title: Detection of human-induced environmental disturbances in a show cave.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effects of human-induced disruption in a subterranean stable environment containing valuable Palaeolithic paintings and engravings (Ardales Cave, Southern Spain) using a double analytical approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  An environmental monitoring system was installed in the cave to record temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and radon ((222)Rn) concentrations in air. In the same stations, an aerobiological sampling was conducted to quantify the level of airborne microorganisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combination of different methods allowed us to detect the extent of human-induced changes, confirming that these can be very hazardous in certain cave areas that should be apparently outside the scope of human disturbances, either by their remoteness to the visitor entrance or by being briefly visited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The detection of evident anomalies in the environmental parameters and airborne microorganism concentration in the cave area housing the high density of paintings and engravings helps to control human disturbances and supports the direct application of this double approach for cave management purposes.
authors.affiliation: Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, MNCN-CSIC, Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Cortes
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuezva
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Moral
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cañaveras
authors.forename: Estefania
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porca
authors.forename: Valme
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jurado
authors.forename: Pedro Maria
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Martin-Sanchez
authors.forename: Cesareo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saiz-Jimenez
mesh_terms: D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D020378:Confined Spaces; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004741:Engraving and Engravings; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008834:Microclimate; D010151:Paintings; D010802:Phylogeny; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013030:Spain; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D011886:Radon