Tamara Martin-Pozas, Soledad Cuezva, Angel Fernandez-Cortes, Maria Gonzalez-Pumariega, Javier Elez, Elsa Duarte, Marco de la Rasilla, Juan Carlos Canaveras, Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez, Sergio Sanchez-Moral
A flood event affecting Pindal Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage site, introduced a substantial amount of external sediments and waste into the cave. This event led to the burial of preexisting sediments, altering the biogeochemical characteristics of the cave ecosystem by introducing heightened levels of organic matter, nitrogen compounds, phosphorus, and heavy metals. The sediments included particulate matter and waste from a cattle farm located within the water catchment area of the cavity, along with diverse microorganisms, reshaping the cave microbial community...
February 22, 2024: Science of the Total Environment