title: Microbial composition and ecological features of phototrophic biofilms proliferating in the Moidons Caves (France): investigation at the single-cell level.
abstract: The authors investigated the microbial composition of phototrophic biofilms proliferating in a show cave using flow cytometry for the first time in such a context. Results are based on several biofilms sampled in the Moidons Caves (France) and concern both heterotrophic prokaryotes and autotrophic microorganisms. Heterotrophic microorganisms with low nucleic acid content were dominant in biofilms, as can be expected from the oligotrophic conditions prevailing within the cave. Analysis of the biofilm autotrophic components revealed the presence of several taxa, particularly the unicellular green algae Chlorella minutissima, specifically well adapted to this cave. Relationships between flow cytometry results and environmental variables determined in the cave were established and discussed so as to better understand biofilm proliferation processes in caves.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, Besançon, 25030, France.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borderie
authors.affiliation: Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie (MIO), CNRS/INSU, IRD, Université d'Aix-Marseille, 163 avenue de Luminy, Case 901, Marseille, 13288 Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.affiliation: Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie (MIO), CNRS/INSU, IRD, Université d'Aix-Marseille, 163 avenue de Luminy, Case 901, Marseille, 13288 Cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barani
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, Besançon, 25030, France.
authors.forename: Badr
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alaoui-Sossé
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS 6249, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, Besançon, 25030, France. lotfi.aleya@univ-fcomte.fr.
authors.forename: Lotfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aleya
mesh_terms: D052818:Autotrophic Processes; D018441:Biofilms; D059552:Caves / Q000382:microbiology*; D002708:Chlorella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005602:France; D052836:Heterotrophic Processes
keywords: Algae; Caves; Cyanobacteria; Flow cytometry; Heterotrophic prokaryotes; Phototrophic biofilms