Insights into the microbial life in silica-rich subterranean environments: microbial communities and ecological interactions in an orthoquartzite cave (Imawari Yeuta, Auyan tepui, Venezuela)

This work investigates the microbial ecology of the world's longest quartz-sandstone cave Imawari Yeuta located in the Venezuelan tepuis. This cave is a study model of the interactions between microorganisms and silica in non-thermal environments due to the presence of extraordinary amounts and diversity of amorphous silica speleothems with possible biogenic origin.