Search Results (48)

This article investigates liuli qinglou (琉璃青樓, blue–green glazed pavilions) of medieval China as architectural manifestations of the trans-Eurasian jeweled paradise ideal. Tracing developments from the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420–589 CE) through the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), it outlines an evolutionary trajectory in representing sacred space: from the use of genuine gemstones in West Asian traditions, through their imitation in glass and glazed ceramics, with applications before the Tang remaining selective and elite, to the ultimate abstraction into symbolic blue–green palettes in the cave murals of Kucha and Dunhuang, where chromatic choices may at times reflect pictorial convention. Integrating textual, archeological, and visual evidence, the study shows how Chinese rulers appropriated imported glazing technologies, together with painted or coated blue–green finishes that simulated liuli effects, not merely for ornamentation but to materially embody Buddhist cosmology and to legitimize imperial authority by creating a terrestrial Buddha land. The pervasive use of qing (青, blue–green) in religious art thus reflects a profound sensory-theological translation, illustrating how Eurasian flows of materials, techniques, and ideas were adapted to shape localized visions of paradise through innovative processes of material and visual transformation. Full article

Three new species of Trichorhina are described from iron ore caves in the Serra dos Carajás Mountain Range, located in the Amazon Forest, Brazil. Trichorhina tucupi n. sp. occurs in Serra Leste, Serra da Bocaina and Serra do Tarzan Mountain Ranges. Trichorhina tacaca n. sp. occurs in caves in the Serra Norte Mountain Range. Trichorhina piloi n. sp. occurs in the Serra Sul and Serra Norte Mountain Ranges. Statistical methods were applied to investigate the putative morphological patterns of these species and to investigate their potential use in distinguishing Trichorhina species from epigean and hypogean habitats. Full article

From August 2021 to December 2023, one adult male Mediterranean monk seal was repeatedly registered, through a systematic monitoring camera system, frequenting a marine cave in southern Kefalonia Island, central Ionian Sea, Greece. The presence of the same adult seal in a series of caves and overhangs in a bay in northwestern Zakynthos, southern Ionian Sea, in September 2023 and May 2024 was verified through opportunistic surveys and citizen science. The two locations are ca. 15 km apart and each is located in a different marine NATURA 2000 site. Appropriate conservation measures need to take into consideration the fact that seals do move between Kefalonia and Zakynthos (and possibly also other Ionian islands) and that the entire area has to be considered as a single “conservation unit” rather than elaborating protection measures on a small scale around a couple of resting and pupping caves alone. A full network of marine caves under strict protection surrounded by a buffer zone, taking into account at least the species’ home range, is needed in order to substantially cover the monk seal’s critical terrestrial habitats throughout the Ionian Sea. Full article

In this study, a systematic review of the scientific literature was carried out to summarize the emerging evidence on microplastic pollution in natural caves. After the screening of 655 papers on the topic from a combined search on the Web of Knowledge and the Scopus databases, we found only 14 studies reporting quantitative data on microplastics from a total of 27 natural caves. Most of the assessments focused on water and sediment, with very limited investigations concerning the cave biota. Overall, the most common types of particles found in caves were small (<1 mm) fibers (~70–90% of items), transparent or light-colored, mostly made of polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. Anthropogenic cellulosic materials, however, represented a non-negligible portion of particles (i.e., ~20–30%). Microplastic concentrations in caves varied between 0.017 and 911 items/L for water and 7.9 and 4777 items/kg for sediment, thus falling within the levels of microplastic pollution found in other terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments. Levels of microplastic pollution appear largely variable among caves, stressing the need to extend the geographic and environmental ranges of the assessments, which are currently concentrated on Italian caves on land, with very few case studies from other regions of the world and from marine caves. Despite their putative isolation, natural caves have a high vulnerability to microplastic contamination, requiring much more research effort to understand the potential risk that plastics pose to these fragile ecosystems. Full article

The terrestrial subsurface harbors unique microbial communities that play important biogeochemical roles and allow for studying a yet unknown fraction of the Earth’s biodiversity. The Saint-Leonard cave in Montreal City (Canada) is of glaciotectonic origin. Its speleogenesis traces back to the withdrawal of the Laurentide Ice Sheet 13,000 years ago, during which the moving glacier dislocated the sedimentary rock layers. Our study is the first to investigate the microbial communities of the Saint-Leonard cave. By using amplicon sequencing, we analyzed the taxonomic diversity and composition of bacterial, archaeal and eukaryote communities living in the groundwater (0.1 µm- and 0.2 µm-filtered water), in the sediments and in surface soils. We identified a microbial biodiversity typical of cave ecosystems. Communities were mainly shaped by habitat type and harbored taxa associated with a wide variety of lifestyles and metabolic capacities. Although we found evidence of a geochemical connection between the above soils and the cave’s galleries, our results suggest that the community assembly dynamics are driven by habitat selection rather than dispersal. Furthermore, we found that the cave’s groundwater, in addition to being generally richer in microbial taxa than sediments, contained a considerable diversity of ultra-small bacteria and archaea. Full article

Sulfidic caves support diverse and abundant subterranean communities, including numerous endemic species and complex food webs, though the full extent of species diversity and resource utilization in these ecosystems remains largely unexplored. This paper presents the results of biological surveys conducted from 2023 to 2024 in Sulfur Cave, located in the Vromoner Canyon on the Greek–Albanian border, focusing on microbial, vertebrate, and invertebrate communities and investigating the structure of the subterranean food web. The microbial communities from the different biofilms are dominated by chemosynthetic sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms, specifically filamentous bacteria such as Thiotrix and Beggiatoa. Two species of fish, an eel (Anguilla sp.) and a Cyprinid (Alburnoides sp.), and six bat species from three families (Rhinolophidae, Miniopteridae, and Vespertilionidae) were documented. The invertebrate fauna includes five aquatic species, 25 terrestrial species, and four amphibiotic species. Among these, eight species are endemic, and seven species exhibit troglomorphic traits. Stable isotope analysis showed light carbon and nitrogen values for the terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, suggesting that subterranean communities rely on food produced in situ by chemoautotrophic microorganisms. Our results identified cave areas of significant biological relevance and provided reference data to inform conservation actions aimed at preserving the biodiversity of this sulfidic cave. Full article

The Balkan region is rich in limestone deposits, which have created one of the largest hotspots of subterranean biodiversity. This paper gives an overview of the diversity of subterranean terrestrial arthropods in Resava Cave in eastern Serbia. This cave is protected and has the status of a natural monument. At the same time, it is one of the most visited caves in Serbia and its surroundings. Our study comprises the results of three years of biospeleological investigations of the famous Serbian cave in combination with data from the few available literature sources on the arthropod fauna of the cave. The arthropod samples were collected both manually and with pitfall traps. A total of 107 arthropod species from the four major subphyla were registered in the cave: 66 species of Hexapoda, 27 species of Chelicerata, 11 species of Myriapoda and three species of Crustacea. For four troglobitic, 16 troglophilic and 87 trogloxenic species recorded in the cave, descriptions of their microhabitats and information on their distribution in the cave are given. Considering the medium size of Resava Cave and the lack of permanent water flow in the two main levels on the one hand, and the large number of arthropod species recorded on the other, the cave is relatively rich in hypogean terrestrial arthropod fauna compared to other caves in Serbia that have been biospeleologically studied so far. Full article

The coconut crab, Birgus latro, has black protrusions on the tops of its walking legs and claw fingers. In addition, there are regularly aligned small black protrusions on parts of the exoskeleton surface of the claws and leg. In this study, the elemental composition, crystal structure, tissue structure, and mechanical properties of these protrusions were studied using a materials science approach, and the results were compared with those of mineralized cuticle. These leg tips were found to be a non-calcified fibrous tissue of α-chitin connected to the mineralized cuticle. The tip of the second walking leg was elongated and had a pointed shape with an oval cavity at its center that was more than 1000 times larger than the pore tubes (100–350 nm) of the mineralized cuticle. It was very soft, with a hardness of 0.4 GPa, corresponding to 11–12% of the hardness of the hard exocuticle and 55–57% of the hardness of the soft endocuticle. The elastic modulus of 8.0 GPa obtained by means of nanoindentation testing was consistent with that of α-chitin fibers of shrimp shells obtained by means of tensile testing. These soft protrusions provide a secure grip on the surfaces of trees or rocks and protect the claw fingertips. It was concluded that the black protrusions are related to a unique ecological (engaging in vertical movements, entering and exiting limestone caves, and escape behavior) aspect of the coconut crab, the largest terrestrial crustacean. Full article

Subterranean karst caves are windows into the terrestrial subsurface to deconstruct the dimensions of mycobiome fingerprints. However, impeded by the constraints of remote locations, the inaccessibility of specimens and technical limitations, the mycobiome of subterranean karst caves has remained largely unknown. Weathered rock and sediment samples were collected from Luohandu cave (Guilin, Southern China) and subjected to Illumina Hiseq sequencing of ITS1 genes. A total of 267 known genera and 90 known orders in 15 phyla were revealed in the mycobiomes. Ascomycota dominated all samples, followed by Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota. The sediments possessed the relatively highest alpha diversity and were significantly different from weathered rocks according to the diversity indices and richness metrics. Fifteen families and eight genera with significant differences were detected in the sediment samples. The Ca/Mg ratio appeared to significantly affect the structure of the mycobiome communities. Ascomycota appeared to exert a controlling influence on the mycobiome co-occurrence network of the sediments, while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were found to be the main phyla in the mycobiome co-occurrence network of weathered rocks. Our results provide a more comprehensive dimension to the mycobiome fingerprints of Luohandu cave and a new window into the mycobiome communities and the ecology of subterranean karst cave ecosystems. Full article

This paper addresses the conservation problems of the cave of Altamira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain, due to the effects of moisture and water inside the cave. The study focuses on the description of methods for estimating the trajectory and zones of humidity from the external environment to its eventual dripping on valuable cave paintings. To achieve this objective, several multisensor remote sensing techniques, both aerial and terrestrial, such as 3D laser scanning, a 2D ground penetrating radar, photogrammetry with unmanned aerial vehicles, and high-resolution terrestrial techniques are employed. These tools allow a detailed spatial analysis of the moisture and water in the cave. The paper highlights the importance of the dolomitic layer in the cave and how it influences the preservation of the ceiling, which varies according to its position, whether it is sealed with calcium carbonate, actively dripping, or not dripping. In addition, the crucial role of the central fracture and the areas of direct water infiltration in this process is examined. This research aids in understanding and conserving the site. It offers a novel approach to water-induced deterioration in rock art for professionals and researchers. Full article

The conquest of land by arthropods is commonly believed to be a surface phenomenon associated with the arrival of photosynthetic plants, atmospheric oxygenation, and an ozone shield in the mid-Paleozoic Era. However, recent molecular and fossil evidence suggests terrestrial fauna may have first appeared in the Cambrian, before the proliferation of plants and ozone, which are thought to be essential for survival. This raises the question—how could arthropods survive on land without established plants and an ozone shield? We propose a hypothesis that chemolithoautotrophic cave ecosystems, independent of photosynthesis, may have served as a subsurface stepping stone, providing a possible explanation for the land invasion enigma. Chemolithoautrophic caves have offered abundant food and radiation protection, enabling ancient arthropods to evolve strategies to adapt to new frontiers through gradual dispersion from the sea to shielded cave waters, then to cave hygropetric margins of cave waters, and, finally, to the surface. Full article

Integrating geomatics remote sensing technologies, including 3D terrestrial laser scanning, unmanned aerial vehicles, and ground penetrating radar enables the generation of comprehensive 2D, 2.5D, and 3D documentation for caves and their surroundings. This study focuses on the Altamira Cave’s karst system in Spain, resulting in a thorough 3D mapping encompassing both cave interior and exterior topography along with significant discontinuities and karst features in the vicinity. Crucially, GPR mapping confirms that primary vertical discontinuities extend from the near-surface (Upper Layer) to the base of the Polychrome layer housing prehistoric paintings. This discovery signifies direct interconnections helping with fluid exchange between the cave’s interior and exterior, a groundbreaking revelation. Such fluid movement has profound implications for site conservation. The utilization of various GPR antennas corroborates the initial hypothesis regarding fluid exchanges and provides concrete proof of their occurrence. This study underscores the indispensability of integrated 3D mapping and GPR techniques for monitoring fluid dynamics within the cave. These tools are vital for safeguarding Altamira, a site of exceptional significance due to its invaluable prehistoric cave paintings. Full article

Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain) is one of the most important Neolithic impressed ware culture archaeological sites in the Western Mediterranean. It has been widely referenced since it was excavated in the 1920s, due partly to the relatively early excavation and publication of the site, and partly to the qualitative and quantitative importance of its archaeological remains. Unfortunately, as it was an older excavation and lacked present-day rigorous methodological approaches, this important site has been somewhat relegated to the background in the reviews about the Neolithic at the end of the 20th century. However, during the last few years, both the site itself and its archaeological remains have been the object of new studies that hopefully will return the site to the forefront of discussions about the Mediterranean Neolithic. We here present the most relevant results of the research carried out by our group (i.e., pottery study, radiocarbon dating, and isotope analysis), and contextualize them within the dense research history of the cave and the studies carried out by other colleagues with the purpose of revisiting its materials and increasing the knowledge available from the site. Radiocarbon dates on human remains show that the cave was used during prehistoric times as a funerary space longer than expected, and also sporadically afterwards. The characterization of the pottery assemblage concludes that most materials belong to the Early Neolithic. Isotopic analysis portrays an overall similar diet based on terrestrial C₃ resources throughout prehistoric times, with a possible varied dietary protein input between individuals during the Early Neolithic. Full article

Geodetic methods are integral to mapping surface and subsurface objects and phenomena. Modern geodetic technologies such as laser scanning and digital photogrammetry have also become a standard part of the mapping and documentation of cave spaces. In some cases, these technologies cannot accurately capture the measured surface and thus provide reliable data. One such example is the ice with specific surface characteristics in caves with ice deposits. One of the world’s most studied ice caves is the Dobšiná Ice Cave (Slovakia), which has undergone significant changes in the ice-filling area and volume in recent years. To monitor and analyze all these changes properly, we need to know the surface and volume of this ice mass and monitor it regularly. Where modern geodetic methods such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) or digital photogrammetry may fail due to the ice’s physical properties, we propose using cross-polarized Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. As a case study, this method was used in a 28 m long ice tunnel in this cave. Two polarizing filters (on the flash as a light source and on the camera lens) were used in 90° rotation to each other to achieve the cross-polarization effect and remove surface reflections. This removed the surface reflections, giving us a compact and accurate point cloud of the entire tunnel. The dense cloud from cross-polarized (CP) photogrammetry is denser and more compact and does not contain as many outliers and noise points when compared to non-cross-polarized (non-CP) photogrammetry. The TLS point cloud covers the entire surface of the tunnel without significant holes; however, the penetration of the beam through the ice makes such a cloud unusable. Only the cloud from CP photogrammetry covers the entire surface of the tunnel densely enough without additional noise. This methodology can then be used in other parts of the cave or other geomorphological applications to suppress reflections so high-quality results for further processing and analysis can be obtained. Full article

The Western Balkan’s Vjetrenica Cave in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina is renowned for high richness of subterranean species. However, the data on its fauna have been published only in monographs printed in a small number of copies, making them hardly accessible to the wider scientific community. To overcome this issue, we compiled the data from published monographs with the data from our own recent field surveys. Further, as they are connected via water channels or small crevices in bedrock, we defined the Vjetrenica Cave System as a system comprising Vjetrenica and Bjelušica Caves and Lukavac Spring. Altogether, 93 troglobiotic, i.e., obligate subterranean aquatic (48) and terrestrial (45), taxa were reported for the system, verifying the Vjetrenica Cave System as the second richest locality in subterranean biodiversity in the world. The global uniqueness of the system is also reflected in the fact that as many as 40 troglobiotic species were described from the system. Finally, we reviewed the factors endangering this unique subterranean community and questioned whether it will withstand human-induced changes and pressures due to infrastructural development in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Full article