CURRENT METHODS FOR STUDYING THE BIOTA OF NATURAL SOLUTIONAL CAVES
Rubrics: BIOLOGY
Abstract and keywords
Abstract (English):
The article features the basic methods for studying the biological diversity of natural solutional caves. It includes the methods that are used to study the main groups of cave organisms of all levels of dislocation differentiation, taking into account the formation of trophic dependence and the corresponding ecological niches. Caves are unique natural ecosystems, whose living population is often formed in long-term isolation and with significantly depleted food resources. Solutional caves result from destruction of rocks under the influence of groundwater and geological processes. Living organisms in cave ecosystems are characterized by specific mechanisms of adaptation and are divided into 3 groups: troglobionts, or permanent inhabitants of caves; troglophils, which has perfectly adapted to their specific habitat; trogloxenes are widely distributed organisms that use caves seasonally. Caves are home to representatives of all major groups of organisms inhabiting the biosphere: bacteria, fungi, lower and higher plants, arthropods, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Keywords:
research techniques of organisms, speleoflora, speleofauna, biospeleology, solutional caves
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