Earth Sciences Commons^™

Nouvelles Données Morphologiques Et Caryologie Du Triclade Hypogé Pyrénéen Dendrocoelum Lescherae, Nicole Gourbault

International Journal of Speleology

The study of a new strain of the hypogeous Tricladida Dendrocoelum lescherae has demonstrated the very low anatomical variability of this species. The chromosome complement was found to be 2n = 32; measurements of somatic mitoses have shown that these elements are metacentric; the gametocytes possess 16 bivalents. Number and morphology of the chromosomes are similar within the subgenus Dendrocoelides.

Polydesmide Et Craspedosomides Cavernicoles Nouveaux De France Et Du Maroc (Myriapoda - Diplopoda), Jean Paul Mauriès

International Journal of Speleology

This is a description of the affinities and biogeographic significance of three new cavernicolous species of Diplopoda from France and Morocco. One species apparently belongs to the Polydesmida (family Paradoxosomidae) and the other two to Craspedosomida (families Caratosphydae and Chordeumidae).

1) Eviulisoma abadi n.sp. is distinguished from other species of this genus by total depigmentation, by the characters of the gonopodial orifice and the male gonopods, by the low number of segments (19) and by its geographic isolation (Morocco) and ecology (Kef Aziza cave). This justifies the establishment of a new sub-genus, Jeekelosoma. The other species of this genus …

The Occurrence Of The Troglobitic Amphipod, Stygobromus Tenuis Tenuis (Smith) (Crangonyctidae) In The Taconic Mountains Of Southwestern Massachusetts (Usa): A Case For The Existence Of A Subterranean Refugium In A Glaciated Region, Douglas G. Smith

International Journal of Speleology

Stygobromus t. tenuis is one of only two species of troglobitic amphipods known to occur in the New England physiographic province. The rarity of subterranean organisms in New England is attributed to limited karst development and eradication of organisms from the region during glacial times. Traditionally it has been believed that those troglobitic species presently occurring north of the glacial terminus migrated there following glacial retreat from refugia south of the areas influenced by glacial conditions. However, a few recent studies favour the existence of subsurface refugia in glaciated regions during glacial times. Stygobromus t. tenuis is recorded from springs …

New Records For Salentinella Ruffo (Crustacea Amphipoda) From Phreatic Waters Of Italy And Greece, Giuseppe Lucio Pesce

International Journal of Speleology

New localities for the subterranean amphipod Salentinella Ruffo from central-eastern Mediterranean are reported. New collecting localities are listed for Italy, continental Greece and islands of Cephalonie and Zante. Furthermore, some remarks are made about the systematics, the variability and the ecology of the genus. Moreover, the Author refers to the main characteristics of a Salentinella sp. from central Italy, showing intermediate features between S. angelieri and S. franciscoloi. A map of the distribution of the genus Salentinella in Italy and in the Balkan-Dalmatian Peninsula is enclosed.

The Invertebrate Faunas Of Tropical American Caves, Part 6: Jumandi Cave, Ecuador, Stewart B. Peck

International Journal of Speleology

Twenty-two species of invertebrates are reported from Jumandi Cave, Napo Province, Ecuador. Three are probably trogloxenes, and the other 19 are troglophiles. The only troglobite is the catfish Astroblepus pholeter.

Two New Genera Of Cave-Dwelling Millipedes (Diplopoda), With Remarks On The Millipede Fauna Of West Caucasian Caves, Sergei I. Golovatch

International Journal of Speleology

Two new genera and species of the Diplopoda from Caucasian caves are described: troglobitic Caucasodesmus inexpectatus n.g., n.sp. (family Macrosternodesmidae) from a cave in North Osetia, North Caucasus, and troglophilic Ratcheuma excorne n.g., n.sp. (family Antroleucosomatidae) from a cave in Racha, Georgia, Transcaucasia. Millipedes of the western Caucasian cavernicolous fauna are reviewed as regards their distribution, relationship with caves and zoogeographical connections.

Morphological Clines In Reduced Areas. The Case Of Henrotius Jordai (Reitter), Cave-Dwelling Beetle From Majorca Island, Xavier Bellés

International Journal of Speleology

The present paper shows a statistically significant correlation between the geographical latitude and the morphological variation of the pronotum of Henrotius jordai (Reitter) (Col. Caraboidea), cave-dwelling beetle from Majorca island, after studying the linear and curvilinear regression between these two variables. The existence of specimens situated at different heights of the regression lines leads to the conclusion that morphological variation is clinal. The phenomenon of “semi-isolation” to which the studied populations are subjected, because of their cavernicolous character, allows to explain the existence of a cline in such a restricted area as that occupied by this beetle (ca. 500 Km …

The Anatomy And Histology Of The Alimentary Tract Of The Blind Catfish Horaglanis Krishnai Menon, T. V. Anna Mercy, N. Krishna Pillai

International Journal of Speleology

H. krishnai is a blind catfish inhabiting the dug-out wells at Kottavam Kerala, South India. Studies on the alimentary tract of the fish show that, the alimentary tract, though typically teleostean, shows several adaptive modifications. The bulbous stomach helps in storing food which is helpful in an environment chronically deficient in food. The ileo-rectal sphincter helps in retaining the digested food in the intestine for a long duration to facilitate maximum absorption. This is very helpful as the intestine is short. The liver is well developed.

Classification Of Pseudokarst Forms In Czechoslovakia, Jan Vitek

International Journal of Speleology

The paper is a geomorphological classification of pseudokarst forms in Czechoslovakia/Bohemien Massif and the Carpathians. In the author’s opinion, forms occurring in non-carbonate rocks, are morphologically and often genetically analogous to the forms of karst relief, and are pseudokarst phenomena. They are divided according to their size into macroforms in sandstone morphostructures of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin some types of rocky valleys, water-shed plains and ridges, forming rock cities in some places, mesoforms with six types of caves, sinkholes, rock perforations and several rock phenomena and microforms such as weather pits and niches, lapies, etc.. The most prominent pseudokarst phenomena …

Environmental Implications Of Competitive Growth Fabrics In Stalactitic Carbonate, Paul L. Broughton

International Journal of Speleology

Competitive growth fabrics in stalactitic carbonate are not as widespread as commonly supposed. Most radial columnar crystals are attributed to the coalescence of a precursor crystallite mosaic comprised of syntaxial overgrowths. This secondary fabric is the consequence of carbonate precipitation from a thin water film. Competitive growth, however, is much rarer and arises from two contrasting environments: an influx of detritus interrupting carbonate precipitation, and cave flooding. Thick layers of impurities favour deposition of randomly oriented seed crystals on the growth surface. These result in competitive growth centres when the renewal of carbonate precipitation fails to have crystallographic allegience to …

Secondary Origin Of The Radial Fabric In Stalactitic Carbonate, Paul L. Broughton

International Journal of Speleology

The growth surfaces of most stalactites are interpreted as numerous syntaxial overgrowth crystallites. These coalesce immediately behind the growth surface, often trapping portions of the water film as fluid-filled cavities. The fluid inclusions represent former inter-crystallite spaces and characterize the widely misinterpreted “growth ring”. Complete crystallite coalescence generates inclusions-free calcite, whereas inhibition of lateral coalescence of the overgrowth crystallites generates layers of acicular calcite. It is generally only during periods of cave flooding that the crystallites merge and overgrow each other and precipitation eventually occurs upon large, planar crystal faces. Stalactitic carbonate growth is secondary, from a multi-crystalline precursor that …

On The Wad-Minerals From The Cavern Environment, Naruhiko Kashima

International Journal of Speleology

The wad-minerals from limestone caves of Yugoslavia, China and Japan were studied. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed five minerals; birnessite, 10A-manganite, pyrolusite, todorokite and goethite. The heavy metal elements, Mn, Zn, Fe and Cr have been detected by X-ray fluorescence analysis and their contents were roughly determined. The condensation water introduced directly from the covering soils formed by the continental weathering and the deriving corrosive water interaction with limestone could be the input sources of manganese and other metal elements into the system.

Lattice Deformation And Curvature In Stalactitic Carbonate, Paul L. Broughton

International Journal of Speleology

The cause of lattice curvature is related to the nature of growth on a curved surface, peculiar to stalactites and stalagmites. Lattice curvature in stalactitic carbonate results from the coalescence of sub-parallel to divergent syntaxial overgrowth crystallites on the growing surface of stalactites and stalagmites. Moderate lattice mismatch results in an undulose extinction, or subcrystal domains, whereas more divergent growth favours marked lattice curvature recognized by its optical brush-extinction. Extreme lattice mismatch between the precursor crystallites results a columnar crystal boundary instead of lattice curvature.

Problemas De Fugas A Través Del Karst En La Presa De Tous (España) (Análisis Estructural, Previsión Del Comportamiento Y Recomendeciones), Adolfo Eraso, José Vicente Navarro, Felix Parra, Julia Saint-Aubin, Consuelo Valdes, Juan Pablo Cano, Jésus Ribelles, Joaquin Del Val, Fernando Bermejo

International Journal of Speleology

In the present work, the problems of leakages happened in Tous’s dam (Valencia-Spain) are studied. Tous’s dam is built on karstic terrains with the existence of caverns and strike-slip faults that at the same time become karstic. In this study the techniques of structural geology are applied, so, we deduct the karstic drainage directions, by using determined hypothesis of work. The confirmation of these hypotheses in the course of our fieldwork has permitted to quantify the probability of those leakages for each direction we found. This circumstance has permitted to foretell the places where it would be possible to expect …

Three Groundwater Candoninae (Ostracoda) From Romania, Dan L. Danielopol

International Journal of Speleology

Description of Mixtcandona botosaneanu, Mixtacandona loffleri and Phreatocandona motasi, are presented. The first two species belong to the group laisi-chappuisi and have been found in porous and karstic aquifers in Southwest Romania in or near the Lower Danube Valley. Phreatocandona motasi occurs in a porous aquifer in the Olt Valley, at Jiblea, near Calimanesti. Biogeographical information on the present distribution of the Mixtacandona of the group laisi-chappuisi and on the subterranean Candoninae from the Lower Danube Valley in Romania is given.

Observations On The Biology Of Cave Planarians Of The United States, Jerry H. Carpenter

International Journal of Speleology

Observations are made on the biology of several species of cave planarians (mostly of the family Kenkiidae) collected alive from over 50 caves in 14 states. Most of these species were maintained in laboratory cultures at 12°C±3°C. Food eaten was extremely variable. Functions of the anterior adhesive organ included food capture, locomotion, defence against predators, and probably chemoreception, mechanoreception, and as a holdfast in strong currents. Predators probably consist of fishes, crayfishes, and salamanders. Sporozoan and ciliated parasites were found occasionally. Cocoons were found in winter, spring, and summer; they hatched in about 3 months and contained 2 to 17 …

Paramexiweckelia, A New Genus Of Subterranean Amphipod Crustacean (Hadziidae) From Northern Mexico, John R. Holsinger

International Journal of Speleology

Paramexiweckelia, new genus, is described from a groundwater outlet in Cohauila, Mexico. The type-species, by monotypy, is Mexiweckelia particeps Holsinger. Based on the number of its plesiomorphic (ancestral) characters, this genus is the most primitive member of the family Hadziidae from the North American mainland.

Lamtobathynella Pentodonta N.G., N.Sp., Leptobathynellidé Nouveau D'Afrique (Côte D'Lvoire) (Malacostraca, Bathynellacea), Eugène Serban, Nicole Coineau

International Journal of Speleology

Lamtobathynella pentodonta n.g., n.sp. is described. We consider then its relations with the genus Leptobathynella and Parvulobathynella. Some observations about the most characteristic features of The VIIIth male pereiopods are made. This study ends with a discussion concerning the differences between Lamtobathynella pentodonta n.g., n.sp. and Acanthobathynella knoepffleri Coineau.

A Contribution To The Knowledge Of The Invertebrate Cave Faunas Of Venezuela: Invertebrate Faunas Of Tropical American Caves, Part 4, Stewart B. Peck

International Journal of Speleology

The invertebrate faunas of four caves in northern Venezuela were studied. Three were dry and one was a wet cave; but guano provided the base of the food chain in all four caves. The faunas in each were strikingly different. Of 24 non-accidental species of arthropods, all were judged to be troglophiles. All were scavengers except for 5 predators, one ectoparasite, and one parasitoid.

Effets Des Informations Chimiques Provenant D'Un Milieu Habité Par Des Congénères Sur I'Orientation Topographique Du Poisson Cavernicole Phreatichthys Andruzzii Vinciguerra (Pisces, Cyprinidae), R. Berti, G. Thinès, B. Lefèvre

International Journal of Speleology

Two series of experiments were performed on the oriented locomotor responses of 27 specimens of the blind cave fish Phreatichthys andruzzii from Somalia using a three-compartment choice apparatus. The oriented responses were observed individually from the central compartment towards either of the extreme ones. In one of them, 500 ml water were introduced from either the tank in which the test fish had previously resided with conspecifics (1st series, 46 experiments) or from another tank occupied by unknown conspecifics, the other compartment receiving an equivalent volume of pure water. The two series were performed in random blocks of 6 experiments, …

Stenasellus Chapmani N. Sp. Crustacea Isopoda Asellota Des Eaux Souterraines De Bornéo (Sarawak), Guy Magniez

International Journal of Speleology

The females of a new species of Stenasellidae have been discovered in Snake Cave (= Gua Siput), in Sarawak, 4th Division, Malaysia (Gunong Mulu National Park, Borneo Island), by Mr. Philip Chapman, of Bristol, U.K., during an expedition of the Royal Geographical Society. The females of another larger species were known previously from several Cambodian caves. This suggests the existence of a general distribution of this family in the underground waters of the Peninsula and of the large Islands of the Indochinese Platform. Nevertheless, we must wait for the discovery of the males of these species to study their relationships, …

Absolute Population Censuses Of Cave-Dwelling Crickets: Congruence Between Mark-Recapture And Plot Density Estimates, Gianmaria Carchini, Mauro Rampini, Valerio Sbordoni

International Journal of Speleology

The absolute size, N, of a Dolichopoda geniculata population was estimated both by the Lincoln-Petersen index and the total count on sample plot methods in a natural cave in Central Italy. 19 pairs of estimates, obtained over 2 years, exhibit a seasonal pattern and a mean value of N ≈ 430. Differences between estimates obtained with the 2 methods are not significant (P > 0.8). These results, and data from the literature enable most of the major factors influencing the two types of estimates to be identified. Respective cases where methods may be preferably applied are suggested.

Variation Among Populations Of The Troglobitic Amphipod Crustacean Crangonyx Antennatus Packard (Crangonyctidae) Living In Different Habitats Ii. Population Distribution, Gary W. Dickson

International Journal of Speleology

Population densities and factors affecting the distribution of the troglobitic (i.e., obligatory cavernicole) amphipod Crangonyx antennatus were examined in two distinct aquatic habitats. Observations were made seasonally for one year in six Lee Co., Virginia (U.S.A.) caves, three with mud-bottom pools and three with gravel-bottom streams. Pool habitats were found to contain greater C. antennatus densities than stream habitats, while the highest seasonal densities were recorded in August. Availability of food is considered to be the major factor allowing these increased population densities. The population distribution of C. antennatus was not found to be related to current velocity, water depth, …

Sur Une Nouvelle Espèce Cavernicole Du Genre Cyathura (Isopoda, Anthuridae), (Résultats Zoologiques De La Mission Spéléologique Britannique En Papouasie-Nouvelle Guinée, 1975, 7), Stoitze Andreev

International Journal of Speleology

The present paper deals with the description of a new species of the genus Cyathura - C. beroni n.sp. - discovered in the caves in Papua New Guinea.

Investigations Of The Troglobitic Crayfish Orconectes Inermis Testii (Hay) In Mayfield's Cave, Monroe County, Indiana, H. H. Hobbs Iii

International Journal of Speleology

Mark-recapture studies of some aspects of the biology of the cavernicolous crayfish, Orconectes inermis testii (Hay), were conducted from December, 1969 to March, 1970, in Mayfield’s Cave, Monroe County, Indiana. Population size was estimated to be 66 +/- 9 (95% C.L.) for the 300 m study area, but because of the small sample size, this is undoubtedly a deflated value. Size of animals, expressed as total length, indicates that the population was comprised primarily of adults. Seventy-four percent of the marked crayfish moved no more than 10.5 m away (total upstream and downstream distances) from the tagging site. Hence, this …

Biogeographical And Paleobiogeographical Problems In Stenasellids (Crustacea Isopoda Asellota Of Underground Waters), Guy J. Magniez

International Journal of Speleology

Considering their systematic isolation among present Asellota, their strong burrowing behaviour, their aptitude for interstitial life and their wide north-tropical present distribution, the history of Stenasellid Crustaceans seems to be marked by the antiquity of their settlements in continental groundwaters (Middle Cretaceous period?) and a long stage of life in phreatic waters on permanently emerged paleotropical continents during the Cenozoic Era. The resemblance between some forms of the Guinean shield and Mexico sets the problem of the anteriority of their continental conquest to South Atlantic drift. The repartition of Mediterranean European forms appears as a consequence of paleogeographical changes in …

Fluoreszenzmikroskopische Untersuchung Der Bakterienflora Und Bestimmung Ihrer Heterotrophen Aktiviät In Organisch Belastetem Und Unbelastetem Grundwasser Sandig-Kiesiger Ablagerungen, Jürgen Marxsen

International Journal of Speleology

Bacteriological investigations were carried out in the groundwater of sandy and gravelly deposits of the river Fulda valley in an area named "Johannesaue" near the town Fulda (Hesse, Fed. Rep. of Germany). In January 1979 water samples were collected from 16 pumping tubes distributed in organically polluted and unpolluted areas. For characterizing the bacterial populations, methods used for surface waters were modified and, as far as the author is aware, these methods were used for the first time for investigations pertaining subterranean waters. The bacteria were counted by means of epifluorescence microscopy after staining the bacteria with the fluorochrome acridine …

Genetic Differentiation In Populations Of The Freshwater Amphipod Gammarus Minus Say In A Karst Area, Steven W. Hetrick, James L. Gooch

International Journal of Speleology

The genetic makeup of populations in a particular geographic area should conform, in part, to environmental structure. Three polymorphic enzyme loci in the amphipod Gammarus minus are geographically differentiated in gene frequencies in the mid-Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States, and genetic breaks usually coincide with topographical features and stream divides. Areas with well integrated drainage systems have a high degree of genetic uniformity.

Genetic Population Structure In An Amphipod Species, James L. Gooch, S. W. Golladay

International Journal of Speleology

Genetic structure of a species should conform, in part, to environmental structure. Three polymorphic enzyme loci in the amphipod Gammarus minus Say are geographically differentiated in gene frequencies in the mid-Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States, and genetic breaks usually coincide with topographical features and stream divides. Considering alleles as migrational markers, it is expected that heterozygosity would decrease upstream in isolated drainage basins, increase in the headwaters of adjacent but oppositely flowing streams in which gene exchange was occurring between genetically differentiated populations, and increase in sites near regional master streams. These genetic patterns were found to exist …

Perspectives In The Study Of The Zoogeography Of Interstitial Crustacea: Bathynellacea (Syncarida) And Parastenocarididae (Copepoda), Horst Kurt Schminke

International Journal of Speleology

Aspects of the zoogeography of Bathynellacea and Parastenocarididae are discussed in the light of my recent investigations. Parastenocarididae in Australia are rare and not very diverse in number of species. Four species belonging to three genera were collected on a tour through Australia in 1968. Despite relationships to species from other Gondwanian landmasses the poorness of the Australian fauna, together with the apparent ability of this family to spread over longer distances, suggest a late arrival of Parastenocarididae in Australia. Invasion is likely to have taken place from two directions. As for the Bathynellacea, the relationships presumed to exist between …