Cave Ecosystems
No two caves will have the same exact ecosystem. In many places caves act as their own localized ecosystem, and caves across the world will differ wildly from one another.
Other People Are Reading
-
Cave Animals
-
Many animals take shelter in caves, or even live in caves. These animals are part of any local cave ecosystem, and while bats might be among the most common and famous, many insects, snakes and other animals evolve in unique ways to individual cave systems. Two of the most common groups of cave animals are trogloxenes, or cave users, and troglobites, which are also known as cave dwellers.
Bats
-
Many cave ecosystems are dominated by bats. Bats across the world love caves and tend to be a part of any given cave environment. These mammals sometimes eat insects, while in other parts of the world they eat fruit.
-
Users Versus Dwellers
-
Cave ecosystems vary greatly based on whether they are inhabited by cave users or cave dwellers. Dwellers such as bats or, in some places, bears use caves as homes. Users are animals that may use caves but can migrate, sleep in the open or move on and are not dependent on cave systems.
Ecosystem Dangers
-
The most common danger to cave ecosystems are humans. People can cause damage by not exploring caves properly, by having fires or simply by clearing out animals due to misconceptions about them.
-
References
- Photo Credit cave image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
