Cave microbiomes: the known and the unknown

Abstract:

Caves are subsurface spaces and tunnels formed by the dissolution of rocks or during the cooling process of lava. Caves spread all over the world, containing a large amount of microbial resources. Being dark and humid, with relatively stable temperature and poor nutrition, and as a kind of extreme ecosystem, caves maintain highly specialized microbiomes. Study of cave microbial communities revealed its structure and function, facilitated the understanding of geographic distribution of cave microbiomes, deepened the understanding of subterranean ecosystems, and provided guidance for cave painting protection and microbial outbreak inhibition. This paper summarizes research techniques and progresses of cave microbiomes, as well as the characteristic chemoautotrophic microbiomes in caves.