Ecology of cave arthropods

Author:

Howarth, Francis G.

Title:

Ecology of cave arthropods

Periodical:

Annual Review of Entomology

Year:

1983

Volume:

28

Pages:

365-389

Subject:

Cave fauna Ecology

Summary:

Cavernicoles can be divided into ecological categories as follows: troglobites, troglophiles, trogloxenes, and accidentals. Troglobites are obligate cave species that are not able to survive outside of the hypogean environment. They colonize and have been studied in larger cave passages only where their specialized environment is found. Troglophiles are facultative species that live and reproduce in caves but are also found in similar dark, humid microhabitats on the surface. Trogloxenes is a species that regularly live in caves for refuge but normally return to the surface environment to feed. Accidentals wander into caves but cannot survive there. While extensive studies, that were primarily taxonomic, are known to have been done in Europe, North America, Japan, and Central America, the science of biospeleology in the United States lagged far behind studies that were done in Europe and it was not until the 1950s that the modern period of cave biology began in North America. However, advances in cave biology followed the development of cave exploration techniques. As a result, improvements made in the last few decades with regard to safety have allowed biologists to visit and study longer and more complex cave systems. In addition, the ease of modern-day world travel has made it possible for scientists to explore the more inaccessible, rugged, tropical caves such as those found in Hawaii. This review is selective and emphasizes recent discoveries that deal mostly with terrestrial systems. However, caves are imperfect windows through which mesocavernous fauna is viewed and are sometimes vulnerable to human disturbance. As a result, intensive and extensive biological surveys are urgently needed in nearly all tropical caves and in most lava flow areas that will answer specific research questions regarding nutrient cycling, food resource utilization, effects of climatic variables, and management of cave reserves. The need is urgent since many of these areas are under imminent threats from land use changes.

Label:

Insects

Date:

1983

Collection:

Periodicals