The Microbial Ecology of the Cave

Two research programes under the thematic "Microbrial Ecology at Lascaux Cave" have been carried out. The first from 2009-11 and the second 2014-17.

The First Programme 2009-2011 

Concluded and evaluated in 2011, the program related to the thematic "Microbrial Ecology at Lascaux Cave" was carried out by the  l’Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique in Dijon and the  l’Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia in Seville. This programme was designed to better understand the microbiological ecology of the cave. This programme involved co-ordination between institutes and favourised scientific co-operation. 

The Second Programme, 2014-2017

Compte tenu de l'intérêt de ces travaux, le Conseil scientifique a souhaité que cette approche fine de l’écosystème soit poursuivie. Sur la base du cahier des charges établi par le Conseil scientifique, la Conservation régionale des monuments historiques d'Aquitaine a lancé un appel d'offres en janvier 2013, en vue de recruter le coordinateur d’un nouveau programme relatif à “L’écologie microbienne de la grotte de Lascaux”. Le marché a été attribué au Professeur Yvan Möenne-Loccoz, microbiologiste, directeur de l'UMR CNRS écologie microbienne, à l'université de Lyon 1. Taking into account previous findings, the scientific council wished to continue with this precision approach. The REgional COnservation office for Historic Monuments (Acquitaine) opened recruitment in January 2013 to recruit a co-ordinator for the new programme "Microbrial Ecology at Lascaux Cave", based on established specifications. The post was attrubuted to Professor Yvan Möenne-Loccoz, a microbiologist and director of the UMR CNRS unit for microbrial ecologyof the University of Lyon 1. 

The continuity with previous research has allowed for the development of an approach that aims to study the microbe communities in their entirety rather than just eliminating the dominant species. This programme is based around improving understanding of the offending micro-organisms thorugh their identification and biochemical characterisation.