Bacteria

[MORGAN]

In part of the Wishbone tunnel at Peacock there's a layer of cloudy, smoky looking water along the floor. I've been told that this is bacteria - does anybody know what kind of bacteria? I also wonder about the orange or brown snot looking stuff seen in some caves.

Thanks,

Mike

[Kelly Jessop]

In part of the Wishbone tunnel at Peacock there's a layer of cloudy, smoky looking water along the floor. I've been told that this is bacteria - does anybody know what kind of bacteria? I also wonder about the orange or brown snot looking stuff seen in some caves.

Thanks,

Mike

Wow,biofilms deserve a whole subforum. That stratified colony suspended in the water is very unique,and even after a flooding,it will return. I know Jason Gulley has an interest in there being a deeper sulpher seep in that area. My goal is to carry a hydrolab in that area and record pH and DO changes.

[snakedoc]

In part of the Wishbone tunnel at Peacock there's a layer of cloudy, smoky looking water along the floor. I've been told that this is bacteria - does anybody know what kind of bacteria? I also wonder about the orange or brown snot looking stuff seen in some caves.

Thanks,

Mike

The orange/brown bacteria is typically an iron-fixing bacteria. While I have seen it in small amounts in cleaner waterbodies, it is often prolific in waters that receive stormwater/urban runoff.

[cavediver01]

Ask Bill Rennaker he has told me some very interesting stories about certain bacteria in peacock and what he has done with it

[jason]

The orange bacteria are very likely Fe bacteria. While urban runoff may feed some microbes in other environments, the bacterial colonies that you'll see in many north Florida caves are quite normal and not a result of degrading water quality (there are of course exceptions). The source of Fe in N Florida springs is the sand on the surface. In case you're interested, that sand is derived from weathering of the Appalachian Mountains. There was once a trough in the ocean that separated Florida from the mainland, much like the Bahamas today. That trough filled in with sand, which eventually covered much of the state during a period of higher sea level.

[swadiver]

The orange bacteria are very likely Fe bacteria. While urban runoff may feed some microbes in other environments, the bacterial colonies that you'll see in many north Florida caves are quite normal and not a result of degrading water quality (there are of course exceptions). The source of Fe in N Florida springs is the sand on the surface. In case you're interested, that sand is derived from weathering of the Appalachian Mountains. There was once a trough in the ocean that separated Florida from the mainland, much like the Bahamas today. That trough filled in with sand, which eventually covered much of the state during a period of higher sea level.

on a different note, somebody explain the geology of South Florida and it's lack of Karst forming caves. do we have insufficient depth of limestone formations here? is the water table to high?

[jason]

In south florida, the same rocks that host the caves in north florida are deeply buried beneath rocks that are not quite as soluble. As a result, the fluctuations in sea level, and water level, that formed caves in N FL are not able to form caves in S FL because the lowest water levels and sea levels were still above the elevation of the cave forming rocks.

[phreaticus]

Thiothrix is a very common iron-fixing bacteria in all the caves along Florida's west coast.......sometimes so much so that it will form large "puddles" of brownish orange colonies on the floor, walls, and even the ceiling of caves. Poor finning technique, as well as exhaust bubbles will disturb these colonies and make the viz go to zero very quickly. They seem to be propagated by surface nutrients filtering down with rain water, and in times of drought, when the flow is low and the aquifer is at a low state. The colonies decrease drastically when flow levels are high and the aquifer is in a well charged state. Twin Dees is a classic example of this phenomenon.....exiting there from the 1000' point or so can be an exersise in careful guideline following in zero visibility, all the way out, despite the best technique.

[TONY CHANEY]

The orange bacteria are very likely Fe bacteria. While urban runoff may feed some microbes in other environments, the bacterial colonies that you'll see in many north Florida caves are quite normal and not a result of degrading water quality (there are of course exceptions). The source of Fe in N Florida springs is the sand on the surface. In case you're interested, that sand is derived from weathering of the Appalachian Mountains. There was once a trough in the ocean that separated Florida from the mainland, much like the Bahamas today. That trough filled in with sand, which eventually covered much of the state during a period of higher sea level.

Like this

[swadiver]

In south florida, the same rocks that host the caves in north florida are deeply buried beneath rocks that are not quite as soluble. As a result, the fluctuations in sea level, and water level, that formed caves in N FL are not able to form caves in S FL because the lowest water levels and sea levels were still above the elevation of the cave forming rocks.

thanks