Most Popular Papers *
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
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
A world review of fungi, yeasts, and slime molds in caves
Karen J. Vanderwolf, David Malloch, Donald F. McAlpine, and Graham J. Forbes
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
Drainage proximity and sinkhole occurrence in Sivrihisar (Central Turkey): A comparative analysis of linear, Poisson, and negative binomial regression models
Bilge Bingül, Emrah Pekkan, and Resul Çömert
- Sinkhole frequency increases significantly with proximity to drainage networks
- Data overdispersion invalidates standard Poisson models
- Negative Binomial Regression outperforms linear and Poisson models
- Hydrochemistry reveals dolomite dissolution, not gypsum
- First comprehensive inventory maps 104 cover-collapse sinkholes
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
Non-destructive characterization of variously colored gypsum and aragonite/calcite speleothems from the Cigalère Cave (Ariège, France)
Martin Vlieghe, Johan Wouters, Gérald Fanuel, Jean-François Drion du Chapois, Anne Gallez, Stéphane Pire-Stevenne, Gaëtan Rochez, and Johan Yans
- Portable X-ray fluorescence allows non-destructive elemental analysis in the field
- Designated calibration greatly increases accuracy and reproducibility
- Detection of Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Cu, responsible for the various colorations
- Metals and sulphate ions likely originate from the overlying Pb-Zn sulfide ores
The world’s deepest subterranean community - Krubera-Voronja Cave (Western Caucasus)
Alberto Sendra and Ana Sofia P.S. Reboleira
* Based on the average number of full-text downloads per day since the paper was posted.
» Updated as of 05/26/26.
