Hypogenic versus epigenic subterranean ecosystem: lessons from eastern Iberian Peninsula

Sendra, Alberto; Garay, Policarp; Ortuño, Vicente M.; Gilgado, José D.; Teruel, Santiago; Reboleira, Ana Sofía P.S.

doi:10.5038/1827-806x.43.3.2

Cited by 18 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…This is mostly because spatial boundaries and species composition of the communities are difficult to define, especially when considering MSS and its interconnections with the deep hypogean domain. Relying on the classical definitions (Racovitza 1907, Juberthie 2000, Culver and Pipan 2009b, Sendra et al (2014) recently defined the subterranean domain as "[...] a network of intercommunicated micro, meso and macro voids, filled or not with meteoric water, extending from the surface towards the subsurface, allowing the movement of fauna communities and nutrients mostly from the surface." Accordingly, the connections between the superficial and the deep subterranean compartments represent an ideal ecological continuum with undefined boundaries, with the MSS acting as an extension of the deep hypogean domain toward the surface.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ecological survey of the invertebrate community at the epigean/hypogean interface

Mammola¹,

Piano²,

Giachino³

et al. 2017

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We studied the ecological continuum between caves and the associated network of fissures -Milieu Souterrain Superficiel (MSS) -in an hypogean site in the Graian Alps, Italy. Over one year, we surveyed the faunal assemblages by means of pitfall traps placed in the caves and specific subterranean sampling devices (SSD) buried in the MSS. We used generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) and generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) to compare the spatial and temporal dynamics of the subterranean invertebrates inhabiting the two environments. As expected, arthropod communities occurring near the surface were characterized by minor level of subterranean adaptations, and conversely, subterranean species were more abundant and diversified at higher depths, both in the caves and in the MSS. Diversity and abundance of external elements in the superficial layers were found to be highly seasonal dependent, with minor values in winter compared to the other seasons. We provided information about the faunal assemblages dwelling in the two hypogean compartments, and we characterized the microclimatic conditions therein. We discussed the existence of an ecological gradient of specialization extending from the surface to the deep hypogean layers, which can be interpreted in light of the microclimatic changes occurring at increasing depths and the parallel decrease in available organic matter.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ecological survey of the invertebrate community at the epigean/hypogean interface

Mammola¹,

Piano²,

Giachino³

et al. 2017

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“…Overall, the Prebaetic System is characterized by its alternation of carbonate rock massifs from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods with marlstone depressions (Durán, López, & Vallejo, ), sprinkled with hundreds of epigenic caves and a few hypogenic ones. Twenty‐one caves were selected for this study (Table ), of which three have an hypogenic speleogenesis: the Autopista and Far caves (Sendra et al., ) and the Puerto cave (Ros & Llamusí, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another important factor that needs to be kept in mind in order to understand biodiversity patterns in caves is their speleogenesis history (Sendra et al., ). Contrary to the traditional epigenic karstification process, the formation of hypogenic caves occurs due to ascending corrosive fluxes under confined conditions (Klimchouk, , ; Kimchouk, Ford, Palmer, & Dreybrodt, ; Klimchouk & Ford, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contrary to the traditional epigenic karstification process, the formation of hypogenic caves occurs due to ascending corrosive fluxes under confined conditions (Klimchouk, , ; Kimchouk, Ford, Palmer, & Dreybrodt, ; Klimchouk & Ford, ). The fact that hypogenesis occurs with poor or no connection to the surface due to confining layers of nonkarstificable rocks implies the late colonization of caves; this is only possible when the system connects to the surface or to other subterranean habitats as a result of the erosion of the confining layers (Sendra et al., ). Some decades ago, hypogenic karst was considered exceptionally rare, but now it is well known and is accepted as being present in many karst regions around the world (Klimchouk, ; Klimchouk & Ford, ; Kimchouk et al., ; Chavez & Reehling, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some decades ago, hypogenic karst was considered exceptionally rare, but now it is well known and is accepted as being present in many karst regions around the world (Klimchouk, ; Klimchouk & Ford, ; Kimchouk et al., ; Chavez & Reehling, ). It has been argued that the speleogenesis process may be the culprit in the scarcity of subterranean‐adapted fauna in certain environmentally suitable cave systems (Sendra et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Energy and speleogenesis: Key determinants of terrestrial species richness in caves

Jiménez‐Valverde

Sendra

Garay

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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The aim of this study was to unravel the relative role played by speleogenesis (i.e., the process in which a cave is formed), landscape‐scale variables, and geophysical factors in the determination of species richness in caves. Biological inventories from 21 caves located in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula along with partial least square (PLS) regression analysis were used to assess the relative importance of the different explanatory variables. The caves were grouped according to the similarity in their species composition; the effect that spatial distance could have on similarity was also studied using correlation between matrices. The energy and speleogenesis of caves accounted for 44.3% of the variation in species richness. The trophic level of each cave was the most significant factor in PLS regression analysis, and epigenic caves (i.e., those formed by the action of percolating water) had significantly more species than hypogenic ones (i.e., those formed by the action of upward flows in confined aquifers). Dissimilarity among the caves was very high (multiple‐site βsim = 0.92). Two main groups of caves were revealed through the cluster analysis, one formed by the western caves and the other by the eastern ones. The significant—but low—correlation found between faunistic dissimilarity and geographical distance (r = .16) disappeared once the caves were split into the two groups. The extreme beta‐diversity suggests a very low connection among the caves and/or a very low dispersal capacity of the species. In the region under study, two main factors are intimately related to the richness of terrestrial subterranean species in caves: the amount of organic material (trophic level) and the formation process (genesis). This is the first time that the history of a cave genesis has been quantitatively considered to assess its importance in explaining richness patterns in comparison with other factors more widely recognized.

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Biodiversity of the Thysanurans (Microcoryphia and Zygentoma)

Mendes

2018

Insect Biodiversity

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Hypogenic versus epigenic subterranean ecosystem: lessons from eastern Iberian Peninsula

Cited by 18 publications

References 10 publications

An ecological survey of the invertebrate community at the epigean/hypogean interface

An ecological survey of the invertebrate community at the epigean/hypogean interface

Energy and speleogenesis: Key determinants of terrestrial species richness in caves

Biodiversity of the Thysanurans (Microcoryphia and Zygentoma)

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