Welcome to Cave Biology (Biospeleology) - Recent Researches

   

 

 

Any Biospeleologist can post his/her contribution. Recent Published/ Accepted Original Research works or Review of Literature on the subject with appropriate Photographs
(may be Experimental model are must).
(ONLY PAPER PUBLISHED WITHIN LAST 2 YEARS WILL BE ALLOWED)

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Bats from the wet: two new species of Tube-nosed bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Meghalaya, India 02-Apr-2012
Manuel Ruedi*, Jayant Biswas and Gбbor Csorba
National Cave Research and Protection organization, Central Zone
Raipur (INDIA)
jayant@cave-biology.org
 
Abstract : The bat fauna of Meghalaya, north-eastern india, is very diverse but still improperly known. Recent field
work revealed several previously unrecorded bats, especially in the southern and eastern hill ranges known as the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. We resolve here the systematic position of two Murina species that belong to the “suilla-group” and “cyclotis-group”, respectively, using a combination of morphological and molecular characters. Both taxa proved to be morphologically and genetically distinct from any known species and are therefore described here as new species. so far, M. jaintiana sp. nov. has been found both in the Jaintia Hills of eastern Meghalaya, and in the Chin Hills of north-eastern Myanmar, while M. pluvialis sp. nov. is only known from the dense evergreen forests of the Khasi Hills, close to the Meghalaya border
with Bangladesh. during the last few decades, these areas have suffered serious habitat degradation due to deforestation associated with mining activities, and both require urgent conservation measures to preserve their unique natural resources.

Keywords: Murina - cryptic species - mitochondrial DNA - nuclear DNA – phylogenetics - systematics
Appeared in :   Revue suisse de Zoologie 119 (1): 111-135; mars 2012
Screening of Bacterial Isolates from Various Microhabitat Sediments of Kotumsar Cave: A Cogitation on Their Respective Benefits and Expected Threats for Complete Biosphere and Tourists 08-Mar-2012
Yogita Rajput, Vibhuti Rai and Jayant Biswas
National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India
Raipur, C.G. (INDIA)
jayant@cave-biology.org
 
Abstract : Bacterial communities are often found to play a major role in building the foundation of food chain in the food starved cave ecosystem. Earlier it was assumed that due to lack of direct external environmental impact the caves were an almost sterile ecosystem. But today, the ever increasing human activities inside it, in the form of ecotourism exert a major impact on its native microbes, often stopping its growth and polluting the whole ecosystem. The situation is often found to be responsible for producing some human pathogenic bacteria inside it, which might pose a threat of infection to the other tourists. Kotumsar cave is a well known tourist pulling limestone cave from central part of India which is also a harbour of various native cavernicoles. In the present study, the bacterial communities existing in different sediments of this cave were screened and identified. The growth rates of each isolate were also verified against various temperature ranges and the maximum growth was found to coincide with the annual mean temperature of the cave. Further, the impact of the same has been correlated with the existing biodiversity, geophysical factors and the human activities inside the cave. Finally, the probabilities of pathogenic threats to human beings due to the respective bacterial communities have also been discussed.
Appeared in :   2012: Research Journal of Environmental Toxicology, http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=rjet.0000.4074
Subterranean Depth Dependent Protein Constitutions of the Micrococcus sp., Isolated from the Kotumsar Cave, India 08-Mar-2012
Yogita Rajput and Jayant Biswas
National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India
Raipur, C.G. (INDIA)
jayantcave-biology.org
 
Abstract : The subterranean caves represent one of the most suitable examples of extremities in ecosystem and the microbes abiding in such environments represent truly extremophiles in nature. In the present study, Micrococcus bacterial strains were isolated from various depths of the Kotumsar cave (India) and further 12 strains of 3 specific species (M. luteus, M. radiodurans and M. agilis) have been selected for further studies. The protein profiles by SDS-PAGE technique were estimated for each strain and the effect of subterranean depth on the characterization of protein profiles have been tried to establish by the linear regression method. The strains isolated from the deeper zones of the cave exhibits more number of protein bands, carrying higher molecular weights. Statistical analysis also support the same i.e., the strains isolated from the deeper zones of the cave revealed much protein as compared to the strains isolated from the anterior zones. The chances of developing extremozymes (biocatalysts) in the strains, isolated from the deeper zones could not be denied. Further, the result obtained from this study also suggests redrawing the evolutionary tree of studied bacterial strains.
Appeared in :   2012: Asian Journal of Biochemistry, 7(2): 90-97
Krem Bylliat: The Harbour of Precedent Cavernicolous Representatives from the Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India 07-Mar-2012
Jayant Biswas and Daniel B. Harries
National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India
Raipur, C.G. (INDIA)
jayant@cave-biology.org
 
Abstract : The subterranean mode of life always needs a high degree of biological adaptation. The cavernicolous species usually get selected from those which are preadapted with biological traits suitable for cave life and finally occupied a separate taxonomic status. With the ever going exploration of subterranean passages in Jaintia hills, till date several troglobitic species have been recorded from this particular area. Cave biota survey with respect to the explored subterranean passages of the area was conducted in February 2011. Krem Bylliat (cave) is one of them, measure horizontally 600 m having several openings. The cave is situated in the boundary of two major rock formations, nearer to one of the main tributary of river Kopili. Though, the cave is harbour of rich biodiversity, it was found to be relatively impoverished in terms of troglomorphic taxa. Possible factors, obviating the evolution of troglomorphy in this cave have been discussed.
Appeared in :   2011: Journal of Biological Sciences. 11(7): 459-465
Impacts of Ecotourism on Bat Habitats in Caves of Kanger Valley National Park, India 07-Mar-2012
Jayant Biswas, Shivam Shrotriya, Yogita Rajput and Saugata Sasmal
National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India
Raipur, C.G. (INDIA)
jayant@cave-biology.org
 
Abstract : The roosting microchiropterans mostly prefer caves and are highly sensitive to anthropogenic disturbances. The caves of the Kanger Valley National Park, is becoming day by day the most crowd puller spot for Central India and due to which it often overruled all the laws of ecotourism. In the present study, two microchiropteran species were found to roost together in the caves of the Kanger Valley National Park, India with distinct microhabitats. Rhinolophus rouxii was found in the twilight to dark zone of the cave while Hipposideros cineraceus was found to occupy the more stable zones of the cave and was highly sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance. The population sizes of the bats roosting inside the two major caves have been estimated and compared with the earlier available records and this provides evidence of a decline in abundance. Further, the gestation/reproductive phase of these bat populations was also found to coincide with the period during which the caves remain under the highest anthropogenic pressure. In the present study several aspects which could threatened the existences of the cave bats have been noted and proper strategy to re-establish their populations have been discussed by maintaining more or less the tourist pressure intact in the caves.
Appeared in :   2011: Research Journal of Environmental Sciences. 5(9): 752-762
Ecological Approval for Cave Habitat: The Occurrence of Regressed Stridulatory System in Cavernicolous Homoeogryllus sp. <br> 07-Mar-2012
Khushi Ram Sahu, Jayant Biswas, K. Venu Achari and Krishna Mohan Sinha
National Cave Research and Protection Organization

Raipur, C.G. (INDIA)
jayant@cave-biology.org
 
Abstract : Subterranean caves are always characterized by several uncommon ecological factors due to which a high degree of biological adaptation is always required to establish any population in it. In the present work, the morphology of the sound producing organ of a cave cricket Homoeogryllus indicus has been studied and the ecological importance of the same has been tried to correlate with its habitat. Fifty adult male individuals of H. indicus were collected from Kachhuwa-Pahar cave and preserved separately in plastic veil containing 4% formalin. Complete stridulatory apparatus was studied under a binocular microscope and the sketches of the tegmina and teeth were drawn by using camera lucida mounted on the microscope. The total number of teeth present in both the files were found to be comparatively less in number than the other members of the same genus which represents an example of regressed evolution. However, a comparatively regressed stridulatory system observed in this species along with other reported morphologically regressive characteristics has been discussed from the perspective of ecological fitness for cave life.

Appeared in :   2011: International Journal of Zoological Research, 7(5): 369-375
Features of Biology and Morphology of a Rare in the Black Sea Shrimp Lysmata seticaudata 02-Oct-2011
O. A. Kovtun, Y. N. Makarov
I.I. Mechnikov Odessa National University
Odessa (UKRAINE)
hydrobiostation@gmail.com
 
Abstract : When surveying underwater caves near Tarkhankut Cape (western Crimea, Black Sea) a habitat of a rare night cave shrimp Lysmata seticaudata (Risso, 1816) was discovered. Ecology of adult forms and last stages of larvae have not been known so far. Morphological and biological features of the species are described based on six adult specimens and large amount of larvae and analysis of photo and video materials of nature studies in 2004–2006. They include fertility, abundance, distribution and behavior of shrimps in nature. The need for conservation is evident.
Key words: the Black Sea, shrimp, Lysmata seticaudata, Tarkhankut Cape, underwater caves
Appeared in :   Vestnik Zoologii, 2008. - T. 42, № 1. – P. 49-55.
Morphological and biological features of underwater caves Tarzanka (Tarhankut Peninsula, Maliy Atlesh) 02-Oct-2011
Kovtun O. A., Pronin K. K.
I.I. Mechnikov Odessa National University
Odessa (UKRAINE)
hydrobiostation@gmail.com
 
Abstract : Based on the performed examination and topographic survey of the underwater karst-abrasion cave Tarzanka on Minor Atlesh (Western Crimea), its morphological description is given for the first time. Features of biology and ecology of inhabitants of this cavity were studied. A new for the Black Sea species of coelenterates – actinia Sagartia elegans (Dalyell, 1848), and a very rare for the lack Sea species of crustaceans – shrimp (Lysmata seticaudata) and mysid (Hemimisis serrata), registered in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, were found in a cave. It was shown that the cave is a permanent habitat for protected species of fishes – goldsinny-wrasse (Ctenolabrus rupestris), Bucchich`s goby (Gobius bucchichi), brown meagre (Sciaena umbra), shore clingfish (Lepadogaster lepadogaster) and crabs - Eriphia verrucosa, Pachygrapsus marmoratus and Pilumnus hirtellus. In a distant tunnel of the cave an interesting group of actinia (Actinia equina) of red colour morphs was found. It is considered that this cave could recently be a place for reproduction of a monk seal that lived in this area (Monachus monachus).
Keywords: Karst, abrasion, underwater caves and grottoes, cave fauna, new and rare species, the Red Data Book of Ukraine, Black Sea, Tarhankut, Atlesh.
Appeared in :   Speleology and Karstology, 6 (2011), P. 53-66.
The features of biology and morphology of a rare Black Sea shrimp Palaemon serratus Pennant, 1777 (Deca-poda: Caridea, Palaemonidae) from karstic grottoes and underwater caves of Tarkhankut peninsula (western Crimea) 02-Oct-2011
O. A. Kovtun, Y. N. Makarov
1 Одесский национальный университет им. И. И. Мечникова, Гидробиологическая станция, Одесса, (I.I. Mechnikov Odessa National University)
2 Институт биологии южных морей НАН Украины, Одесское отде
Odessa (UKRAINE)
hydrobiostation@gmail.com
 
Abstract : In 2006-2010 a rare Black Sea shrimp Palaemon serratus Pennant, 1777 was found during the underwater observation of caves and grottoes near Tarkhankut peninsula (western Crimea). The features of biology of its adults and larvae were not studied earlier. On the basis of analysis of video, visual observa-tions and researches of three adults and a big amount of larvae the features of morphology and biology of the species in the Black Sea were specified. The abundance, distribution and behavior in nature of the shrimp were discovered. The necessity of protection was substantiated.
Keywords: Decapoda, Palaemon serratus, shrimp, rare species, underwater caves, karstic grottoes, the Black Sea, Tarkhankut

В 2006 – 2010 гг. при водолазном обследовании карстовых подводных пещер и гротов п-ова Тарханкут (западный Крым) обнаружена редкая в Чёрном море креветка Palaemon serratus Pennant, 1777, особенности биологии взрослых особей и личинок последних стадий которой ранее не были известны. На основании анализа видеоматериалов, визуальных наблюдений, а также исследования взрослых особей и большого количества личинок уточнены особенности морфологии и биологии вида в Чёрном море: изучены численность, распределение и поведение креветки в природных условиях и обоснована необходимость её охраны.
Ключевые слова: Decapoda, Palaemon serratus, креветка, редкие виды, подводные пещеры, карстовые гроты, Чёрное море, Тарханкут.
Appeared in :   Морской экологический журнал, - 2011. - Т. 10, № 3. - С. 26-32.
The leading mode of Indian Summer Monsoon precipitation variability during the last millennium 07-Aug-2011
Ashish Sinha,1 Max Berkelhammer,2 Lowell Stott,3 Manfred Mudelsee,4,5 Hai Cheng,6,7and Jayant Biswas8
1Department of Earth Science, California State University Dominguez
Hills, Carson, California, USA.
2Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences,
University of Colorado at
Raipur, (INDIA)
jayant@cave-biology.org
 
Abstract : [1] The "internally" generated intraseasonal variability of the Indian Summer Monsoon is characterized by intermittent periods of enhanced (active) and deficient (break) precipitation, which produce a quasi east-west precipitation dipole over the Indian subcontinent. Here we present multicentennial- length and near annually-resolved reconstructions of monsoon precipitation, inferred from absolute-dated and instrumentally calibrated speleothem oxygen isotope records from regions (central and northeast India) that have diametric responses to active-break monsoon circulation patterns. On centennial timescales (AD 1400-2008), precipitation variability from these two regions exhibit opposing behavior, oscillating between periods with a persistently "activedominated" (AD ~1700 to 2007) and a "break-dominated" (AD 1400 to ~1700) regime. The switch between these regimes occurs abruptly (within decades) at a time (AD ~1650-1700) when a proxy record of upwelling intensity from the Arabian Sea suggest an abrupt increase in the monsoon winds. On the basis of these observations, we hypothesize that the frequency distribution of active-break periods varies on centennial timescales, implying a leading role of internal dynamics in governing the ISM response to slowly-evolving changes in the external boundary conditions.
Appeared in :   GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 38, L15703, doi:10.1029/2011GL047713, 2011