The microbiota characterizing huge carbonatic moonmilk structures and its correlation with preserved organic matter

Table 1 Description of the samples collected in Grotta Nera, collection sites, sequencing results, pH values, and water content

Sampling site	Sample ID	Description	# filtered reads	# ASV^a	pH	% water
Innermost zone of the cave	AM-1	Apical part of the moonmilk	19,423	673	6.5	76.4
	LM-1	Lateral part of the moonmilk	24,382	698	6	40.3
	CM-1	Core part of the moonmilk	17,363	504	6.5	55.1
	Rk-1	Bedrock	18,095	456	5.5	27.8
	Wt-1	Water on the floor^b	19,269	284	6.5	99.5
Middle zone of the cave	AM-2	Apical part of the moonmilk	17,059	528	6.5	80.2
	LM-2	Lateral part of the moonmilk	20,381	458	6	37.6
	CM-2	Core part of the moonmilk	17,108	523	6.5	53.2
	Rk-2	Bedrock	7,598	222	5.5	25.2
	Wt-2	Water on the floor^b	24,904	89	6.5	99.1
Proximal to cave entrance (in the dark)	AM-3	Apical part of the moonmilk	18,706	571	6.5	84.6
	LM-3	Lateral part of the moonmilk	18,484	456	6	45.0
	CM-3	Core part of the moonmilk	14,204	407	6.5	69.0
	Rk-3	Bedrock	16,145	474	5.5	43.1
	Wt-3	Water on the floor^b	6,444	19	6.5	99.8
Soil above the cave	Soil	Forest soil	4,654	135	5.5	34.5

^a Number of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASV) obtained through DADA2 software
^b Water samples were collected from water bodies storing the dripping water from the moonmilk analyzed in each of the three cave zones

ISSN: 2524-6372