World_of_Animals_Issue_46_2017

The wildlife of a cave
The cave ecosystem
How do animals survive in the constant
darkness of a cave environment?
The deepest part of a cave is known as the dark zone,
and this is where troglobites live. As light cannot reach
this region, plant life cannot grow, and so the animal
inhabitants have had to find other sources of sustenance.
One way they get access to food is through weather,
as rain washes leaves, twigs and other plant matter into
the cave. Alternatively, non-permanent cave dwellers –
trogloxenes and troglophiles – can bring the food in for
them, or of course, become the food themselves. Bats
are an important part of many cave food chains, as their
guano is full of organic matter. As their droppings pile
up, bacteria and fungi break it down into basic nutrients
for others to feed on. These microscopic organisms
also become food for larger creatures, and so the chain
progresses until you reach the larger mammals at the top.
These delicate cave ecosystems can be found
throughout the world, but they differ slightly depending
on the size, location and conditions of each cave. For
example, glacier caves, which have been carved out of
solid ice, create an environment that only a select few
creatures can live in, while certain solution caves are
home to a rich and diverse selection of wildlife.
The olm is well-adapted to cave life
but is currently under threat from the
pollution of its underwater habitat
Cave types The many varieties of caves that can be found around the world
Solution Lava Sea Glacier
Groundwater containing
natural acid seeps through
the earth to dissolve the
soluble rocks – such as
limestone, chalk and
dolomite – beneath.
As lava flows downhill,
its surface cools and
solidifies, but hot lava
will continue to flow
underneath, leaving a
hollow cave behind.
Also known as littoral
caves, these are formed
when waves slowly
erode zones of
weakness in sea cliffs,
carving out caves.
Water running through
or underneath a
glacier gradually
melts the ice around
it. Eventually, a cave is
formed as a result.
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