Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Louisville, 2005. / Department of Biology. Vita. "May 2005." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-190).

The importance of ants as elements in cave ecology has been mostly unrecognized. A global list of ant species recorded from caves, compiled from a review of existing literature, is presented. This paper also reviews what is currently known about ants occurring in Arizona ( USA) caves. The diversity and distribution represented in these records suggests ants are relatively common cave visitors (trogloxenes). A general utilization of caves by ants within both temperate and tropical latitudes may be inferred from this combined evidence. Observations of ant behavior in Arizona caves demonstrate a low level and sporadic, but persistent, use of these habitats and their contained resources by individual ant colonies. Documentation of Neivamyrmex sp. preying on cave-inhabiting arthropods is reported here for the first time. Observations of hypogeic army ants in caves suggests they may not penetrate to great vertical depth in search of prey, but can be persistent occupants in relatively shallow, horizontal sections of caves where they may prey on endemic cave animals. First cave records for ten ant species are reported from Arizona caves. These include two species of Neivamyrmex (N. nigrescens Cresson and Neivamyrmex sp.; Formicidae: Dorylinae), four myrmicines (Pheidole portalensis Wilson, Pheidole cf. porcula Wheeler, Solenopsis aurea Wheeler and Stenamma sp. Westwood), one dolichoderine (Forelius keiferi Wheeler) and three formicines (Lasius arizonicus Wheeler, L. sitiens Wilson, and Camponotus sp. Mayr).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Discipline of Environmental Biology, 2006. / "January 2006" Includes copies of author's previously published works. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Thesis (M.S.)--Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2008. / Vita. The entire thesis text is included in file. Title from title screen of thesis/dissertation PDF file (viewed June 9, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 107-111).

Includes copies of author's previously published works / Guano deposits in caves form a rich food resource supporting diverse arthropod communities. Guano piles consist of distinct micro - habitats, fresh, moist, highly basic guano and older, dry, slightly acidic guano. Micro - habitat variation is strongly controlled by seasonal guano deposition that, in turn, effects the structure of arthropod communities. The maternity chamber of Bat Cave, Naracoorte, South Australia, contains extensive guano deposits supporting 38 species from three classes and 12 orders. This community was studied to determine spatial and temporal variation of arthropod communities, and biogeographic relationships between different regions in Australia. Species richness forms a positive linear relationship with pH, in situ moisture content and guano deposition. Many species show strong associations with fresh guano and hence are strongly seasonal, although some species are present throughout the year. Arthropod community structure in winter was found to be more closely related to prior summer arthropod structure than to subsequent seasons. Starlight Cave near Warrnambool, western Victoria, the only other maternity site for Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii, contained 43 species from 39 families and 14 orders. Seven species are common to both caves. The community structure of Starlight Cave was found to be more homogeneous than Bat Cave with samples clustering by season rather than sample year as was the case at Bat Cave. Different cave morphology was found to significantly alter the micro - habitat conditions and, hence, community structure in Starlight Cave compared with Bat Cave. Migration of guano associated arthropods at local, regional and continental scales was assessed using mtDNA and allozyme electrophoresis the pseudoscorpion genus Protochelifer as a model organism. Phylogenetic tree reconstruction revealed a wide geographic distribution of cavernicolous species across southern Australia. Cave colonisation is believed to have occurred only once, followed by dispersal to the Nullarbor Plain and other caves in south - eastern Australia. Dispersal was possibly phoretic on cave bats or occurred prior to aridification of surface environments that currently restricts migration. The distribution of guano - associated arthropods from arid, semi - arid and monsoonal karst areas in Australia are compared with temperate south - eastern Australia. Different climatic areas show large biogeographical differences in community structure, although similar families ( Urodinychidae, Reduviidae, Anobiidae, Carabidae and Tineidae ) are present in many Australian guano communities. Several potential mechanisms of dispersal are discussed including phoresy, colonisation from soil, terrestrial migration and interstitial cavities. Endemism to specific caves cannot be definitely assigned to any species, although 13 species show restricted distribution. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2006.

The unusual environmental conditions within caves provided unique opportunities for developing an understanding of ecosystem processes. However, relatively few studies have been conducted on the ecology of New Zealand cave systems. The primary aim of this research was to investigate changes in aquatic invertebrate communities along a longitudinal gradient from the surface into caves and investigate the fundamental drivers of cave communities. This study was carried out in three streams (two in pasture catchments and one in a forested catchment) flowing into caves in the Waitomo region, North Island, New Zealand. In order to address these aims I carried out a longitudinal survey of 12 sites in each stream, an experimental manipulation of food, and an isotopic study of a single stream. The longitudinal survey of the three cave streams revealed light intensity as well as algal and CPOM biomass all decreased significantly from outside the caves into caves. In contrast, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, stream width, depth, and velocity did not vary significantly with distance into caves. Benthic aquatic macroinvertebrate communities within the caves were a depauperate subset of surface communities, appearing to be structured by gradients in resources and colonisation through drift. However, some invertebrate taxa (primarily predators) were rarely found within caves, further suggesting that resource gradients were structuring cave communities. Surprisingly, the densities of some collector-browsers (primarily mayflies) increased within cave streams relative to surface densities. This may be due to a decrease in competition and predation, flexible feeding strategies, and high drift propensity. However, the benthic densities of most taxa within the caves appeared to be related to drift densities. Although surface forest and pastoral stream communities differed in community composition and density 32 meters within the caves invertebrate community diversity and density became similar, although specific taxa within communities varied. This convergence was attributed to similar environmental gradients within the caves. The resource addition experiment (adding leaf packs) indicated that cave streams were resource limited; the addition of leaves produced communities of similar richness and density across the environmental gradient. The isotopic survey suggested cave stream invertebrate communities were reliant upon similar basal resources to surface streams. However, within the cave epilithon appeared to be increasingly important while filamentous algae were absent. Cave aquatic invertebrates were also found to support terrestrial predators (spiders, harvestmen, and glow-worms), presumably increasing the abundance and diversity of terrestrial cave communities. In conclusion, aquatic cave communities were reliant upon surface derived resources and consequently strongly linked to surface land-use and managerial practices.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

Revised chronologies from Moroccan cave sites have raised questions concerning the timing of changes in human cultural behaviour in relation to past climate shifts. However, many of the inferences about past moisture regimes are based on external records. Therefore, this thesis aimed to develop a palaeoclimate record using oxygen and carbon isotope values (d18O and d13C) in Gerbillinae (gerbil) teeth from two Late Pleistocene cave sites, El Harhoura 2 and Taforalt, in Morocco. Since small mammals are not commonly used to construct proxy climate records, a modern isotope study was undertaken in northwestern Africa to understand the influences on the stable isotope composition of small mammal tissues in semi-arid and arid settings. The results from the modern study show that d18O composition of gerbil teeth is strongly correlated with mean annual precipitation (MAP), and therefore in arid settings reflects moisture availability. Predictably, the d13C values of the gerbil teeth reflected C3 and C4 dietary inputs, but arid and mesic sites could not be distinguished because of the high variability displayed in d13C. The d18O isotope-based MAP reconstructions suggest that the Mediterranean coastal region of North Africa did not experience hyper-arid conditions during the Late Pleistocene. The d13C values of the gerbil teeth show that C3 vegetation dominated in the Late Pleistocene, but there was a small amount C4 vegetation present at Taforalt. This indicates that small mammals are extremely sensitive to discreet shifts in past vegetation cover. Both the modern and archaeological studies demonstrated that the isotope values of molars and incisors differed. The results indicate that tooth choice is an important consideration for applications as proxy Quaternary records, but also highlights a new potential means to distinguish seasonal contexts. Comparisons of proxy climate records and cultural sequences at Taforalt and El Harhoura 2 show that Middle Stone Age occupations of both sites occurred during relatively humid and arid climate phases. The transition to the Later Stone Age appears to have taken place during a period of increased aridity, hinting that this cultural transition may be related to changing environmental conditions.

The arid interior of South Africa lacks long, continuous and well-dated climate and environmental proxy records that can be compared with cultural sequences and with broader global climate records. This thesis develops the first substantial terrestrial environmental sequence for the interior of southern Africa at the site of Wonderwerk Cave, spanning two million years of prehistory. Changes in vegetation and humidity over time were investigated by means of carbon and oxygen stable isotope analysis on fossil herbivore enamel and ostrich eggshell, creating two independent proxy datasets. The Holocene record was used as a baseline for comparing the Pleistocene sequence, but required chronological tightening. Therefore, nine new radiocarbon dates were obtained, and calibrated and modelled with existing dates to provide a firmer chronology. The ostrich eggshell isotope record suggests arid but variable conditions, with distinct phases of increased humidity in the Early Pleistocene and mid-Holocene. Enamel stable isotope results show clear differences in local resource availability between the Early and Mid-Pleistocene, and then between the Pleistocene and Holocene, with an overall trend of increasing aridity. In particular, the onset of dietary specialisation in grazers at 0.8Ma is linked to expanding C4 grasslands. Aridity was not the driver behind the increase in C4 grasses, but changing pCO2 levels at the Mid Pleistocene transition were identified as a possible key factor. The presence of C3 and C4 grasses in the Early Pleistocene, when compared to the domination of C4 grasses today, was fostered by reduced rainfall seasonality. Regional independent developments have to be considered, as other regions in South and East Africa show C4 dominated diets in herbivores at earlier times than at Wonderwerk Cave. In the Holocene, higher temporal resolution indicates phases of environmental change coinciding with changes in the cultural record.

Density of troglobitic crustaceans and levels of potential food sources were compared in reference pools and pools disturbed by septic system effluent in Banners Corner Cave, Russell Co., Virginia. Data from six physicochemical parameters indicate slight to high disturbance in five pools in reference to two undisturbed sites. Disturbed sites had high levels of conductivity, nutrients, and fecal coliforms. Highly disturbed sites had large decreases in concentration of dissolved oxygen. Isopod (Caecidotea recurvata) and amphipod (Stygobromus mackini) density and isopod size-class distributions were measured seasonally with short-term mark-recapture techniques. Isopods were absent only in highly disturbed sites. Highest isopod density (up to 74.6/m²) occurred in slightly and moderately disturbed sites. Amphipods were absent from all disturbed sites. Fungal biomass, total organic matter (TOM), and bacterial biomass in pool sediments were measured to determine changes in food availability caused by the septic system effluent. Fungal biomass was negligible in all pools. Contribution of bacterial biomass to sediment TOM was increased in disturbed pools with little overall increase in TOM. Bacteria, fine particulate matter and coarse particulate matter (CPOM) were used equally well in laboratory growth experiments. Presence of CPOM, not organic enrichment by septic system outfall, is the most likely cause of high isopod density in some pools. Septic system effluent may provide additional food to the aquatic community in Banners Corner Cave, but generally was damaging to the system. / M.S.