Permanent Link:

https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0069724/00001

Material Information

Title:

Fungal spore content of the atmosphere of the Cave of Nerja (southern Spain): Diversity and origin

Series Title:

Science of The Total Environment

Creator:

Docampo, Silvia
Trigo, M. Mar
Recio, Marta
Melgar, Marta
García-Sánchez, José
Cabezudo, Baltasar

Publication Date:

2011-01-15

Language:

English

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:

Aerobiology ( local )
Indoors ( local )
Cave ( local )
Fungal Spores ( local )

Genre:

serial ( sobekcm )

Notes

Abstract:

Fungal spores are of great interest in aerobiology and allergy due to their high incidence in both outdoor and indoor environments and their widely recognized ability to cause respiratory diseases and other pathologies. In this work, we study the spore content of the atmosphere of the Cave of Nerja, a karstic cavity and an important tourist attraction situated on the eastern coast of Malaga (southern Spain), which receives more than half a million visitors every year. This study was carried out over an uninterrupted period of 4 years (2002–2005) with the aid of two Hirst-type volumetric pollen traps (Lanzoni VPPS 2000) situated in different halls of the cave. In the atmosphere of the Cave of Nerja, 72 different spore types were detected during the studied period and daily mean concentrations of up to 282,195 spores/m3 were reached. Thirty-five of the spore types detected are included within Ascomycota and Basidiomycota (19 and 16 types, respectively). Of the remaining spore types, 32 were categorized within the group of so-called imperfect fungi, while Oomycota and Myxomycota were represented by 2 and 3 spore types, respectively. Aspergillus/Penicillium was the most abundant spore type with a yearly mean percentage that represented 50% of the total, followed by Cladosporium. Finally, the origin of the fungal spores found inside the cave is discussed on the basis of the indoor/outdoor concentrations and the seasonal behaviour observed.

Original Version:

Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 409, no. 4 (2011-01-15).

Record Information

Source Institution:

University of South Florida Library

Holding Location:

University of South Florida

Rights Management:

This object is protected by copyright, and is made available here for research and educational purposes. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the object beyond the bounds of Fair Use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

USFLDC Membership

Aggregations:

University of South Florida
Karst Information Portal

Postcard Information

Format:

serial