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This paper is a speleomycological report from a former aluminous shale mine in Janowiec, Poland. Fungi were identified morphologically and molecularly. Microclimatic conditions differed significantly between locations of the study. However, the external environment around the mine did not directly increase the community composition and concentration of fungi in the mine. The density of fungi isolated from the air outside the mine was 63.1 colony forming units (CFU) per 1 cm3of air. Inside the mine, fungal density ranged from 287.5 to 655 CFU per 1 m3from the air, 28.4 to 131.1 CFU per 1 cm2from the rock surfaces and 288.1 to 335.1 CFU per 1 cm3from the water. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the levels of fungi isolated from the air were correlated positively with temperature, relative humidity and CO2concentration. The concentration of fungi isolated from the rock surfaces showed a positive correlation with air flow. Five species of filamentous fungi were isolated from the sampled external air, 10 species from the internal air, six species from the rock surface and 11 species from the water. The fungi most frequently isolated from the air and water of the mine belonged toPenicilliumspp., whereas from the rock surface,Geomyces pannorumwas most frequently isolated. Some of the fungi present in the mine can be psychrotolerant and pathogenic for humans and animals, and they can also cause degradation of rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobiota are important in underground ecology. In 2014, we discovered dark stains on clayey sediments on the walls of Driny Cave, Slovakia. Our description is based on the morphology of the fungus and the phylogenetic relationships of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. In addition, data on its capacity for the production of extracellular enzymes, growth, and survival in vitro at different temperatures are reported. Our analyses revealed that this dark stains on the wall was produced by Penicillium glandicola. The fungus was able to synthesize amylases, proteases and cellulases, but not pectinases and keratinases. The vegetative structures of mycelium of this fungus are viable in vitro after storage at cool temperatures (from −72 to 5 °C), and show active growth at temperatures from 5 to 25 °C, but without spore germination, and without active growth at 30 and 37 °C. Penicillium glandicola is a psychrotolerant species and belong to var. glandicola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study is one of the very few cases of speleomycological research in recently discovered caves. The aim of this research was to assess the population size of fungal colonies and their species composition in the Jarkowicka cave, discovered in 2012. The air samples were taken from one location outside the cave and from two locations inside of it. Mycological evaluation of the rocks inside the cave was performed usingswab sampling procedure. In the Jarkowicka cave we found 22 species of fungi, including 13 isolated from air at the entrance and from the walls, and 8 species from air inside the cave.Cladosporiumspp. were the fungi most frequently isolated from internal atmosphere of the Jarkowicka cave, and from the external air. On the other hand, the fungi most frequently isolated from the rocks wereMucorspp. We found several species not yet described as cave inhabitants:Hypocrea pachybasioides,Cladosporium uredinicola, andEmbellisia abundans.Our study may provide a basis for comparison to other similar studies conducted in frequently visited caves by tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]