Lamp flora

Mosses in the UNESCO World Heritage Cave Hohler Fels

The totality of all autotrophic plants that are located in natural or artificial caves in the area of permanently installed lighting fixtures is referred to as lamp flora .

The term "lamp flora" has also become common in the English-speaking world.

Types of lamp flora

The types of lamp flora described so far belong to the following systematic groups:

Algae - Chlorophyceae , golden brown algae (Chrysophyceae) , diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) , Cyanophyceae
Moose - liverworts (Hepaticae) , mosses (Bryophytha)
Ferns - species of the genera striped ferns (Asplenium) , bladder ferns (Cystopteris) , maidenhair ferns (Adiantum) , etc. a.
Flowering plants - Alternate leaf spleen (Chrysosplenium alternifolium) ; Black elder ( Sambucus nigra ) from the musk herb family (Adoxaceae) has been growing in the Lurgrotte near Peggau in Styria since around 1989, so far without changing leaves.

Origin of the lamp flora

The prerequisites for the development of lamp flora are sufficient light and moisture. The germs, seeds or spores for the formation get into the cave by air, water transport, animals or people.

The first growth of the respective places takes place mostly through various algae ( blue , green , diatoms ), which form species-specific coatings over the place of growth. At an advanced stage, mosses and ferns can form with a relatively wide range of species.

In the aphotic (lightless) part of caves short-term growth of photosynthetic plants is also possible, as limited growth is possible due to the seed's food depot . However, after its consumption, the plant dies.

Lamp flora as a problem

Lamp flora causes various problems in caves: Since lamp flora changes the natural appearance of a cave, visitors to show caves get a wrong impression of caves. Lamp flora does not occur in caves that have not been developed for tourists. In addition, weak acids are excreted by the lamp flora, which attack and change the limestone.

Reduction of lamp flora

Adapted lighting that only lights up when the visitors need it can help to reduce the lamp flora in show caves. Furthermore, the lamp flora can be physically or chemically removed periodically. The use of phytotoxic substances must take into account the integrity of the flora and fauna inside and outside the cave, the show cave visitors and the cave guides. It has also been found that the lamp flora regresses and partially disappears due to the lack of heat development and the changed light spectrum of LED lights .

literature

Klaus Dobat (1963): “Cave algae” threaten the Ice Age paintings in Lascaux . - The cave 14/2
Association of Austrian Speleologists - 2007 - Speläo-Merkblätter - Speldok 13

Web links

Down with the lamp flora

Individual evidence

^ Treatise of the Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association
↑ U. Passauer: Chrysosplenium alternifolium L. in the Lurgrotte - for the first time a flowering plant in a "lamp flora" (PDF; 1.2 MB)
↑ Monumental trees - black elder. Retrieved July 2, 2017 .
↑ Lur Cave. Retrieved July 2, 2017 .
^ [1] Lurgrotte website. Retrieved July 2, 2017 .
^ ^A ^b Karl Johnson: CONTROL OF LAMPENFLORA AT WAITOMO CAVES. NEW ZEALAND , 1977

[1] Treatise of the Australasian Cave and Karst Management Association

[2] U. Passauer: Chrysosplenium alternifolium L. in the Lurgrotte - for the first time a flowering plant in a "lamp flora" (PDF; 1.2 MB)

[3] Monumental trees - black elder. Retrieved July 2, 2017 .

[4] Lur Cave. Retrieved July 2, 2017 .

[5] [1] Lurgrotte website. Retrieved July 2, 2017 .

[Johnson-6] A ^b Karl Johnson: CONTROL OF LAMPENFLORA AT WAITOMO CAVES. NEW ZEALAND , 1977