Collins New Naturalist Library

Collins New Naturalist Library
Philip Chapman

Cave exploration has uncovered archaeological finds which have enhanced our understanding of human evolution, and fossil remains, such as woolly mammoths, which reveal something of the Pleistocene animal world. But perhaps most fascinating of all is the living natural history of caves.There are few unexplored places on earth, but caves still offer countless opportunities for discovery. From new passages to whole new cave systems, significant finds are still being made - recent exploration in South Wales revealed Britain's largest passageways.Caves are formed over many thousands of years, as subterranean waters seep slowly through the crevices of the buckled and twisted laters of limestone rocks. These cracks develop into fantastically shaped passages which stretch for miles, huge caverns housing vast, still lakes and deep potholes through which icy waterfalls tumble. Within them form arrays of stalactites and stalagmites, delicately twirling helictites, slender pillars of calcite and crystal pools. And it is these wonders that have encourages the adventurers who have explored and charted this underground world - descending on ropes into gaping pits, crawling and digging their way along tunnels and diving through freezing torrents to do so.Cave exploration has uncovered archaeological finds which have enhanced our understanding of human evolution, and fossil remains, such as woolly mammoths, which reveal something of the Pleistocene animal world. But perhaps most fascinating of all is the living natural history of caves.The study of cave biology is still in its infancy. Speculation and controversy abound, cavernicolous communities remain under-recorded and new species await discovery in most subterranean habitats. But in this book, Philip Chapman has drawn together his expert knowledge of caves and cave life to present an outstanding and cohesive account of what is now known in this extraordinary world, which for so many has remained unknown for so long.

The New Naturalist Library

A SURVEY OF BRITISH NATURAL HISTORY

CAVES AND CAVE LIFE

Editors

Max Walters, ScD, VMH

Professor Richard West, ScD, FRS

David Streeter, FIBiol

Sarah A. Corbet

Derek Ratcliffe

The aim of this series is to interest the general reader in the wildlife of Britain by recapturing the enquiring spirit of the old naturalists. The editors believe that the natural pride of the British public in the native flora and fauna, to which must be added concern for their conservation, is best fostered by maintaining a high standard of accuracy combined with clarity of exposition in presenting the results of modern scientific research.

A cave spider Porhomma convexum stalks across the floor of GB Cave on Mendip. Above it, a fungus gnat Speolepta leptogaster hangs in a spreading fungal mycelium. (Philip Chapman)

Copyright (#ulink_0c8899d5-6cbe-5ae2-82f5-aa556e9f7ef0)

William Collins

An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF WilliamCollinsBooks.com (http://WilliamCollinsBooks.com)

This eBook edition published by William Collins in 2018

© Philip Chapman Philip Chapman asserts his moral rights to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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Source ISBN 9780007308545

Ebook Edition © JANUARY 2019 ISBN: 9780007403974

Version: 2019-01-09

Dedication (#ulink_47786119-0a5e-589d-a780-5ff05377eefa)

Dedicated to the memory of

Dr G.T. ‘Jeff’ Jefferson

a dear colleague and friend

Contents

Cover (#u711d9549-ae59-599e-908c-7ebeecce83b4)

Title Page (#uace8ece7-3bed-51e9-8da2-fa02c4d2347e)

Copyright (#ulink_4f55e730-b1e4-5d89-a36d-11e697ee726a)

Dedication (#ulink_e473c55b-3f91-5b9c-80f8-fdcef58818bd)

Editors’ Preface (#ulink_dd37c654-6a9d-58bc-bfc4-941671450206)

1. The Fascination of Caves (#ulink_919d6188-1b6a-5b76-aeb5-cb93243196ad)

The lure of caves (#ulink_a3d4190f-b4d5-5149-9879-37ce6152db87)

The sporting science (#ulink_3a54d1b9-cdd4-566a-8a35-8d269948ee76)

Underground naturalists (#ulink_e0e8dbe3-238a-5b28-ba80-41c02c8886a7)

2. The Cave Habitat (#ulink_d884de85-361f-5c75-b72f-522f63111a42)

What is a cave? (#ulink_19ca55a9-efb2-5277-b6c3-500faadac8b6)

What lives in caves? (#ulink_912ee8ff-733a-5d7e-ac29-2e07cefcf3ef)

Caves in Limestone (#ulink_8fd9884a-d155-5c4c-bd4b-cb3a81f316eb)

Types of cave habitat (#ulink_5bea4dd5-a385-536b-ad66-50d8d314cfdb)

Food supply (#ulink_87500941-2591-5e0d-a983-5912698437c6)

Microclimate (#ulink_2fd43709-4d59-5025-a277-de571652d52b)

3. Limestone Caves in Britain and Ireland (#litres_trial_promo)

Karst: the landscape of caves (#litres_trial_promo)

Caves in Britain and Ireland (#litres_trial_promo)

Mendip (#litres_trial_promo)

Pennines (#litres_trial_promo)