Articles
Assessing the impact of lampenflora growth on invertebrate distribution and food resource use in Ryusen-do Cave, Japan
Kazuhide Nakajima, Kanato Ando, Shuji Watanabe, and Masuo Komukai
- Invertebrate species distribution varies with bat feces and tourism-induced disturbance
- Bat feces and guano are key factors influencing invertebrate distribution in Ryusen-do Cave
- Lampenflora growth may negatively affect troglomorphic invertebrates, but may benefit non-troglomorphic species
- Lampenflora impacts were evident even in a well-managed show cave
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
Light-driven zonation and community structure of aerophytic microalgae in a tropical limestone cave (Gua Tempurung, Malaysia)
Wan Maznah Wan Omar, Mohammad Basri Eshak, Luthfiana Aprilianita Sari, Zulaihat Hamza Abdullahi, and Yusuf Abdullahi
- Light gradients, structure zonation and diversity of aerophytic algae in caves
- Community assembly reflects hierarchical filtering by light and moisture
- Transition zones form ecological bottlenecks shaping microalgal diversity patterns
- Moisture limitation can override the benefits of increased light availability
- Artificial lighting promotes novel microalgal assemblages in tourist caves
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
Wavelet-based multiscale analysis of cave CO₂ concentration in response to short-term high-intensity tourism activities: spatiotemporal heterogeneity and lag characteristics
Mingda Cao, Wenwen Song, Yan Zhang, Jie Zhang, and Zhiqiang Yao
- Tourist respiration dominates cave CO₂ diurnal variation
- Cave ventilation controls spatial heterogeneity of CO₂
- Semi-diurnal CO₂ period appears during peak tourist period
- Lag time of CO₂ behind tourists is 3-6 h during peak period
- Full-period average lag (54-72 h) is controlled by memory effect
Technical Note
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
