Most Popular Papers *
Monitoring strategies in cave microclimate studies
Nenad Buzjak, Dalibor Paar, Aurel Persoiu, Christos Pennos, Franci Gabrovšek, and Valerija Rossi
- Cave microclimates are spatially and temporally heterogeneous, not thermally uniform
- Cave climate, microclimate, and meteorology are formally defined and linked
- Monitoring strategies must distinguish temporal resolution from spatial design
- Vertical microclimate structure requires three-dimensional monitoring designs
- Hybrid monitoring integrates spot surveys with long-term continuous records
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
Exceptional variety of baryte-celestine-series speleothems in Lechuguilla Cave (New Mexico, USA)
Max Wisshak, Johannes Birkenstock, Andrea Schröder-Ritzrau, Norbert Frank, Hazel A. Barton, and Harvey R. DuChene
- Lechuguilla Cave features an exceptional variety of baryte and celestine speleothems
- Baryte and Celestine also occur in hydrothermal veins predating the cave
- Baryte speleothems are composed of pure baryte
- Celestine is the major component of the most diverse mineral assemblages in the cave
- Radiometric dating constrains the age of formation to Middle Pleistocene to Holocene
The dissolution and conversion of gypsum and anhydrite
Alexander Klimchouk
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
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
A world review of fungi, yeasts, and slime molds in caves
Karen J. Vanderwolf, David Malloch, Donald F. McAlpine, and Graham J. Forbes
Hydrothermal vents in sulfuric acid speleogenesis karst: isolated feeders with pristine hypogenic water or interconnected conduits with rapid flow and recycled water?
Jakub Mareš, Marek Audy, Serban M. Sarbu, Jan Kukačka, Romeo Eftimi, and Jiří Bruthans
- The modified model of sulfuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) presented
- First tracer tests performed in active SAS karst
- Feeders in SAS do not transport deep, pristine water, as previously believed
- The SAS hotspots are located in places where water whirls and releases H2S
- Collapses of cave halls induce polyfurcation and maze patterns in caves
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
New evidence of mid-Pleistocene glaciations in the French Jura Mountains using debris flow deposits and U/Th dating of speleothems (Verneau karst network)
Margot Vivier, Stéphane Jaillet, Eglantine Husson, Edwige Pons Branchu, and Jean-Baptiste Charlier
- Debris deposits are associated with ancient fluvio-glacial flows of Rissian glaciation
- Laminated clay deposits indicate ancient flooding in the karst system
- Speleothems surround detrital deposits and link them to the Riss (MIS 8-6)
* Based on the average number of full-text downloads per day since the paper was posted.
» Updated as of 02/25/26.
