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

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 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 that contains calcite The calcite is left when the water drops Constant winds blowing cause stalactites to grow in crooked. 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

Cave Sections Cave environments fall into three basic categories: Endogean: parts of cave that come into contact with the surface Example: cracks, rock seams, groundwater seepage, and root protrusion Parahypogean: regions near cave mouths that extend to the last penetration of sunlight. Hypogean: deep in the cave, only come into contact with the surface through wind, underground rivers, or the migration of animals. Considered to be “true” cave environments The deeper the cave becomes, the less biodiversity is found.

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

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

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

Cave Organisms Troglophobes: “cave haters” Can’t survive in caves for any time period Example: organisms that fall through sinkholes or frogs swept into caves by flash floods

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

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.

Horse-shoe Bats Have horseshoe shaped structure around their nostrils to help direct sound for echo location They wrap their wings around themselves to keep warm during hibernation When they are asleep, they tuck their wings to their sides

Bat Communication and Pregnancy Pregnant bats move to a warmer area in the cave to give birth When the baby is young, it goes with the mother to get food When it is older, it is left behind and calls to the mother so she can find her way back

Where do cave dwellers get food? Some get food from outside the cave Some eat things inside Guano (Bat Poo) falls to the ground where millipedes, beetles, and fungi get their nourishment Dead animals Organic debris washes in from streams Cave crayfish Cave shrimp Flatworms

Cave Studies Speleology- the scientific study of caves. Spelunking- recreational exploring of caves. Cave cartography- creating cave maps Cave geology- study of cave rock. Cave Hydrology- study of water features in caves.

Endangered Species Tooth cave spider

Endangered Species Trapdoor spider

Endangered Species Gray Bat