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[[Image:Karst.gif|thumb|This text is displayed.|400px|right|Diagram of a Karst Formation. (29)]]
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[[Image:Karstspring1.jpg|thumb|This text is displayed.|400px|right|Karst Spring: Bill Walker-Karst Conservancy.]]


==Introduction==
=Introduction=
A Karst topography is formed when rock is dissolved, causing small fissures within the geologic structure. This soluble rock material is often limestone, dolomite, or gypsum. This caustic solution creates sinkholes in the soil surface and as it digs further into the rock, can create underground caverns and passageways. This allows precipitation and surface runoff to penetrate the soil horizons and fill subterranean caverns. This water can be held within the underground caverns, or exit though hydric tunnels. Karst springs are formed when water exits the subterranean matrix (though eroded tunnels) and forms surface pools.
A Karst topography is formed when rock is dissolved, causing small fissures within the geologic structure. This soluble rock material is often limestone, dolomite, or gypsum. This caustic solution creates sinkholes in the soil surface and as it digs further into the rock, can create underground caverns and passageways. This allows precipitation and surface runoff to penetrate the soil horizons and fill subterranean caverns. This water can be held within the underground caverns, or exit though hydric tunnels. Karst springs are formed when water exits the subterranean matrix (though eroded tunnels) and forms surface pools.


==Importance of Karst Systems==


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Karst systems host a wide variety of endemic species due to the unique nature of the habitat. With anthropogenic disturbance taking a heavy toll on the natural landscape, the potential for great harm to the karst topography exists. The microclimate of a karst means that any inputs to the system will remain isolated within that pocket and persists for a much greater time period. An introduction of toxic pollutants could potentially kill an entire species inhabiting this kind of system. Furthermore, with the expansion of the urban environment, the interaction between man and karst is increasing. Whether it be urban sprawl (depleting water  levels and the species that reside with it) or ecotourism, humans are interaction more heavily with karst landscapes.
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<br><b>Subscript:</b> H<sub>2</sub>O
<br><b>Superscript:</b> Fe<sup>3+</sup>


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==Physio-chemical Environment==
-Prof Kent
[[Image:Karst.gif|thumb|This text is displayed.|400px|right|Diagram of a Karst Formation.]]


In the introduction, briefly describe the habitat that is the topic of this page. Introduce the habitat, its ecological significance, and the importance of microorganisms in this environment. (What processes do they carry out? What functions do they perform?)
The physio-chemical factors that are present within a karst system, mirror that of a [[cave]] ecosystem. Many of the same microbial communities (in addition to higher organisms) are present.  


==Physical environment==
===Chemical===
Describe the physical and chemical characteristics of the environment, using as many sections/subsections as you require. Look at other topics available in MicrobeWiki. Which involve processes similar to yours? Create links where relevant.
The formation of the karst topography begins with the "carbon dioxide cascade." Rainfall absorbs CO<sub>2</sub> from the atmosphere during droplet formation, while it falls as precipitation, or as it moves through the soil horizons. This forms carbonic acid (H<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>).


===Subsection 1===
H<sub>2</sub>O + CO<sub>2</sub>--> H<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>
====Subsection 1a====
 
====Subsection 1b====
As the acid comes in contact with the alkaline rock the two react, forming an aqueous solution that will further dissolve small channels within the soil. Slowly over decades channels will expand allowing larger volumes of water to pass through it. Due to the high solute concentrations within the water, karst systems are often found to be alkaline, having reacted with the calcareous environment and forming the karst.
===Subsection 2===
 
====Pollution====
Karst systems are one of the greatest suppliers of aquifers, with nearly 25% of the drinking water (in the United States) flowing through a karst. The rapid recharge of the subterranean aquifers does mean that little filtration may occur with certain water sources. This may lead to potential pollution and contamination hazards.
 
===Physical===
The movement of water through any ecosystem affects the physical structure of that system. This is especially true for a karst. A karst is not only borne of the chemicals within water eroding away bedrock, but also the wearing of rock due to water movement.
 
Flowing water within a karst can hold a significant load of microorganisms and nutrients. The transportation of which can yield changes in the biological and chemical environments both at the source and sink regions of the karst watershed.


==Biological interactions==
==Biological interactions==
Are there important biological interactions that are important in this environment? Do these interactions influence microbial populations and their activities? How do these interactions influence other organisms?  Describe biological interactions that might take place in this environment, using as many sections/subsections as you require. Look at other topics available in MicrobeWiki. Create links where relevant.
In addition to the abundance of microbial organisms found in a karst, there are a plethora of higher organisms as well. Bats, birds, reptiles; animals associated with cavernous habitats, reside in karst systems. Consequently, there exists an relationship between the higher order inhabitants of these subterranean landscapes and the microorganisms that rely on the biological activities of these organisms.


===Subsection 1===
It is often observed that subterranean waterways carry a lower load of dissolved organic matter. Therefore any input of nutrients, and organic substances re-charges the environment.
====Subsection 1a====
====Subsection 1b====
===Subsection 2===


==Microbial processes==
==Microbial processes==
What microbial processes define this environment? Describe microbial processes that are important in this habitat, adding sections/subsections as needed. Look at other topics in MicrobeWiki. Are some of these processes already described? Create links where relevant.
The bacteria within the Karst landscape build and define the channels of the system. Through the cycling of carbon, carbon dioxide is utilized to build up, and break down calcium deposits.  


===Subsection 1===
Microbial communities acquire energy through the breaking down complex aromatic compounds; fixing volatile organic molecules, carbon dioxide acquisition, and nitrogen from the atmosphere; and also by oxidizing reduced metals within the cave rock.
====Subsection 1a====
 
====Subsection 1b====
Sulfur oxidation can occur in both chemoautotrophic and photoautotrophic organisms (where light is available).
===Subsection 2===
 
 
{| align=center cellpadding="2" style="border:1px solid darkgray;"
|+ Sulfur Oxidizing Organisms
|-
!  Microorganism
!  Genera
|-
|  Photoautotrophs
|-
|  [[Purple Sulfur Bacteria]]
|  [[Chromatium]]
|-
|  [[Thiospirullum]]
|-
|
|  [[Rhodopseudomonas]]
|-
|  [[Green Sulfur Bacteria]]
|  [[Chlorobium]]
|-
|  Chemoautotrophs
|-
|  [[Bacteria]]
|  [[Thiobacillus]]
|-
|  [[Thiosphaera]]
|
|-
|  [[Thiothrix]]
|-
|  [[Achromatium]]
|
|-
|  [[Archaea]]
|  [[Sulfolobus]]
|-
|
|  [[Acidianus]]
|}


==Key Microorganisms==
==Key Microorganisms==


What kind of microbes do we typically find in this environment? Or associated with important processes in this environment? Describe key groups of microbes that we find in this environment, and any special adaptations they may have evolved to survive in this environment. Add sections/subsections as needed. Look at other microbe listings in MicrobeWiki. Are some of the groups of microbes from your environment already described? Create links to those pages. Specific microbial populations will be included in the next section.
===Bacteria===
 
 
{| align=center cellpadding="2" style="border:1px solid darkgray;"
|-
!  Phylum/Class
!  Genus
|-
|  [[α-proteobacteria]]
|  [[Rhizobium]]
|-
|  [[Bradyrhizobium]]
|-
|
|  [[Sphingomonas]]
|-
|  [[β-proteobacteria]]
|  [[Acidovorax]]
|-
|  [[Deefgea]]
|-
|  [[Duganella]]
|-
|  [[Iodobacter]]
|-
|  [[Janthinobacterium]]
|-
|  [[Massilia]]
|-
|  [[Pigmentiphaga]]
|-
|  [[Polaromonas]]
|-
|  [[Rhodoferax]]
|-
|  [[γ-proteobacteria]]
|  [[Acinetobacter]]
|-
|  [[Aeromonas]]
|-
|  [[Buttiauxella]]
|-
|  [[Erwinia]]
|-
|  [[Escherichia]]
|-
|  [[Pantoea]]
|-
|  [[Pectobacterium]]
|-
|  [[Pseudomonas]]
|-
|  [[Rahnella]]
|-
|  [[Rheinheimera]]
|-
|  [[Serratia]]
|-
|  [[Shewanella]]
|-
|  [[Stenotrophomonas]]
|-
|  [[Yersinia]]
|-
|  [[Bacteroidetes]]
|  [[Chryseobacterium]]
|-
|  [[Flavobacterium]]
|-
|  [[Hymenobacter]]
|-
|  [[Pedobacter]]
|-
|  [[Sphingobacterium]]
|-
|  [[Firmicutes]]
|  [[Bacillus]]
|-
|  [[Sporosarcina]]
|-
|  [[Actinobacteria]]
|  [[Arthrobacter]]
|-
|  [[Leifsonia]]
|-
|  [[Nocardia]]
|-
|  [[Rhodococcus]]
|}
 
===Algae===
 
As with any open air body of water, karst springs host a number of different algal species including Cholorphyta and Bacillariophyceae. With the presence of sunlight, chlorophytic algae can germinate and grow.
 
===Fungi===


===Subsection 1===
Ascomycetes:
====Subsection 1a====
====Subsection 1b====
===Subsection 2===


==Examples of organisms within the group==
[[Histoplasma capsulatum]] is a fungus found in karst systems and is often associated with the presence of bats (Myotis spp.). This fungus grows on the guano of bats on the floor of caverns and Karst systems.


List examples of specific microbes that represent key groups or are associated with important processes found in this environment. Link to other MicrobeWiki pages where possible.
Also found in karsts are fungi of the order of zygomycota


==Current Research==
==Current Research==


Enter summaries of recent research here--at least three required
1) One study analyzed the bacterial diversity and community composition in three karst cave system with different hydrologic and chemical traits. Specifically, they looked at the assemblage of microbes by the use of the 16S rRNA genes for identification. Accroding to the study, "Unexpectedly high microbial phylotype richness was found even in the two pools without groundwater contact and with low concentrations of organic carbon and total cell numbers." The conclusion of the analysis was that karst water provides a means of bacteria from a terrestrial ecosystem to a freshwater habitat via subsurface flow.
 
2) Research is also being done to determine the relationship between aerobic and anaerobic strains of bacteria within a single ecosystem. 681 species within a community were analyzed using 16s rRNA identification 35 genera were identified, but few were observed to dominate within the habitat consistently.
 
3) Further research has been done to show the relation between terrestrial peat bog microbial communities and subterranean aquifers. In studying a site in Italy, it was discovered that there exists a high rate of biological transfer through karst waterways between terrestrial habitats.
 
==Resources==
[http://www.nature.nps.gov/nckri/map/links/states.htm Karst Maps by state]
 
[http://www.esi.utexas.edu/outreach/caves/cinemas.php?vid=kt1&res=lo Lecture on Karst Aquifers: University of Texas]


==References==
==References==


[http://quest.nasa.gov/projects/spacewardbound/docs/lifeincaves.pdf Barton, H., Jurado, V. "''What's Up Down There? Microbial Diversity in Caves'' Microorganisms in caves survive under nutrient-poor conditions and are metabolically versatile and unexpectedly diverse".]
[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18645959 Cousin, S., Brambilla, E., Stackebrandt, E., and Yang, J. "''Culturable aerobic bacteria from the upstreamregion of a karst water rivulet'' gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". ''German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures''. 2008.]
[http://www.esi.utexas.edu/outreach/caves/karst.php Earth Science Institute. "''What is Karst?". ''University of Texas at Austin''.]
[http://www.bookrags.com/tandf/microorganisms-in-caves-tf/ Encyclopedia of Cave and Karst Science. "''Microorganisms In Caves".]
[http://www.ijs.speleo.it/pdf/12.102.30_Ercole.Cacchio.Cappuccio.Lepidi.pdf Ercole, C., Cacchio, P., Cappucio, G., and Lepidi, A. "''Deposition of calcium carbonate in karst caves: role of bacteria in stiffe's cave'' ''International Journal of Speleology''. 2001. Volume 30A 1/4. p. 69-79.]
[http://www.iah.org/karst/karst_hydrogeology.html International Association of Hydrogeologists. "''Karst Hydrology". IAH Karst Commission. 2009]
[http://www.springerlink.com/content/r4205083j464t043/ Ivanova, A., Golovchenko, A., and Dobrovol'skaya, T. "''Bacterial Diversity in Peat Bogs of Karst Depressions''". ''Moscow University Soil Science Bulletin''. 2008. Volume 4. p. 52-56.]


[Sample reference] [http://ijs.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/50/2/489 Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "''Palaeococcus ferrophilus'' gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". ''International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology''. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.]
[http://www.karstconservancy.org/karst/what-is-karst.asp The Karst Conservancy. "''What is Karst?".]


[http://www.uky.edu/KGS/water/general/karst/karstintro.htm Kentucky Geological Survey. "''Introduction to Karst Groundwater".]


http://www.esi.utexas.edu/outreach/caves/karst.php
[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20132276 Shabarova, T., Pernthaler, J. "''Karst pools in subsurface environments: collectors of microbial diversity or temporary residence between habitat types''" ''Environmental Microbiology''. 2010. Volume 12. p. 1061-1074.]


Picture references:
1. International Association of Hydrogeologists
http://www.iah.org/karst/karst_hydrogeology.html


Edited by Benjamin Miller: student of Angela Kent at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Edited by students of Angela Kent at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.


<!-- Do not edit or remove this line -->[[Category:Pages edited by students of Angela Kent at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]]
<!-- Do not edit or remove this line -->[[Category:Pages edited by students of Angela Kent at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]]

Latest revision as of 20:18, 26 August 2010

This student page has not been curated.
Karst Spring: Bill Walker-Karst Conservancy.

Introduction

A Karst topography is formed when rock is dissolved, causing small fissures within the geologic structure. This soluble rock material is often limestone, dolomite, or gypsum. This caustic solution creates sinkholes in the soil surface and as it digs further into the rock, can create underground caverns and passageways. This allows precipitation and surface runoff to penetrate the soil horizons and fill subterranean caverns. This water can be held within the underground caverns, or exit though hydric tunnels. Karst springs are formed when water exits the subterranean matrix (though eroded tunnels) and forms surface pools.

Importance of Karst Systems

Karst systems host a wide variety of endemic species due to the unique nature of the habitat. With anthropogenic disturbance taking a heavy toll on the natural landscape, the potential for great harm to the karst topography exists. The microclimate of a karst means that any inputs to the system will remain isolated within that pocket and persists for a much greater time period. An introduction of toxic pollutants could potentially kill an entire species inhabiting this kind of system. Furthermore, with the expansion of the urban environment, the interaction between man and karst is increasing. Whether it be urban sprawl (depleting water levels and the species that reside with it) or ecotourism, humans are interaction more heavily with karst landscapes.

Physio-chemical Environment

Diagram of a Karst Formation.

The physio-chemical factors that are present within a karst system, mirror that of a cave ecosystem. Many of the same microbial communities (in addition to higher organisms) are present.

Chemical

The formation of the karst topography begins with the "carbon dioxide cascade." Rainfall absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere during droplet formation, while it falls as precipitation, or as it moves through the soil horizons. This forms carbonic acid (H2CO3).

H2O + CO2--> H2CO3

As the acid comes in contact with the alkaline rock the two react, forming an aqueous solution that will further dissolve small channels within the soil. Slowly over decades channels will expand allowing larger volumes of water to pass through it. Due to the high solute concentrations within the water, karst systems are often found to be alkaline, having reacted with the calcareous environment and forming the karst.

Pollution

Karst systems are one of the greatest suppliers of aquifers, with nearly 25% of the drinking water (in the United States) flowing through a karst. The rapid recharge of the subterranean aquifers does mean that little filtration may occur with certain water sources. This may lead to potential pollution and contamination hazards.

Physical

The movement of water through any ecosystem affects the physical structure of that system. This is especially true for a karst. A karst is not only borne of the chemicals within water eroding away bedrock, but also the wearing of rock due to water movement.

Flowing water within a karst can hold a significant load of microorganisms and nutrients. The transportation of which can yield changes in the biological and chemical environments both at the source and sink regions of the karst watershed.

Biological interactions

In addition to the abundance of microbial organisms found in a karst, there are a plethora of higher organisms as well. Bats, birds, reptiles; animals associated with cavernous habitats, reside in karst systems. Consequently, there exists an relationship between the higher order inhabitants of these subterranean landscapes and the microorganisms that rely on the biological activities of these organisms.

It is often observed that subterranean waterways carry a lower load of dissolved organic matter. Therefore any input of nutrients, and organic substances re-charges the environment.

Microbial processes

The bacteria within the Karst landscape build and define the channels of the system. Through the cycling of carbon, carbon dioxide is utilized to build up, and break down calcium deposits.

Microbial communities acquire energy through the breaking down complex aromatic compounds; fixing volatile organic molecules, carbon dioxide acquisition, and nitrogen from the atmosphere; and also by oxidizing reduced metals within the cave rock.

Sulfur oxidation can occur in both chemoautotrophic and photoautotrophic organisms (where light is available).


Sulfur Oxidizing Organisms
Microorganism Genera
Photoautotrophs
Purple Sulfur Bacteria Chromatium
Thiospirullum
Rhodopseudomonas
Green Sulfur Bacteria Chlorobium
Chemoautotrophs
Bacteria Thiobacillus
Thiosphaera
Thiothrix
Achromatium
Archaea Sulfolobus
Acidianus

Key Microorganisms

Bacteria

Phylum/Class Genus
α-proteobacteria Rhizobium
Bradyrhizobium
Sphingomonas
β-proteobacteria Acidovorax
Deefgea
Duganella
Iodobacter
Janthinobacterium
Massilia
Pigmentiphaga
Polaromonas
Rhodoferax
γ-proteobacteria Acinetobacter
Aeromonas
Buttiauxella
Erwinia
Escherichia
Pantoea
Pectobacterium
Pseudomonas
Rahnella
Rheinheimera
Serratia
Shewanella
Stenotrophomonas
Yersinia
Bacteroidetes Chryseobacterium
Flavobacterium
Hymenobacter
Pedobacter
Sphingobacterium
Firmicutes Bacillus
Sporosarcina
Actinobacteria Arthrobacter
Leifsonia
Nocardia
Rhodococcus

Algae

As with any open air body of water, karst springs host a number of different algal species including Cholorphyta and Bacillariophyceae. With the presence of sunlight, chlorophytic algae can germinate and grow.

Fungi

Ascomycetes:

Histoplasma capsulatum is a fungus found in karst systems and is often associated with the presence of bats (Myotis spp.). This fungus grows on the guano of bats on the floor of caverns and Karst systems.

Also found in karsts are fungi of the order of zygomycota

Current Research

1) One study analyzed the bacterial diversity and community composition in three karst cave system with different hydrologic and chemical traits. Specifically, they looked at the assemblage of microbes by the use of the 16S rRNA genes for identification. Accroding to the study, "Unexpectedly high microbial phylotype richness was found even in the two pools without groundwater contact and with low concentrations of organic carbon and total cell numbers." The conclusion of the analysis was that karst water provides a means of bacteria from a terrestrial ecosystem to a freshwater habitat via subsurface flow.

2) Research is also being done to determine the relationship between aerobic and anaerobic strains of bacteria within a single ecosystem. 681 species within a community were analyzed using 16s rRNA identification 35 genera were identified, but few were observed to dominate within the habitat consistently.

3) Further research has been done to show the relation between terrestrial peat bog microbial communities and subterranean aquifers. In studying a site in Italy, it was discovered that there exists a high rate of biological transfer through karst waterways between terrestrial habitats.

Resources

Karst Maps by state

Lecture on Karst Aquifers: University of Texas

References

Barton, H., Jurado, V. "What's Up Down There? Microbial Diversity in Caves Microorganisms in caves survive under nutrient-poor conditions and are metabolically versatile and unexpectedly diverse".

Cousin, S., Brambilla, E., Stackebrandt, E., and Yang, J. "Culturable aerobic bacteria from the upstreamregion of a karst water rivulet gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures. 2008.

Earth Science Institute. "What is Karst?". University of Texas at Austin.

Encyclopedia of Cave and Karst Science. "Microorganisms In Caves".

Ercole, C., Cacchio, P., Cappucio, G., and Lepidi, A. "Deposition of calcium carbonate in karst caves: role of bacteria in stiffe's cave International Journal of Speleology. 2001. Volume 30A 1/4. p. 69-79.

International Association of Hydrogeologists. "Karst Hydrology". IAH Karst Commission. 2009

Ivanova, A., Golovchenko, A., and Dobrovol'skaya, T. "Bacterial Diversity in Peat Bogs of Karst Depressions". Moscow University Soil Science Bulletin. 2008. Volume 4. p. 52-56.

The Karst Conservancy. "What is Karst?".

Kentucky Geological Survey. "Introduction to Karst Groundwater".

Shabarova, T., Pernthaler, J. "Karst pools in subsurface environments: collectors of microbial diversity or temporary residence between habitat types" Environmental Microbiology. 2010. Volume 12. p. 1061-1074.


Edited by students of Angela Kent at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.