Bat
Cave Home Page
GENERAL
How to be a Good Guest
Where is Bat Cave?
The AREA
Area rock Layers
Topography
Geomorphology
Geological History
The Paleozoic
The Mesozoic
The Cenozoic
Water
The Hydrologic Cycle
Solution
Solution chemistry
Karst Landscapes
Erosional Features
Depositional Features
Environmental Issues
BAT CAVE
How was Bat Cave formed?
Surface Plan of the site
Map of the Cave
Life in and around Bat Cave
A Virtual Trip Through Bat Cave
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
LIFE
IN CAVES
Before it was cleared for farming and ranching, the area surrounding Bat Cave was originally a mixed southern hardwood forest, dominated by oak and hickory. Today, open fields stretch on either side of the road to the cave. In the immediate vicinity of the property, and on the surrounding acreage, the land was used for sylviculture, the intensive growing of slash pine, Pinus palustris. Growth of competing species was suppressed and the only diversity is in the understory species where native shrubs (especially saw palmetto, Serenoa repens) and ferns can re-establish themselves between periodic discings and burns. On the site proper, the immediate cave vicinity has not been planted for obvious reasons and several species of hardwoods, notably live oak (Quercus virginiana) and wild cherry (Prunus serotina) have been able to establish themselves.
The cooler and damper microclimate near the mouth of the cave supports the growth of several fern species not found on the woodland floor. The lack of sunlight prevents photosynthesis (and therefore primary production) within the cave itself, and vegetative growth is limited to fungi and molds.
Organisms that are found in caves fall into several categories. Some are occasional, some are transients such as bats, others are permanent residents that make a living by feeding on decaying vegetative and animal matter. Some do not make caves their habitat and have fallen or slid into the cave and are trapped, unable to get out.
The transients
Most notable are the bats who use the cave for shelter because of the
constant conditions found in the cave. Today there are few bats roosting
in the cave. At the turn of the century, many more made the cave
their home. They were killed or driven out by vandalism and parties,
much to the delight of the mosquitos and other flying insects of the surrounding
area.
Occasionally owls also roost in caves and owl pellets, both recent
and fossilized, provide us with a great record of small mammals that otherwise
would rarely be seen.
The residents
Cray fish: there are at least 13 species of crayfish adapted
to underground life (Hobbs and Franz 1986)
Fish
Crickets
The unfortunates
Among them we can list a white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
who was trapped in the cave and whose fossilized remains can be found in
layers of sand and clay that washed into the cave from one of the pipes.
(picture)
