Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy.
Environ Manage. 2022 May;69(5):982-993. doi: 10.1007/s00267-022-01603-0. Epub 2022 Feb 21.
In cave ecosystems tourists represent moving sources of discontinuous disturbances, able to induce transient system responses whose knowledge is crucial in defining appropriate conservation measures. Here we propose an approach to evaluate the amplitude and scales of cave alterations based on high-resolution air monitoring, through the use of purposely developed low-cost monitoring stations and a consistent analytical framework for information retrieval based on time series analysis. In particular, monitoring stations adopt a modular structure based on physical computing platforms acquiring data through several sensors, with means of preventing humidity damages and guaranteeing their continuous operation. Data are then analyzed using wavelet periodograms and cross-periodograms to extract the scales of tourism-induced alterations. The approach has been exemplified in the Pertosa-Auletta Cave, one of the most important underground environments in Southern Italy, highlighting the development of monitoring stations and the information obtainable with the proposed analytical workflow. Here, 2 monitoring stations acquiring data for 1 year at 1' sampling time on temperature, relative humidity, CO, VOCs, and particulate matter were deployed in trails subjected to different levels of tourism. In terms of Pertosa-Auletta Cave air dynamics, the approach allowed estimating the temporal and spatial scales of tourism-induced alterations in the order of minutes and meters, respectively, with parameter-dependent variations. On more general terms, the approach proved reliable and effective, with its modularity and low-cost fostering its straightforward adoption in other underground ecosystems, where it can support the development of tailored management strategies.
在洞穴生态系统中，游客是移动的间断性干扰源，能够引发短暂的系统响应，这些响应的知识对于制定适当的保护措施至关重要。在这里，我们提出了一种基于高分辨率空气监测来评估洞穴变化幅度和尺度的方法，该方法通过使用专门开发的低成本监测站和基于时间序列分析的一致信息检索分析框架来实现。具体来说，监测站采用基于物理计算平台的模块化结构，通过多个传感器获取数据，并采取措施防止湿度损坏，确保其连续运行。然后，使用小波周期图和交叉周期图来分析数据，以提取旅游引起的变化的尺度。该方法在意大利南部最重要的地下环境之一——奥雷塔-阿乌莱塔洞穴（Pertosa-Auletta Cave）进行了实例验证，突出了监测站的发展以及所提出的分析工作流程中可获得的信息。在这里，在受到不同程度旅游影响的路线上部署了 2 个监测站，每个监测站以 1'的采样时间采集温度、相对湿度、CO、VOCs 和颗粒物数据，持续采集了 1 年。就奥雷塔-阿乌莱塔洞穴的空气动力学而言，该方法能够以分钟和米为单位，分别估计旅游引起的变化的时间和空间尺度，其参数变化。更一般地说，该方法被证明是可靠和有效的，其模块化和低成本促进了其在其他地下生态系统中的直接应用，在这些生态系统中，它可以支持制定定制的管理策略。
