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UID:pretalx-nss-convention-2026-TSHFEJ@talks.caving.dev
DTSTART;TZID=EST:20260708T095000
DTEND;TZID=EST:20260708T101000
DESCRIPTION:Caves identified on Mars and the Moon highlight terrestrial cav
 es as astrobiological analog environments. Biovermiculations—microbe-ric
 h\, dendritic rock coatings on cave walls—are a conspicuous potential bi
 osignature. Most prior studies focus on sulfidic caves\, linking their for
 mation to sulfur cycling reactions [1][2]. Here\, we investigate the bioge
 ochemistry of biovermiculations in the carbonate karst system of Mammoth C
 ave (MC)\, Kentucky\, USA\, to compare with sulfidic systems and evaluate 
 biogenicity. We hypothesize that MC biovermiculations form via a distinct 
 microbiological mechanism involving active redistribution of surface mater
 ial.\n\nWe integrate morphological classification\, spatial mapping\, live
  and epifluorescence microscopy\, 16S rRNA gene sequencing\, and metagenom
 ics. MC biovermiculations occur in five morphological classes: simple\, gl
 obule\, intermediate\, and complex A/B. Vermiculated material includes soo
 t\, fine-grained mud\, and cricket guano. Spatial analyses indicate morpho
 logy correlates more strongly with material availability and substrate rhe
 ology than with proximity to other morphologies. Microscopy reveals motile
  microorganisms potentially capable of material redistribution. Growth ext
 ends into 19th–20th century candle soot but minimally alters post-1970s 
 deposits\, constraining formation timescales.\n\nPreliminary genomic data 
 indicate conserved microbial communities distinct from surrounding substra
 tes. After Proteobacteria\, Desulfobacterota is the second most abundant p
 hylum\, enriched ~10× relative to other locations. Beyond organic carbon 
 oxidation\, prevalent metabolic genes include sulfur and sulfite oxidation
 \, iron and sulfate reduction\, and methanotrophy. Ongoing DNA/RNA compari
 sons\, isotopic (C/N) analyses\, and cross-site comparisons will further r
 esolve microbial contributions to material redistribution. Overall\, this 
 work develops a multiparameter framework for assessing biovermiculation bi
 ogenicity in cave systems.\n\n[1] Hose\, Palmer\, Palmer\, Northup\, Bosto
 n & DuChene (2000)\, Chemical Geology 169:399–423.\n[2] Jones\, Lyon & M
 acalady (2008)\, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 70:78-93.
DTSTAMP:20260826T232143Z
LOCATION:205
SUMMARY:Evaluating the Biogenicity of Biovermiculations in Mammoth Cave\, K
 Y\, USA - 
URL:https://talks.caving.dev/nss-convention-2026/talk/TSHFEJ/
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