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Cueva De Altamira, Cantabria): Microclima, Geomicrobiología Y Mecanismos De Interacción Cavidad/Exterior

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Cueva De Altamira, Cantabria): Microclima, Geomicrobiología Y Mecanismos De Interacción Cavidad/Exterior DEPARTAMENTO DE GEOLOGÍA MUSEO NACIONAL DE CIENCIAS NATURALES CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTÍFICAS DEPARTAMENTO DE PETROLOGÍA Y GEOQUÍMICA FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS GEOLÓGICAS UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID Dinámica microambiental de un medio kárstico somero (Cueva de Altamira, Cantabria): microclima, geomicrobiología y mecanismos de interacción cavidad/exterior. Tesis Doctoral SOLEDAD CUEZVA ROBLEÑO Madrid, 2008 Directores: SERGIO SÁNCHEZ MORAL Departamento de Geología Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas JUAN CARLOS CAÑAVERAS JIMÉNEZ Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y del Medio Ambiente Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de Alicante Tutor: CARLOS ROSSI NIETO Departamento de Petrología y Geoquímica Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas Universidad Complutense de Madrid Dinámica microambiental de un medio kárstico somero (Cueva de Altamira, Cantabria): microclima, geomicrobiología y mecanismos de interacción cavidad/exterior. Esta Tesis Doctoral ha sido realizada en el Departamento de Geología del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), con colaboración del Museo Nacional y Centro de Investigación de Altamira, y financiada por los pro- yectos de Investigación del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia BTE2002-04492-CO2-02 (Inv. Principal S. Sánchez Moral), GL2006-11561 (Inv. Principal S. Sánchez Moral), la Acción Complementaria CGL2006-26147 (Inv. Principal S. Sánchez Moral) y dos Convenios de Colaboración entre la Dirección General de Bellas Artes y Bienes Culturales (MCu) y el Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Inv. Principal S. Sánchez Moral). Esta Memoria es presentada por Soledad Cuezva Robleño para optar al grado de Doctor en Ciencias Geológicas. Madrid, mayo de 2008. El Doctorando, Soledad Cuezva Robleño Los Directores, Dr. Sergio Sánchez Moral Dr. Juan Carlos Cañaveras Jiménez Agradezco... Esta Tesis Doctoral no tiene un carácter estrictamente individual. La naturaleza multidisciplinar del trabajo ha requerido, para su desarrollo y consecución, la colaboración y el apoyo de numerosas personas y de diversas instituciones. Así, yo siento que, para ser justos, junto al nombre de la autora principal debería incluirse un amplio et al. Sergio Sánchez Moral y Juan Carlos Cañaveras Jiménez, directores de la tesis, son los indudables inspi- radores y promotores de este trabajo, coautores esenciales, y claves de que haya ocurrido y de que haya llegado a su fin. Son tremendos profesionales y magníficas personas, y he sido afortunada por tenerlos como mentores. El resultado de este trabajo es, además, fruto de una estrecha colaboración con otros grupos de investigación: • En el IRNAS-CSIC, Cesáreo Sáiz Jiménez y su equipo (Juan González Grau, Valme Jurado y Mª Carmen Portillo, etc.) han desarrollado los estudios microbiológicos, imprenscindibles para una correcta aproxi- mación geomicrobiológica. • En la Universidad de Granada, Andrew S. Kowalsky y Penélope Serrano Ortíz, han realizado el trata- miento de los datos de los flujos de CO2, fundamentales en el estudio de los procesos de comunica- ción cavidad/exterior. • En el Laboratorio de Petrología Aplicada de la Universidad de Alicante, David Benavente ha supervisa- do los análisis petrofísicos, que han permitido identificar el papel de las membranas de interconexión. En los laboratorios del Departamento de Geología del MNCN-CSIC se han realizado gran parte de los aná- lisis de materiales y aguas: los análisis mineralógicos y geoquímicos han sido realizados por Rafael González; la preparación de muestras y elaboración de láminas delgadas estuvo a cargo de Manuel Castillejo y José Mª Hontoria; Mª Angeles Fernández llevó a cabo los análisis granulométricos; los análi- sis hidrogeoquímicos fueron desarrollados por Mª Isabel Ruíz, Mª Asunción Vallejo y Roberto García. El extenso trabajo de microscopía electrónica se ha realizado con la ayuda técnica de Laura Tormo y Marta Furió, y con la permanente inspiración de Josefo Bedoya. Colaboraciones especiales, que han supuesto una gran aportación en este trabajo son las de: - Javier Elez, en los temas de SIG, 3D y trabajo de campo, entre otras muchas; - Marta Tárraga y Ángel Fernández Cortés, en el tratamiento estadístico de los datos; y - Enrique Sanz Rubio, en la geología, en las correcciones de texto y en ni se sabe cuantas cosas más. Añadir a Ana y Rafa, laRana, artífices de la estética y el orden de este "tocho", y principales responsables de que haya quedado realmente bien. Agradezco profunda y sinceramente el esfuerzo y la calidad de todas estas personas y, por ello, deseo dejar constancia de su inestimable colaboración en este trabajo. En el ámbito del Museo Nacional y Centro de Investigación de Altamira agradezco la constante colabora- ción del director José Antonio Lasheras y la conservadora Carmen de las Heras. Asimismo, a los acompa- ñantes en las innumerables horas de trabajo en la cueva (MªLuisa, MªFe, Begoña, Isabel, Alfredo, Abelardo, etc.), a los de seguridad, y al personal de cafetería, agradezco su buena disposición, su ayuda y su amabilidad. El apoyo de los compañeros de cañas, de los compañeros de batalla y de diversas amistades de la vida, ha sido una fuente de energía constante e indispensable. Colaboradores indirectos son también mis seres más queridos, mis amigos del alma y mi pequeña gran familia. Hacia ellos siento una gratitud especial ya que, a pesar de mis prolongadas ausencias, me han brindado siempre sus afectos, una extrema comprensión y apoyo incondicional. Con todo mi cariño y un profundo agradecimiento a todos, doy pie al comienzo de esta Tesis Doctoral. Índice Prólogo ............................................................................................................................................................9 Capítulo 1. Introducción: contextualización y fundamentos del estudio ..........................................................................11 Karst ....................................................................................................................................................13 Cavidades kársticas someras y dinámica microambiental ............................................................................16 Perfil kárstico ..............................................................................................................................16 Intercambios de materia y energía..................................................................................................17 Definición del sistema geoquímico ..................................................................................................20 Factores físico-químicos y parámetros microambientales principales ..................................................22 a) CO2 (en aire y agua) ......................................................................................................22 b) Temperatura (aire, roca-suelo, agua) ................................................................................24 c) Presión ........................................................................................................................25 d) Humedad del aire............................................................................................................25 e) Concentración de 222Rn en aire ........................................................................................26 f) Las aguas de infiltración kárstica ......................................................................................26 g) La presencia de microorganismos en el ambiente kárstico ....................................................27 Vulnerabilidad de la cavidad kárstica frente a actividades antrópicas ..................................................29 Antecedentes de los estudios microambientales en cavidades kársticas someras.............................................32 Investigación y Conservación en Altamira. ................................................................................................37 Capítulo 2. Objetivos y métodos ..............................................................................................................................45 Objetivos del estudio...............................................................................................................................45 Métodos empleados ..............................................................................................................................48 Trabajo de campo. ........................................................................................................................48 Técnicas de monitorización microambiental ......................................................................................49 > Procesado y análisis de los datos. Tratamiento estadístico.....................................................52 Técnicas hidroquímicas ................................................................................................................53 Estudio y tratamiento de materiales ................................................................................................54 > Estudio sedimentológico ..................................................................................................54 > Técnicas petrográficas ......................................................................................................55 • Microscopía óptica convencional • Microscopía óptica de alta resolución > Técnicas mineralógicas ....................................................................................................56
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