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Explaining diversity patterns in dark waters – a study of aquatic caves in Yucatán, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2019

Barbara Hendus ,
Róger Medina-González ,
Celia Sélem-Salas  and
Bram Vanschoenwinkel Open the ORCID record for Bram Vanschoenwinkel [Opens in a new window]
Barbara Hendus
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Biology, Pleinlaan 2, Elsene, 1050, Belgium
Róger Medina-González
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Facultad de medicina veterinaria y zootecnia, Licenciatura en biología, 4-116 Itzimná, 97100, Mexico
Celia Sélem-Salas
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Facultad de medicina veterinaria y zootecnia, Licenciatura en biología, 4-116 Itzimná, 97100, Mexico
Bram Vanschoenwinkel*
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Biology, Pleinlaan 2, Elsene, 1050, Belgium
*
*Author for correspondence: Bram Vanschoenwinkel, Email: bvanschoenwinkel@gmail.com
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Abstract

In the tropics, limestone caves in karstic areas are known for their unique biodiversity. However, many caves remain unstudied and little is known about underlying gradients that determine diversity and biomass in aquatic microhabitats. Here, we sampled zooplankton and benthos in a set of 12 aquatic caves, locally called closed cenotes in Yucatán, Mexico. Our aim was to explain diversity patterns and differences in biomass with particular attention for correlations between bat colony characteristics and other biota. Compared with caves that support photosynthesis, diversity was low with an average of four planktonic and two benthic species in these dark caves. Undetectable phosphorus concentrations in the water suggest this nutrient is limiting. Several associations hint at a potential link between bat abundance and functional guild composition, water quality and aquatic biota. As such, more bats were linked to higher nitrate concentrations. Yet this was not translated to higher invertebrate biomass, probably since phosphorus is limiting. Overall, the trends found in this survey suggest that bats could be important as fertilizers of the caves although mechanistic links that mediate the flux of nutrients need to be confirmed experimentally.

Keywords

Batsbiodiversitycavesguanoinvertebrate
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 35 , Issue 5 , September 2019 , pp. 237 - 246
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019 

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