Lighting Effects on the Development and Diversity of Photosynthetic Biofilm Communities in Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico

Research on Carlsbad Cavern reveals that while reducing the color temperature of artificial lighting may mitigate the growth of photosynthetic biofilm communities—commonly known as 'lampenflora'—additional interventions such as chemical or UV treatments are likely necessary for effective management. The study employed DNA amplicon sequencing to characterize these microbial communities and assessed factors like light intensity, wavelength, surface texture, and time on their development. Findings indicate a diverse mix of algae, cyanobacteria, and heterotrophic bacteria, suggesting that current lighting adjustments alone may not suffice in preserving cave aesthetics and speleothems.

Havlena, Z., Kieft, T. L., Veni, G., Horrocks, R. D., & Jones, D. S. (2021). Lighting Effects on the Development and Diversity of Photosynthetic Biofilm Communities in Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 87(6). https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02695-20