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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
The Evolution Of Non-Relictual Tropical Troglobites, Francis G. Howarth
The Evolution Of Non-Relictual Tropical Troglobites, Francis G. Howarth
International Journal of Speleology
The discovery of terrestrial troglobites living in caves on young oceanic islands with close epigean relatives living in nearby surface habitats offers unique opportunities to develop and test hypotheses concerning their evolution. Studies comparing the physiological ecology of troglobites with their epigean relatives suggest that troglobites are highly specialized to exploit resources within the system of interconnected medium-sized voids (mesocaverns) and only colonize cave passages (macrocaverns) with a stable, water vapor-saturated atmosphere. Few other animals can live in the mesocaverns. Rather than being relicts isolated in caves by the extinction of their epigean ancestral population, troglobites appear to evolve by …
The Role Of Gradualism And Punctuation In Cave Adaptation, David C. Culver
The Role Of Gradualism And Punctuation In Cave Adaptation, David C. Culver
International Journal of Speleology
The theory of punctuated equilibrium, offers a potential explanation for the profound morphological changes that accompany isolation in caves. I consider three aspects of punctuation theory: the association of morphological change with speciation; periods of stasis; and the number of genes controlling a trait. If the evolution of cave organisms is associated with speciation, then speciose groups and cave species derived from other cave-limited species should show increased adaptation. Analysis of Kane and Barr’s data on the subspecies of Neaphaenops tellkampfi and Holsinger’s data on crangonyctid amphipods fails to provide any support for the hypothesis. If the evolution is characterized …
Food-Finding Ability In Cave Fish (Astyanax Fasciatus), Kathrin Hüppop
Food-Finding Ability In Cave Fish (Astyanax Fasciatus), Kathrin Hüppop
International Journal of Speleology
When competing under cave similar conditions, such as darkness and food scarcity, cave fish find much more food than their epigean relatives. The cave fish not only react much faster to food but also their food-finding ability is four times higher compared to that of the epigean fish. Several morphological and ethological alterations in the cave fish, described by other authors, seem to be responsible for this adaptation to the cave conditions.
Diatom, Contributors Of Coralloid Speleothems, From Togawa-Sakaidani-Do Cave In Miyazaki Prefecture, Central Kyushu, Japan, Naruhiko Kashima, Teruo Irie, Nobuhiro Kinoshita
Diatom, Contributors Of Coralloid Speleothems, From Togawa-Sakaidani-Do Cave In Miyazaki Prefecture, Central Kyushu, Japan, Naruhiko Kashima, Teruo Irie, Nobuhiro Kinoshita
International Journal of Speleology
Coralloid speleothems are commonly distributed in Togawa-Sakaidani-do Cave in Miyazaki Prefecture, Central Kyushu, but their speleological study has not heretofore been achieved. Light and scanning microscopes analyses revealed that coralloid speleothems consist of alternating layers of diatom colonies, detrital minerals and clay. Electron microprobe analysis shows coralloid speleothems to be silicious. This paper asserts that diatom (genus Melosira) is one of the important contributors to siliceous coralloid speleothems in the threshold zone at non-calcareous caves.
Stratigraphic Sections In The Ste. Genevieve Formation (Middle Mississippian) Exposed In Garrison Chapel Karst Area Caverns - Western Monroe County, Indiana Usa, Garre A. Conner
International Journal of Speleology
The Ste. Genevieve Formation and related strata in the Blue River Group comprise more than 75 meters of Middle Mississippian carbonate deposition across the Indiana portion of the Eastern Interior Basin in Valmeyeran seaways. Forty kilometres of subterranean caverns occur in this carbonate rock sequence in the Garrison Chapel karst area where blind valleys are a striking topographical feature. The bedrock floor of a karst valley is locally accordant with a continuous horizon of lithographic limestone named Indian Creek Beds and illustrated on five cavern stratigraphic reference profiles.
Carbonate Surface Solution In The Classical Karst, Franco Cucchi, Fabio Forti, Furio Finocchiaro
Carbonate Surface Solution In The Classical Karst, Franco Cucchi, Fabio Forti, Furio Finocchiaro
International Journal of Speleology
The current research on the dissolution of carbonate rocks in the Karst of Trieste indicates that the average degradation of surfaces exposed to atmospheric agents is 0.028 mm/year with an average rainfall of 1350 mm. The maximum levels (0.031 mm/year) correspond to micro-crystalline limestones, the minimum values (0.014 mm/year) to dolomites.
Genetic Analysis Of Evolutionary Processes, Horst Wilkens
Genetic Analysis Of Evolutionary Processes, Horst Wilkens
International Journal of Speleology
Epigean and cave populations of A. fasciatus (Characidae, Pisces) differ in a series of morphological physiological, and ethological features. The interfertility of these populations made possible a genetic analysis of organs characteristic of interspecific divergence. The study of the regressive organs “eye” and “melanophore system” on the one hand and that of the constructively improved “gustatory equipment" and "feeding behaviour” on the other yielded identical principles of genetic manifestation: (1) All features have a polygenic basis with an at least di- to hexahybrid inheritance. (2) All polygenes have the same amount of expressivity. (3) After recombination of a minimum number …
Paleoenvironmental Data For N. W. Georgia, U.S.A., From Fossils In Cave Speleothems, George A. Brook, Eugene P. Keferl, Rudy J. Nickmann
Paleoenvironmental Data For N. W. Georgia, U.S.A., From Fossils In Cave Speleothems, George A. Brook, Eugene P. Keferl, Rudy J. Nickmann
International Journal of Speleology
Pollen grains and gastropod shells in two speleothems from Red Spider Cave, Georgia indicate that ca. 10,000 yr B.P. the vegetation near the cave was Mixed Mesophytic Forest. Conditions were cooler and moister than today and a shallow pond existed in the doline above the cave. As these findings support palynologic evidence from nearby pond sites it is clear that cave speleothems are a potential source of paleoecological data to ca. 350,000 yr. B.P.
Relationships Between The Internal And External Evolution Of The Monte Cucco Karst Complex, Umbria, Central Italy, Fausto Guzzetti
Relationships Between The Internal And External Evolution Of The Monte Cucco Karst Complex, Umbria, Central Italy, Fausto Guzzetti
International Journal of Speleology
The relationships between the internal and external evolution of the Mt. Cucco karst complex are studied. A classic set of equations, involving the oxidation of hydrogen sulphide, originated at depth in an evaporitic formation, is used to explain the presence of massive gypsum deposits in the Mt. Cucco and the Faggeto Tondo caves. The distribution and the morphology of more than 30 caves in the system, the presence of gypsum, always located along faults, and the presence of broken stalactites and columns, suggest that the evolution of the karst system has been controlled by tectonic movements. Relationships between the development …
Les Mésaventures Des Sources De L'Estavelle Et De L'Inversac En Languedoc Méditerranéen, Bernard Gèze
Les Mésaventures Des Sources De L'Estavelle Et De L'Inversac En Languedoc Méditerranéen, Bernard Gèze
International Journal of Speleology
The Estavelle and the Inversac are two celebrated springs in the Mediterranean Languedoc (South of France). Unfortunately, the first one has been chosen as a type for the karstic cavities alternatively absorbing or discharging the waters, according to the season, which has never been the case. On the opposite, the second one can be taken as model for this alternation as swallow hole or emergence.