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| The relations
between organisms and places where they live, together with the
atmosphere, can be classified in different Ecological niches. In
the underground environment we can identify many different kinds
of habitats. |
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The figure below
shows a schematic description the Hypogean world with all the habitats.
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As showed in the
figure above, life has many habitats in the Hypogean world.
Animals are most specialized in there environment and for them
it is not possible to live in other places. This means that the
ecosystem is much influenced by external metereological
conditions. Infact rain goes underground and makes it possible
for water to reach all kinds of niches. In caves there are many
spaces where species can live: in small and big pools, in the
ground under stones or in mud, on the caverns wall, inside guano
(dung of Bats) etc..All this is classified in the Cave
environment. If we penetrate the microfissures in the cave
we go in the Interstitial environment, wich is a very
interesting and labirintic place where man can not go. It is
beleived that many species found in caves truly live in these
cracks, from wich irregularly they reach the cave. Many
specialized species can also be found in deep buried stones,
that are certainly in comunication with interstitial habitats.
Sometimes we find the same conditions in artificial galleries,
that have the same climatical parameters. |
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Another zone is the Phreatic
environment, this zone is full of water and is subject to
seasonal variations of level, depending on meteriological
conditions. The connection between the epigean and hypogean
system is quit remarkable, due to the influence of rain. |
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Under the ground,
between the inferior limit of the vegital detritus and the
inferior limit of the roots of arboreal plants, we distinguish
the Endogean environment. Here we find many species and
it can be compared with the interstital and caves becouse of
high humidity, no light, same temperature etc.. The aspect of
this portion of ground can be full of rocks, gravelly,
argillaceous and friable depending on the soil. In high
altitudes the thickness can be of some decimeters, alpine
pastures, or can reach some meters like in boschive areas. |
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Also interesting to
consider is the life in the dens of mammals, formicaries and
termitaries, that sometimes reach a considerable depth under
the soil. Also in this case the specialization of species is at
high level. |
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| Designed and produced by Cesare IACOVONE
- cesare.iacovone@tin.it
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