1. V. Caves

2. A. Climate and Characteristics
1. Receive no direct sunlight
times less energy than at the surface
a. Bat droppings, dead plants, and nutrient rich water are the main sources
3. Recover slowly from disturbances

3. 4. Lowest funded ecosystem for research
5. Considerably colder as you go down
6. Landscape is dominated by odd formations
a. Mostly calcium based rock which can dissolve in water
b. Called Karst caves

5. B. Organisms
1. Plants
a. Because of sunlight there are no green plants
b. Mosses and ferns grow near the surface
c. Small algal species exist deep in caves but not much else

6. 2. Animals
a. Three types depending on where they live
1. Trogloxenes- on cliff ledges in caves
a. Birds, bats, and rats
b. At entrance, bears, raccoons, and bobcats

8. 2. Troglophiles- on ground near the moisture
a. Salamanders, frogs, toads, isopods, crickets, and worms
3. Troglobites- deep in cave, reduced or no eyes
a. Spiders, beetles, fish