Three new hypogean species of the Iberian genus Roncocreagris Mahnert, 1974 are described from mainland Portugal: R. borgesi sp. nov. and R. gepesi sp. nov. from caves in the Sicó massif, and R. occidentalis sp. nov. from caves in the Montejunto and Cesaredas karst plateau. This brings to nine the number of known hypogean species of the mostly Iberian genus Roncocreagris: five from Portugal and...

Two new species of anophthalmic ground beetles belonging to the subfamily Trechinae are described: Cimmeritodes (Zhecimmerites) parvus Tian & Li, sp. n. and Wanoblemus wui Tian & Fang, gen. n., sp. n. Both were discovered in the limestone caves of Anhui Province in eastern China. Cimmeritodes (Zhecimmerites) parvus was found in caves Ziwei Dong, Xianren Dong and Qingtai Dong, whereas Wanoblemus...

Thomas M. Iliffe Bermuda Biological Station for Research Ferry Reach GE 01, Bermuda Significant biological and geological discoveries have resulted from the use of specialized cave diving techniques for the exploration and study of anchialine caves. Many new and higher taxa of troglobitic organisms have been found, some of which are relic "living fossils". Marine troglobites have at least three...

In caves, microorganisms (algae, bacteria, archaea, fungi, protoza, and viruses) are major producers and consumers of organic matter and contribute to the formation of several types of minerals. However, with the notable exception of sulfide-based ecosystems, little is known about community composition, their specific adaptations to the subterranean ecosystem, their biogeographical distribution...

BACKGROUND The endemic and threatened troglobites (organisms restricted to caves) Charinus eleonorae (Amblypygi) and Iandumoema uai (Opiliones), both from Olhos d'Água cave, located at Peruaçu Caves National Park (southeast Brazil), have their distribution expanded for a new locality inside of the National Park (Lapa do Cipó cave), extending their distribution at least in 9.5km(2). NEW INFORM...

One unresolved issue in geomicrobiology is the involvement of microbial activity in the formation of secondary mineral deposits, or speleothems, in caves. Although there is extensive literature demonstrating the importance of bacteria in the precipitation of calcite in noncave environments, the role that these organisms play within caves remains unclear. Evidence in support of microbial involve...

Uranium-thorium dating of speleothems from two caves in the Junee-Florentine karst, Tasmania, provides some age constraints for associated clastic sediments including coarse dolerite-rich fluvial gravels, which underlie the three oldest dated speleothems. The results suggest minimum ages of 15 ± 5 ka, ~325 ka and >350 ka (two dates) for the gravels, implying that they are considerably older tha...

Abstract Caves on planet Mars could potentially contain water ice deposits. Here, the physical processes responsible for growth and preservation of spelean formations are assessed. Martian caves situated in environments where phase transitions only by sublimation. The predominant type cave is expected to be perennial hoarfrost that slowly grows supersaturated cavities. role microclimates mainta...