Ochroconis lascauxensis is a species of fungus of the Ascomycota phylum that was officially described in May 2012. The organism was obtained and isolated from Lascaux Cave in France, where it had begun appearing on the Paleolithic cave paintings on the walls of the cave. Along with the discovery of Ochroconis lascauxensis, the closely related Ochroconis anomala was also discovered on the paintings. The black stains that they caused first began being observed in 2001 and spread so far that they were considered to be a large concern by 2007.[1]
| Ochroconis lascauxensis | |
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| Species: | O. lascauxensis
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| Ochroconis lascauxensis A.Nováková & P.M.Martin-Sanchez (2012)
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Along with its sibling species, Ochroconis lascauxensis was selected on May 22, 2013, by the International Institute for Species Exploration, located at Arizona State University, as one of the "Top 10 New Species" that had been discovered in 2012. The winners were selected from among a pool of more than 140 nominees. The two fungi were chosen because of their importance in relation to properly conserving the cave painting at Lascaux.[2]
History
editAfter first being observed in the early 2000s, a number of treatments involving biocides were conducted to try to remove the fungal species, though they ultimately proved ineffective. The species was identified by using a genomic DNA study to compare its genetic structure to those of other species within the genus Ochroconis. Once confirmed, a method using a PCR assay was done to determine how extensive the species had spread throughout the cave system. It was ultimately determined that Ochroconis lascauxensis was to be found in every cave compartment within Lascaux Cave.[3]
A biocide treatment was attempted, involving benzalkonium chloride, miristalkonium chloride, and 2-octyl-2H-isothiazole-3-one, which resulted in a net decrease of fifty percent of the fungus in the caves, but it was noted that those left had a significant increase in their diversity.[4]
References
edit- ^ Martin-Sanchez, Pedro Maria; Nováková, Alena; Bastian, Fabiola; Alabouvette, Claude; Saiz-Jimenez, Cesareo (2012). "Two new species of the genus Ochroconis, O. lascauxensis and O. anomala isolated from black stains in Lascaux Cave, France". Fungal Biology. 116 (5): 574–89. doi:10.1016/j.funbio.2012.02.006. hdl:10261/58142. PMID 22559918.
- ^ Leander, Sandy (May 23, 2013). "Scientists announce top 10 new species for 2013". ASU News. Arizona State University. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
- ^ Martin-Sanchez, Pedro M.; Bastian, Fabiola; Alabouvette, Claude; Saiz-Jimenez, Cesareo (2013). "Real-time PCR detection of Ochroconis lascauxensis involved in the formation of black stains in the Lascaux Cave, France". Science of the Total Environment. 443: 478–84. Bibcode:2013ScTEn.443..478M. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.11.026. hdl:10261/65688. PMID 23220137.
- ^ Saiz-Jimenez, Cesareo (2012). "Cave Conservation: A Microbiologist's Perspective". In Cheeptham, Naowarat (ed.). Cave Microbiomes: A Novel Resource for Drug Discovery. New York City: Springer Publishing. pp. 69–84 [78–9]. ISBN 978-1-4614-5206-5. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
External links
edit- "A Smudge on Paleolithic Art". 2013 Top 10 New Species List. The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University. Archived from the original on 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-07-15.