In situ evaluation of the food input in the different zones of a cave: case study and methodological recommendations

Authors

  • Pavel Dodonov Universidade Federal de São Carlos
  • Juliana Ribeirão de Freitas Universidade Federal de São Carlos
  • Rogerio Franco Flores Tezori Universidade Federal de São Carlos
  • Maria Elina Bichuette Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva. Laboratório de Estudos Subterrâneos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7594/revbio.10.02.02

Keywords:

Guano, Vegetal debris, Roots, Subterranean environment.

Abstract

Due to the absence of light, cave environments are devoid of photosynthesizing organisms, and depend on the input of food from above ground. We compared the quantity of food available in the different zones of two caves in Serra da Canastra, MG. The amount of plant debris was highest in the entrance zone, intermediate in the twilight zone, and minimal in the dark zone. Guano was practically absent from the entrance zone, but did not present any clear pattern between the twilight and the dark zones. Therefore, plant debris seem to be more important in the entrance zone, and guano in deeper zones. We conclude with some methodological recommendations related to the quantification of food input and to statistical inference.

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Published

2018-04-23

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2013): Especial Biologia de Cavernas

Section

Artigo

License

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How to Cite

Dodonov, P., Freitas, J. R. de, Tezori, R. F. F., & Bichuette, M. E. (2018). In situ evaluation of the food input in the different zones of a cave: case study and methodological recommendations. Revista Da Biologia, 10(2), 8-12. https://doi.org/10.7594/revbio.10.02.02