Most Popular Papers *
Vertebrate diversity in cave systems of Colombia: an approach based on environmental DNA metabarcoding analysis
Rita Daniela Martinelli Marín, Carlos Andres Lasso, Francesco Sauro, and Susana Josefina Caballero
- eDNA revealed 110 vertebrate species across 21 Colombian cave systems
- Fish diversity: 49 species, mainly Siluriformes and Characiformes
- Tetrapods: 61 species, with Anura, Rodentia, and Chiroptera most common
- El Cóndor, Sara’s, and Cascada del Hayal caves showed highest diversity
- eDNA proved effective for detecting hard-to-sample cave vertebrates
Why the delay in recognizing terrestrial obligate cave species in the tropics?
Francis G. Howarth
- Several factors explain why the discovery of tropical troglobionts was delayed
- Temperature and humidity are major factors in defining troglobiont distribution
- Troglobionts evolve by an adaptive shift across a cave/surface ecotonal boundary
- Subterranean species and ecosystems are vulnerable and threatened by novel stressors
- Research in tropical caves has expanded our understanding of evolutionary ecology of cave life
The dissolution and conversion of gypsum and anhydrite
Alexander Klimchouk
A world review of fungi, yeasts, and slime molds in caves
Karen J. Vanderwolf, David Malloch, Donald F. McAlpine, and Graham J. Forbes
Cave minerals of the 21st century: A 2025 review and update
Bogdan P. Onac
- List of cave minerals of the world updated
- 54 new minerals added
- Volcanic caves and lava tubes contributed the most minerals to this update
Pitfalls of multiplied 3D landforms projection: mapping deep multilevel cave systems in the Alps (Gamssteig Cave System, Göll Massif)
Mateusz Golicz and Jacek Szczygieł
- Complex ceilings, floors, and pits require flexible mapping strategies
- LiDAR yields precise 3D data but not inherently readable maps
- Cartographic generalization remains essential for communicative cave maps
- Traditional mapping remains crucial in extensive multi-kilometer systems
The world’s deepest subterranean community - Krubera-Voronja Cave (Western Caucasus)
Alberto Sendra and Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira
Riki&Dolphin: real time data transmission from the bottom of a cave to a website
Luca Tringali, Giacomo Canciani Dr., Tecla Tripari, Alexander Debenjak, and Caterina Bearzotti
- Dolphin sensors can be placed hundreds of meters deep in a cave
- Riki board can be placed outdoor, powering Dolphin with a 12 V battery for months
- Main maintenance can be performed only on Riki and Dragino (outside the cave)
- Data transmission through LoRaWAN, optional datalogging on a SD card placed outdoor
- Modular customizable design, with support for analog, digital, I2C, serial sensors
4D flow pattern of the longest cave in the Eastern Alps (Schönberg-Höhlensystem, Totes Gebirge)
Lukas Plan, Eva Kaminsky, Pauline Oberender, Clemens Tenreiter, and Maximilian Wimmer
- Speleogenesis of a 156 km long and 1061 m deep Alpine cave system is studied
- Arrangement of passages at two slightly inclined planes is confirmed as speleogenetic phases
- Morphological observations reveal a reversal of flow-direction through time
- According to current hydrological conditions, a dual flow is proposed
- Unlike other karst massifs in the NCA, sediments support autogenic recharge for Totes Gebirge
* Based on the average number of full-text downloads per day since the paper was posted.
» Updated as of 07/16/26.
