A cave is defined as an underground passage large enough for a person to crawl into, naturally formed, and in complete darkness. Caves

How does a cave form? Rain dissolves Carbon Dioxide into Carbonic acid Carbonic acid dissolves minerals in rock Rock is sculpted in weak spots Water seeps through rocks and makes underground waterways

How does a cave form? When the water level drops, the waterway exits the rock through the exiting hole (resurgence) Collections of water creates deep gaps in caves. When the water level outside the cave drops, the cave empties and dries out.

Stalactites Stalactites Formed by water that drops from the top of the cave andcontains calcite The calcite is left when the water drops Occasionally, stalactites will grow together with the stalagmites and will create a column.

Stalagmites Stalagmites: Form from the bottom of the cave They grow about 1 cm every 1000 years because it is hard for water to evaporate in the moist cave

Types of Stalactites Types of Stalactites Icicle Straw Drape

Types of Stalagmites Dish Stack Fir Cone

Others

Types of Caves Erosional- formed by the action of water or wind, carrying abrasive particles capable of carving rock

Types of Caves Lava Tube- lava travels beneath the surface and is expelled by a volcano during an eruption

Types of Caves Sea Caves- form from wave actions along the coast where areas are weak in sea cliffs

Types of Caves Solution Caves- form where rock is dissolved away These are the LIMESTONE caves in Virginia Carbonic Acid dissolves the LIMESTONE and makes a cave!

What is Karst Karst topography is a landscape formed from the dissolving of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves.

Karst in VA

Cave Organisms Cave organisms fall into three basic classes: Troglobites: “cave dwellers” animals that are specialized for cave life. Can leave for short periods of time Can complete parts of their life cycles above ground Can’t live entire lives outside of the cave Examples: some bacteria, some flatworms, and blindfish

Adaptations of Things that Live in Caves Loss of pigment Loss of eyes Blue eyes (can absorb light better) Elongation of appendages Enhancement of other senses (can sense vibrations in water) Echolocation

Cave Organisms 2. Troglophiles: “cave lovers” can live part or all of their lives in caves Can complete a life cycle in certain environments on the surface Examples: cave crickets, millipedes, pseudoscorpions, and spiders

Cave Organisms 3. Trogloxenes: “cave guests” Frequents caves May require caves for a portion of it’s life cycle Must return to the surface Examples: Hibernating reptiles and mammals

Bats Nocturnal They sleep in the back of caves to keep from being eaten Are found everywhere except Antarctica and the Artic Hibernate in caves When weather is warm, the bats leave the caves at night to find food They are the only mammals that can fly Wings are a membrane of skin that stretches from their body to their fingertips.

Little Brown Bats

Cave Species Tooth cave spider

Cave Species Gray Bat