Ecology of Cave Ecosystems: Investigating Patterns and Processes
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecology and Conservation".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 180
Special Issue Editors
Interests: cave ecology; conservation of cave animals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Caves are unique environments that often harbor exclusive fauna that has evolved under distinct conditions compared to surface environments. While studies on cave fauna have been published for over a century, many of them focus on the description and evolution of different species, particularly those found exclusively in caves. Consequently, our understanding of the functioning of cave ecosystems still lacks comprehensive investigations that seek to elucidate ecological patterns and processes on various scales. As a result, patterns of species interactions and their relationships with their respective environments remain largely unknown in many parts of the world. It is important to highlight that caves, along with the regions they are embedded in, experience various impacts that have intensified in recent decades. From this perspective, studies aiming to comprehend ecological patterns and processes in subterranean habitats have become increasingly important as they can provide valuable insights for conservation actions and policies.
In this Special Issue, we aim to present new trends and approaches in the study of ecology of subterranean environments. Our objective is to provide fresh insights that not only reveal new interactions, processes, or ecological patterns but also contribute to the conservation of these threatened ecosystems. We welcome both original research works and reviews.
Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira
Prof. Dr. Marconi Souza-Silva
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- subterranean habitats
- ecology
- conservation
