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Microbes and sulfur in a cave and karst system
Robinson, Sasha R. Slayback, Paul
Robinson, Sasha R.
Slayback, Paul
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2023-09
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Abstract
Shoshone Canyon Conduit Cave lies five miles west of Cody, Wyoming, and was found during the building of an irrigation tunnel through Cedar Mountain by the Bureau of Reclamation (BoR). As the cave lies within the tunnel, it can only be accessed with permission during the non-irrigation time of year. What makes this cave special is the high number of sulfides and sulfur deposits, alongside the many unique speleothems. To get a better understanding of the ecosystem and development of this karst system, a geobiological survey was completed of the microbiology and mineralogy of this sulfur cave on its speleothems, mineral deposits, and water. An analysis of the microbial population was done through small subunit ribosomal 16S rRNA gene analysis, prepared using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify Bacteria and Archea. Within the low biomass we found more Bacteria over Archea, with a prevalence of sulfur metabolizers. Three especially interesting taxa present were Acidithiobacillus, Anaerolinacaea, and Ferroplasma. Petrography done on the mineral and speleothem samples showed diverse crystal growth, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed a variety of mineral morphotypes. With the amount of elemental sulfur in the cave, the taxa present, and the speleothems present, it is likely that this cave contains a semi-isolated complete sulfur cycle. Findings from this research can help to develop a greater understanding of the geobiology of sulfur karst systems, not just in the Rocky Mountains and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
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