2 µM filter to In this project we will study the collect the microbial biomass, total and active microbial which will be used for RNA and communities from ice caves of DNA extraction. The functional different climate and pollution variability of total and active- exposures in order to embedded microbiome will be understand the microbial determined by direct sequencing Fig. 4. Part of the exposed ice mass (1990) diversity and metabolisms along using illumina sequencing a Chrono sequence model technology of metagenomes and reflecting the impact of both metatranscriptome from the ice climate and environmental and be compared with other ice pollution on cave ice and glacier caves processed microbioms. In our part of this within the project. Further project we will focus on the analyses in order to gain insight Svarthamar Ice cave in Norway, into the microbial community (Figs 1& 3) which is a perennial structure and metabolism will be ice mass hosted within a karst achieved through the cave. The Svarthamar cave is a reconstruction of the microbial two-entrance, dynamic ice cave, transcriptome and genome possessing the largest cave resources of the entire microbial room in Scandinavia and is one community. These data will be of the lowest altitude ice caves in important to reveal the first Europe. Radiocarbon dating of identities and functions of the plant debris at the base of The key players in these unique and Fig. 5. Oxygen isotope stratigraphy of the lowermost 12 m of the ice mass, (Lauritzen 1996) 20m thick ice mass indicates vulnerable ecosystems due to climate change. REFERENCES Lauritzen, S. E., Baastad, L., Bjørlien, J., Fedje, E. & Holmlund, P. 2005: The Svarthamar cave research project, Fauske, north Norway. Proceedings of the 14th International Congress of Speleology, Athen-Kalamos, August 2005 Paper P-12, 1-5. Lauritzen, S. E. (1996). Karst Landforms and Caves of Nordland, North Norway. Guide for Excursion 2 (Climate Change: The Karst Record, Field Trip Guide). Bergen, Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen..
Recommended publications
  • Karst Features — Where and What Are They?
    Karst Features — Where and What are They? This story was made with Esri's Story Map Journal. Read the interactive version on the web at https://arcg.is/jCmza. Iowa Geological and Water Survey Bureau completed a detailed mapping project of bedrock geologic units, key subsurface horizons, and surficial karst features in the Iowa portion of the Upper Iowa River Watershed in 2011. In the report, they note that “One of the primary goals of the study was to gain more thorough understanding of relationships between bedrock geology and karst features within the watershed.” Black River Falls photo courtesy of Larry Reis. Sinkholes Esri, HERE, Garmin, FAO, USGS, NGA, EPA, NPS According to the GIS data from the Iowa DNR, the UIR Watershed has 6,649 known sinkholes in the Iowa portion of the watershed. Although this number is very precise, sinkhole development is actually an active process in the UIR Watershed so the actual number of sinkholes changes over time as some are filled in through natural or human processes and others are formed. One of the most numerous karst features found in the UIR Watershed, sinkholes are formed when specific types of underlying bedrock are gradually dissolved, creating voids in the subsurface. When soils and other materials above these voids can no longer bridge the gap created in the bedrock, a collapse occurs. Photo Courtesy of USGS Sinkholes vary in size and shape and can and do occur in any type of land use in the UIR Watershed, from row crop to forest, and even in roads. According to the Iowa Geologic Survey, sinkholes are often connected to underground bedrock fractures and conduits, from minor fissures to enlarged caverns, which allow for rapid movement of water from sinkholes vertically and laterally through the subsurface.
    [Show full text]
  • Groundwater Issues in the Paleozoic Plateau a Taste of Karst, a Modicum of Geology, and a Whole Lot of Scenery
    GGroundwaterroundwater IssuesIssues inin tthehe PaleozoicPaleozoic PlateauPlateau A Taste of Karst, a Modicum of Geology, and a Whole Lot of Scenery Iowa Groundwater Association Field Trip Guidebook No. 1 Iowa Geological and Water Survey Guidebook Series No. 27 Dunning Spring, near Decorah in Winneshiek County, Iowa September 29, 2008 In Conjunction with the 53rd Annual Midwest Ground Water Conference Grand River Center, Dubuque, Iowa, September 30 – October 2, 2008 Groundwater Issues in the Paleozoic Plateau A Taste of Karst, a Modicum of Geology, and a Whole Lot of Scenery Iowa Groundwater Association Field Trip Guidebook No. 1 Iowa Geological and Water Survey Guidebook Series No. 27 In Conjunction with the 53rd Annual Midwest Ground Water Conference Grand River Center, Dubuque, Iowa, September 30 – October 2, 2008 With contributions by M.K. Anderson Robert McKay Iowa DNR-Water Supply Engineering Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey Bruce Blair Jeff Myrom Iowa DNR-Forestry Iowa DNR-Solid Waste Michael Bounk Eric O’Brien Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey Karen Osterkamp Lora Friest Iowa DNR-Fisheries Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development Jean C. Prior Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey James Hedges Luther College James Ranum Natural Resources Conservation Service John Hogeman Winneshiek County Landfi ll Operator Robert Rowden Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey Claire Hruby Iowa DNR-Geographic Information Systems Joe Sanfi lippo Iowa DNR-Manchester Field Offi ce Bill Kalishek Gary Siegwarth Iowa DNR-Fisheries Iowa DNR-Fisheries George E. Knudson Mary Skopec Luther College Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey Bob Libra Stephanie Surine Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey Huaibao Liu Paul VanDorpe Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey Iowa DNR-Geological and Water Survey Iowa Department of Natural Resources Richard Leopold, Director September 2008 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .
    [Show full text]
  • 55Th Legislature - State of New Mexico - First Session, 2021
    1 HOUSE MEMORIAL 12 2 55TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2021 3 INTRODUCED BY 4 Cathrynn N. Brown and Gail Armstrong 5 6 7 8 9 10 A MEMORIAL 11 REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING 12 2021 AS THE "INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CAVES AND KARST". 13 14 WHEREAS, caves and related landforms like sinkholes, 15 springs and sinking streams, collectively known as karst, 16 present some of the world's most dramatic landscapes; and 17 WHEREAS, caves and karst have diverse economic, ecologic, 18 scientific and cultural impacts around New Mexico, the United ] = delete = ] 19 States and the world; and 20 WHEREAS, Carlsbad Caverns national park alone has an 21 economic benefit of about thirty-four million dollars 22 ($34,000,000) each year for New Mexico; and 23 WHEREAS, other New Mexico cave tourist destinations 24 include Bottomless Lakes state park, Santa Rosa blue hole, the underscored material = new = material underscored material [bracketed 25 ice cave and Bandera volcano and El Malpais national monument; .219712.1 1 and 2 WHEREAS, the country's first underground wilderness was 3 established in New Mexico to protect the spectacular 4 Lechuguilla cave; and 5 WHEREAS, the country's first underground national 6 conservation area was established in New Mexico to protect the 7 equally amazing Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave national 8 conservation area; and 9 WHEREAS, the primary water supplies for roughly fifteen 10 percent of New Mexico are karst aquifers, especially supporting 11 the communities in the southeast
    [Show full text]
  • Selected Abstracts from the 2007 National Speleological Society Convention Marengo, Indiana
    2007 NSS CONVENTION ABSTRACTS SELECTED ABSTRACTS FROM THE 2007 NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CONVENTION MARENGO, INDIANA BIOSPELEOLOGY Palpigradida (1), Araneae (6), Opiliones (2), Pseudoscorpiones (3), Copepoda (5), Ostracoda (2), Decapoda (4), Isopoda (7), Amphipoda THE SUBTERRANEAN FAUNA OF INDIANA (12), Chilopoda (2), Diplopoda (4), Collembola (4), Diplura (1), Julian J. Lewis and Salisa L. Lewis Thysanura (1), Coleoptera (14), and Vertebrata (1). Vjetrenica is also Lewis & Associates LLC, Cave, Karst & Groundwater Biological Consulting; 17903 the type locality for 37 taxa, including16 endemics and 3 monotypic State Road 60, Borden, IN 47106-8608, USA, [email protected] genera: Zavalia vjetrenicae (Gastropoda), Troglomysis vjetrenicensis Within Indiana are two distinct cave areas, the south-central karst (Crustacea) and Nauticiella stygivaga (Coleoptera). Some groups have containing most of the state’s 2,000+ caves, and the glaciated southeastern not yet been studied or described (Nematoda, Oligochaeta, Thysanura). karst. Field work from 1971 to present resulted in sampling over 500 caves Due to changes in hydrology, highway building, intensive agriculture, for fauna. Approximately 100 species of obligate cavernicoles have been garbage delay, local quarrying, and lack of state protection mechanisms, discovered, with over 70 of these occurring in the south-central karst area. Vjetrenica is strongly endangered. Besides continuing research, protection Dispersal into the southeastern cave area was limited to the period after of the whole drainage area, along with sustainable cave management, is the recession of the Illinoian ice sheet, accounting for the paucity of fauna, necessary. with only 30 obligate cavernicoles known. The fauna of southeastern Indiana is believed to have dispersed into the area during the Wisconsin MARK-RECAPTURE POPULATION SIZE ESTIMATES OF THE MADISON glaciation, whereas the south-central karst has been available for CAVE ISOPOD, ANTROLANA LIRA colonization over a longer time.
    [Show full text]
  • Glacier Caves: a Globally Threatened Subterranean Biome
    Francis G. Howarth. Glacier caves: a globally threatened subterranean biome. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 83, no. 2, p. 66-70. DOI:10.4311/2019LSC0132 GLACIER CAVES: A GLOBALLY THREATENED SUBTERRANEAN BIOME Francis G. Howarth1 Abstract Caves and cave-like voids are common features within and beneath glaciers. The physical environment is harsh and extreme, and often considered barren and devoid of life. However, accumulating evidence indicates that these caves may support a diverse invertebrate fauna with species endemic to each region. As glaciers continue to disappear at an alarming rate due to global warming, they take their largely unknown fauna with them. Thus, glacier caves may harbor one of the most endangered ecosystems globally, and yet their biodiversity is among the least studied or known. Faunal surveys and ecological studies are urgently needed before all examples are lost. INTRODUCTION Glacier caves are voids within and beneath glaciers that are formed mostly by surface meltwater sinking into the glacier through crevasses, moulins, and fissures (Piccini and Mecchia, 2013; Smart, 2003; Kováč, 2018; Gulley and Fountain, 2019). Glacier caves can be enlarged by geothermal melting (Kiver and Mumma, 1971; Giggenbach, 1976), as well as by pressure and friction at the contact between the ice and bedrock. These caves are created by natural phenomena during the life of the glacier and are common features in glaciers. They are best developed in montane gla- ciers in comparison to polar glaciers, largely because of the steeper gradient, greater flow rate, and seasonally warmer temperatures (Smart, 2003). The cave structure is dynamic; for example, changing shape and course as the glacier flows downslope; enlarging during warm periods; and collapsing and deforming under pressure.
    [Show full text]
  • World Heritage Nomination – Iucn Technical Evaluation
    WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATION – IUCN TECHNICAL EVALUATION CAVES OF THE AGGTELEK KARST AND SLOVAK KARST (HUNGARY / SLOVAKIA) EXTENSION TO INCLUDE DOBŠINSKÁ ICE CAVE (SLOVAKIA) Background note: The Dobšinská Ice Cave was part of the larger nomination from Slovakia considered by the 22nd session of the Bureau and Committee in 1998. The Committee report “recalled that the Bureau . decided to refer the nomination back to the State Party asking the Slovak authorities to consider incorporating the Dobšinská Ice Cave portion into the nearby World Heritage site of the Caves of The Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst. The report of the Committee session in 1998 shows that “the Committee did not inscribe the site on the World Heritage list” but that the State Party, the Centre and IUCN were encouraged by the Chairperson “to cooperate in the preparation of a revised nomination . .”. This nomination of the Dobšinská Ice Cave in Slovakia as an addition to the existing cave site in Hungary is the result of that cooperation. 1 DOCUMENTATION i) IUCN/WCMC Data Sheet: (7 references) ii) Additional Literature Consulted: Lalkovic, M. 1995. On the Problems of the Ice Filling in the Dobšinská Ice Cave. Acta Carsologica. Krasoslovni Zbornik XXIV; Courbon, P. et. al. 1989. Atlas of the Great Caves of the World; Waltham, T. 1974. Caves. Macmillan; Juberthie, C. 1995. Underground Habitats and their Protection. Nature and Environment No. 72. Council of Europe Press; Middleton, J. & T. Walthan. 1986. The Underground Atlas: A Gazetteer of The World's Cave Regions. St Mattin's Press; Watson, J. et al. 1997. Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin of the National Speleological Society
    H.h. '. II BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 31 NUMBER 3 Contents PARADISE ICE CAVES, WASHINGTON MICROECOSYSTEMS IN LEHMAN CAVE, NEVADA JULY 1969 IL H. Hobbs Ill Information for [ontrihutors BULLETIN To the Bulletin of THE NATIONAL SPELEDLDGil:AL SOl:IETY Papers in any discipline of speleology are considered for publication in the BULLETIN. The upper limit for length is about 10,000 words or approximately 40 pages of manuscript, typed double-spaced. At least one copy but preferably two VOLUME 31, NUMBER 3 JULY 1969 copies of the manuscript (typed, double-spac~d) should be submitted to the Editor, CONTENTS Jerry D. Vineyard, Missouri Geological Survey, Box 250, Rolla, Missouri 65401. Photographs and line drawings, if required, should be submitted with the manuscript. THE PARADISE ICE CAVES, WASHINGTON : AN EXTENSIVE In general, prints and line drawings will be photo-reduced to the size necessary for GLACIER CAVE SYSTEM ........ Charles H. Anderson and William R. Halliday 55 use in the BULLETIN. MICROECOSYSTEMS IN LEHMAN CAVE, NEVADA .................................... N. Stark 73 For general style, see papers in this BULLETIN. Abstracts are required for all papers. Abstracts should be brief and informative. Captions are required for all Published quarterly by the NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY illustrations, and all unusual symbols used should be explained. References to the literature should be by author and date, with specific pages Suhscription rate in ef feet January l. J Q6Q : $6.00. where desirable. Literature cited should be listed in an end bibliography with entries arranged alphabetically by author's last names. For book , give total pages; for Office Addre$: journal papers, inclusive pages.
    [Show full text]
  • Pathogenic and Opportunistic Microorganisms in Caves
    International Journal of Speleology 39 (1) 15-24 Bologna (Italy) January 2010 Available online at www.ijs.speleo.it International Journal of Speleology Official Journal of Union Internationale de Spéléologie Pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms in caves Valme Jurado, Leonila Laiz, Veronica Rodriguez-Nava1, Patrick Boiron1, Bernardo Hermosin, Sergio Sanchez-Moral2, Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez Abstract: Jurado V., Laiz L., Rodriguez-Nava V., Boiron P., Hermosin H., Sanchez-Moral S. and Saiz-Jimenez C. 2010. Pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms in caves. International Journal of Speleology, 39 (1), 15-24. Bologna (Italy). ISSN 0392-6672. With today’s leisure tourism, the frequency of visits to many caves makes it necessary to know about possible potentially pathogenic microorganisms in caves, determine their reservoirs, and inform the public about the consequences of such visits. Our data reveal that caves could be a potential danger to visitors because of the presence of opportunistic microorganisms, whose existence and possible development in humans is currently unknown. Keywords: Caves, bacteria, fungi, virus, opportunistic pathogens Received 26 Oktober 2009; Revised 28 November 2009; Accepted 9 December 2009. INTRODUCTION or have lowered defences. Unfortunately, information Europe is an exceptional continent for its on this topic is not well known, and visitors remain abundance and variety of subterranean karstic forms unaware. Determining the extent of the potential comprising the natural geological heritage. Many of danger is of great interest ― not only scientific, but them are Protected Sites, and today many countries also medical and social. Our data reveal that caves have programmes for the protection of caves and could be a potential danger to visitors, because of geodiversity.
    [Show full text]
  • Caves & Caverns
    Caves & Caverns Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Table 2 ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Table 3 ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Table 4 .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Table 5 .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Table 6 ................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Table 7 ................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 Notes: Examples of how to use these tables... ............................................................................................................... 15 Part 2 ..................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Glacier Caves
    Home / Water / Cryosphere Glacier caves And inside? Glacier caves Melting water on a glacier surface collects in small seasonal water streams that erode their bed in the ice, and are called bédières (a French term): in fact, ice is impermeable and does not allow the water to seep in deep. However, glaciers are characterized by a number of fractures that run across the surface. Through these fractures surface water can filter in and flow within the glacier. Liquid water is obviously warmer than the ice it comes into contact with, and determines its melting, creating a system of empty spaces, underground passages, shafts and galleries that are similar to the systems of caves in the rock. The difference is that caves in the rock are created by chemical processes, (dissolving limestone) while ice caves are formed due to a physical process (ice melting). The ice cavities form in all the glaciers that are “warm” enough for water in the liquid state to be present. The formation of ice caves is very rapid, and can be observed, one may say, in “real time” : the cavities form and change during the course of a few weeks or a few days and this offers the opportunity to understand analogous forms that developed, in much longer times, in the rocks. For ice caves to form, ice, which is impermeable, must be broken by fractures that enable water to penetrate deeply and, as it melts the surrounding ice, to widen these fractures giving rise to the formation of shafts and galleries, which may even be several metres in diameter.
    [Show full text]
  • 48641Fbea0551a56d8f4efe0cb7
    cave The Earth series traces the historical significance and cultural history of natural phenomena. Written by experts who are passionate about their subject, titles in the series bring together science, art, literature, mythology, religion and popular culture, exploring and explaining the planet we inhabit in new and exciting ways. Series editor: Daniel Allen In the same series Air Peter Adey Cave Ralph Crane and Lisa Fletcher Desert Roslynn D. Haynes Earthquake Andrew Robinson Fire Stephen J. Pyne Flood John Withington Islands Stephen A. Royle Moon Edgar Williams Tsunami Richard Hamblyn Volcano James Hamilton Water Veronica Strang Waterfall Brian J. Hudson Cave Ralph Crane and Lisa Fletcher reaktion books For Joy Crane and Vasil Stojcevski Published by Reaktion Books Ltd 33 Great Sutton Street London ec1v 0dx, uk www.reaktionbooks.co.uk First published 2015 Copyright © Ralph Crane and Lisa Fletcher 2015 All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers Printed and bound in China by 1010 Printing International Ltd A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library isbn 978 1 78023 431 1 contents Preface 7 1 What is a Cave? 9 2 Speaking of Speleology 26 3 Troglodytes and Troglobites: Living in the Dark Zone 45 4 Cavers, Potholers and Spelunkers: Exploring Caves 66 5 Monsters and Magic: Caves in Mythology and Folklore 90 6 Visually Rendered: The Art of Caves 108 7 ‘Caverns measureless to man’: Caves in Literature 125 8 Sacred Symbols: Holy Caves 147 9 Extraordinary to Behold: Spectacular Caves 159 notable caves 189 references 195 select bibliography 207 associations and websites 209 acknowledgements 211 photo acknowledgements 213 index 215 Preface ‘It’s not what you’d expect, down there,’ he had said.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ice Cave Bandera Volcano
    The Ice Cave Located in part of Bandera’s collapsed lava tube, the temperature in this cave never gets Bandera Volcano above 31 Degrees F. As rain water and snow melt seep into the cave, the ice floor Bandera Volcano rose up in violent fury New Mexico's Land of Fire and Ice thickens. The floor of the ice is approximately some 10,000 years ago. It is one of the For a real experience in contrast, visit 20 feet deep. Depending on summer rainfall, finest examples of an erupted volcano in the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, the cave floor may accumulate water until the country, and also one of the most "The Land of Fire and Ice." Situated on the prevailing temperatures drop well below accessible. Bandera Crater is the largest 30 Degrees F. At this time, usually during volcanic cinder cone in the region. There the Continental Divide you walk through December or January, the water from were two stages of the eruption: first the the twisted, old-growth Juniper, Douglas summer rainfall will freeze adding new layers cinder cone developed, then a massive Fir, and Ponderosa Pine trees, over the of ice to the floor. The deepest ice is the lava flow broke out the side. The molten ancient lava trail to the Ice Cave. Here oldest and dates back to 1100 AD. The green tint is caused by an Arctic algae. lava reached temperatures above 2000 the natural layers of ice glisten blue- degrees Fahrenheit. Bandera's lava flow is green in the reflected rays of sunlight.
    [Show full text]