![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
Abstract
Within the soil matrix and underlying rock, cracks and fissures and other air-filled spaces between rocks, sometimes called the milieu souterrain superficiel (MSS), are present in a variety of geological contexts. We examined year-long hourly temperature profiles at sites in lava in the Canary Islands and limestone in Slovenia. All sites had species that show morphological adaptations usually associated with cave-dwelling organisms, including elongated appendages and reduced eyes and pigment. MSS sites were studied at depths between 10 and 70 cm and showed strong seasonality, and most had a discernible diurnal cycle as well. The most striking difference from surface habitats was that the temperature extremes were much less pronounced in MSS sites. Temperature variability was not correlated with troglobiotic species richness. The presence of species with similar morphologies to those found in caves indicates that selective pressures are similar in cave and shallow subterranean habitats.
Acknowledgements
Salvador de la Cruz helped choosing sites and setting data loggers in Tenerife stations. Eduvigis Guerrero, Volker Mahnert, Nuria Macías and Volker Assing identified some hymenopterous, pseudoscorpions, spiders and Staphylinid beetles respectively, from Canary Island sites. This research was supported by the Canary Government (project P1042004/047), the Spanish Government (project CGL 2006-01365) and the College of Arts and Sciences of American University. Several anonymous reviewers and the editor made many helpful comments.
