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Where Cave Animals Live

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Cave Ecology

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 235))

Abstract

Subterranean habitats form wherever erosion or deposition creates an interconnected system of voids. These systems occur in unconsolidated sediments, in karst, volcanoes, sandstone, and granites, and together they represent one of the most extensive ecosystems on Earth. Their extent depends on the degree of connectivity among the voids, allowing for animal migration and input of nutrients, organic carbon, and oxygen. Sizes of the voids range from microscopic to large caves. Communities composed of specialized cave-adapted animals have developed wherever the habitat is large and old enough to support life. The voids filled with air support terrestrial animals; those filled with water support aquatic animals. Many voids are biphasic, alternating between air and water, and suitable for both terrestrial and aquatic species. Terrestrial habitats are strongly zonal with three main zones recognized based on light, i.e., entrance, twilight, and dark zones. The dark zone is subdivided into a transition, deep, and stagnant air zones based on abiotic parameters. Aquatic habitats vary by source, flow rate, sediment load, physicochemical composition, nutrient availability, and size of the water body. Each microhabitat in both terrestrial and aquatic realms often supports a distinct community of organisms.

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Acknowledgements

OTM acknowledges the financial support from the Romanian Academy and the grant of the Romanian Ministry of Research and Innovation, CNCS—UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P4-ID-PCCF-2016-0016, within PNCDI III.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Francis G. Howarth

  2. Emil Racovitza Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, Cluj Napoca, Romania

    Oana Teodora Moldovan

Authors
  1. Francis G. Howarth
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  2. Oana Teodora Moldovan
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Emil Racovitza Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, Cluj Napoca, Romania

    Oana Teodora Moldovan

  2. Faculty of Science, P. J. Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia

    Ľubomír Kováč

  3. Bennelongia Environmental Consultants, Jolimont, Western Australia, Australia

    Stuart Halse

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Howarth, F.G., Moldovan, O.T. (2018). Where Cave Animals Live. In: Moldovan, O., Kováč, Ľ., Halse, S. (eds) Cave Ecology. Ecological Studies, vol 235. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98852-8_3

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