Lascaux Cave (Montignac, France) contains paintings from the Upper Paleolithic period. Shortly after its discovery in 1940, the cave was seriously disturbed by major destructive interventions. In 1963, the cave was closed due to algal growth on the walls. In 2001, the ceiling, walls and sediments were colonized by the fungus Fusarium solani. Later, black stains, probably of fungal origin, appea...

Abstract There has been a growing interest in the effect of radon gas on humans visiting caves. A survey was consequently done Sudwala tourist cave close to Nelspruit eastern part South Africa determine exposure tourists and guides. The cave, which evolved karst geology, is popular destination. Twenty-eight electret ion chambers were placed various locations throughout for period 24 h. Radon co...

Detailed surface images of the Moon and Mars reveal hundreds of cave-like openings. These cave-like openings are theorized to be remnants of lava-tubes and their interior maybe in pristine conditions. These locations may have well preserved geological records of the Moon and Mars, including evidence of past water flow and habitability. Exploration of these caves using wheeled rovers remains a d...

The freshwater isopod crustacean Asellus aquaticus has recently been developed as an emerging invertebrate cave model for studying evolutionary and developmental biology. Mostly morphological and genetic differences between cave and surface A. aquaticus populations have been described up to now, while scarce data are available on other aspects, including physiology. The purpose of this study wa...

A study of genetic diversity at microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene was carried out to assess genetic relationships among four Mexican cave (Pachon, Sabinos, Tinaja, Chica) and four surface populations of Astyanax fasciatus (Characidae) from northeast Mexico and the Yucatan. With the exception of Chica, the cave populations were all characterized by extremely...

Ancient DNA studies have revolutionized the study of extinct species and populations, providing insights on phylogeny, phylogeography, admixture and demographic history. However, inferences on behaviour and sociality have been far less frequent. Here, we investigate the complete mitochondrial genomes of extinct Late Pleistocene cave bears and middle Holocene brown bears that each inhabited mult...

Punctured extinct cave bear femora were misidentified in southeastern Europe (Hungary/Slovenia) as 'Palaeolithic bone flutes' and the 'oldest Neanderthal instruments'. These are not instruments, nor human made, but products of the most important cave bear scavengers of Europe, hyenas. Late Middle to Late Pleistocene (Mousterian to Gravettian) Ice Age spotted hyenas of Europe occupied mainly cav...

Abstract Pindul Cave system is one of the essential water resources in Wonosari Basin. has a perennial flow and used to cave tubing. Administratively, this research was conducted its surrounding areas located Karangmojo District, Gunungkidul Regency. The aim are: (1) analyze underground (2) estimate catchment area using morphology approach (3) propose management action area. method study survey...

Anthropogenic subsurface urban heat islands (SUHIs) in groundwater under cities are known worldwide. SUHIs potentially threats to springs because much spring biota, like trout, amphipods, and rare plants, is cold stenothermal. The city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, has a SUHI documented by the temperature an underground spring, dubbed Little Minnehaha Falls, inside Schieks Cave, which located...

[1] Brush removal is commonly conducted to increase water availability in arid areas, such as central Texas, where water resources are stressed. The effectiveness of brush clearing to enhance recharge, however, remains uncertain as numerous studies have yielded contradictory results. This study assesses the effects of brush clearing on recharge to a cave at Natural Bridge Caverns, central Texas...