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Larvae of Caeculisoma brazilensis Noei & Šundić sp. nov. (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) collected from Brazil, is described and illustrated. This is the second species of the genus from Brazil. A key to the larval species of Caeculisoma of the world is presented and the key to world genera of larval Callidosomatinae are amended. We suggest considering Iguatonia seemani Xu & Jin, 2020 as a junior synonym of Dambullaeus jianfengensis Xu & Jin, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Karstic landscapes, shaped by water dissolving rocks, are unique ecosystems with complex water systems. Karst aquifers, vital for over 25% of the world’s drinking water, offer a sustainable resource but are vulnerable, such as pollution and over-extraction. Therefore, it’s important to understand the potential and capacity of karst springs in areas suffering from water shortages. Hydrogeological and speleological studies are crucial for understanding the unique characteristics of karst springs. Moreover, epiphreatic caves located near the water table at the interface between vadose and phreatic zones in karst landscapes, hold valuable information about past geological events. By identifying their former presence and location in uplifted limestone regions, we can reveal phases of uplift, lowering of the base level, and the rate of vertical karst development. Consequently, epiphreatic caves and associated karst processes are of considerable interest for understanding past geological changes. Here, we present an integrated study of a spring in the epiphreatic Cokragan Cave, which is an important water resource for the Uşak region, using both speleology and hydrogeology. The complex Cokragan Cave system, stretching over 2050 m, reveals multiple past groundwater levels through its geometry, with elevation differences suggesting tectonic influence. Between 2003 and 2007, Cokragan spring discharged an average of 63.5 million m3/yr, while recharge averaged 62.37 million m3/yr. Measured discharge ranged from a maximum of 1.488 m3/s to a minimum of 0.108 m3/yr. In-situ measurements and analysis of 13 samples revealed the groundwater’s physicochemical characteristics, including major ions such as calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate, and trace elements such as arsenic, boron, iron, manganese, and zinc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ghost bat Macroderma gigas (Megadermatidae) is native to Australia. Its current distribution has dramatically contracted northwards in the past 150 years and the extant populations are scattered and isolated due to climatic and anthropogenic factors. To investigate the potential for reintroductions of wild ghost bats into suitable habitats, we examined the potential for refuges located in the southern-most parts of the species' former range to once again support populations. We identified Drovers Cave, located in Drovers Cave National Park in Western Australia, as a potential reintroduction site and used thermo-hygrochron iButtons to demonstrate that the microclimate conditions within the cave are suitable for ghost bats with temperatures close to 20 °C and 99% humidity throughout a ten-month period (December to September). We also showed that in the Pilbara region, ghost bats are opportunistic and flexible predators relying on small birds and mammal species. After comparing these data with the local fauna species list reported from Drovers Cave National Park, we concluded that the habitat at the proposed reintroduction site could provide sufficient diversity of potential prey species in terms of species richness, but we had no data on their relative abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon concentrations in the tourist part of the Cango cave were measured using 25 strategically placed electret ion chambers. Airflow rates were also measured and found to be less than 1 m/s throughout the cave. An IDW interpolated radon concentration overlay was constructed using QGIS and overlayed on maps of the cave. The maximum radon concentration of 2625 Bq/m3 was measured in the Grand Hall, located in the central part of the cave following a narrow passage. The initial part of the cave near the entrance exhibited normal cave breathing characteristics, with radon concentrations of less than 300 Bq/m3. The deepest section of the cave, however, demonstrated an unexpected decrease in radon levels, temperature, and humidity. The average radon concentration in the Cango cave, measured at 1265 Bq/m3, is relatively low compared to other caves worldwide that need mitigation measures according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes and evaluates natural and anthropogenic geosites within the potential Geopark Slovak Karst using a slightly modified Geosite Assessment Model (GAM). It focuses on three case studies from this area: Jasovská Cave, Gombasecká Cave, and Domica Cave, including their surroundings. The aforementioned caves represent the primary points of interest and draw in high concentrations of visitors. We aim to highlight opportunities for dispersing visitors to other nearby geosites and encouraging their extended stay in the region. Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the highest point values (from 22.5 to 23.5 points) are achieved by three UNESCO caves (Jasovská Cave, Domica Cave, and Baradla Cave). These caves have a high level of both main and additional values. Gombasecká Cave has a total point value of 20.5 points, with a high level of main values and a medium level of additional values. Other geosites reach total point values from 9 to 16 with different levels of main and additional values. The three accessible caves will continue to be the main object of interest for tourists. The networking of other nearby geosites with caves in the form of educational trails and their greater promotion could help visitors stay longer in the region and direct their attention to these geosites. The research methodology used in this study proved to be suitable and we can see its further use in the evaluation of geosites across the entire territory of the potential Geopark Slovak Karst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a revision of the concept of space in Palaeolithic cave art. Previous research attempting to approach this notion encounters several gaps, which surface on multiple levels: subjectivity, vagueness, restrictions on its conceptualisation, its illustration (two-dimensional description and representation), among others. We reassess the key elements at play, interpretative attempts, and theoretical concepts to gain a better understanding of the notion of space as applied to cave art. This is achieved by examining the historiography not only in prehistory but also in related disciplines, integrating new theoretical approaches and insights from ethnoarchaeology, linguistics, cognitive science, and analytic philosophy. Following this analysis of the existing research, we propose a new method to address the aforementioned issues. This method relies on digital quantitative tools for spatial analysis and three-dimensional representation, such as geographic information systems (GIS) and 3D visualisation. Through the application of these advanced technological tools, we aim to offer a more comprehensive and precise representation of the spatial aspects in Palaeolithic cave art, enabling researchers to analyse and comprehend the complexities of spatial distribution in a systematic and quantitative manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ghost bat Macroderma gigas (Megadermatidae) is native to Australia. Its current distribution has dramatically contracted northwards in the past 150 years and the extant populations are scattered and isolated due to climatic and anthropogenic factors. To investigate the potential for reintroductions of wild ghost bats into suitable habitats, we examined the potential for refuges located in the southern-most parts of the species’ former range to once again support populations. We identified Drovers Cave, located in Drovers Cave National Park in Western Australia, as a potential reintroduction site and used thermo-hygrochron iButtons to demonstrate that the microclimate conditions within the cave are suitable for ghost bats with temperatures close to 20 °C and 99% humidity throughout a ten-month period (December to September). We also showed that in the Pilbara region, ghost bats are opportunistic and flexible predators relying on small birds and mammal species. After comparing these data with the local fauna species list reported from Drovers Cave National Park, we concluded that the habitat at the proposed reintroduction site could provide sufficient diversity of potential prey species in terms of species richness, but we had no data on their relative abundance.

Abstract The work presented is a review of modern research conducted in Divya Cave—the longest cave in Perm Region, the first mention of which dates back to the 70’s of the eighteenth century. The cave provides the richest material for geologists, karstologists and speleologists, since it is a relic of an ancient aquifer, in which almost all types of secondary calcite formations found in caves are collected. The remote location of the cave from roads and settlements has never been an obstacle for explorers. The first plan of Divya cave was drawn up in 1949. Subsequently, a lot of speleologists kept exploring the cave, but not all passages were marked on the latest maps. Hydrogeological and hydrochemical research was done for the first time in 1948, 1956, 1962 and 1967. Numerous springs between the village of Divya and Divya cave were surveyed, water temperature and flow rates were measured and the hydrochemical indicators of water in the cave lakes were studied. Findings of cryogenic calcite in 1968 prompted further research related to the study of cave deposits, using isotopic analysis methods, taking into account their dating, to determine the migration of permafrost boundaries. From 2016 to 2020 the authors of this article conducted a number of studies in Divya cave itself and in the surrounding area, namely, they carried out instrumental and semi-instrumental topographic surveys of the cave and the surface, followed by the creation of a combined plan, and also determined the absolute marks of the earth’s surface, the entrance, the roof and the base of the cave and the new data on the length of the cave were obtained. For the first time, isotopic studies of atmospheric precipitation, surface channel runoff (the Kolva river) and groundwater emerging to the surface near Divya cave were carried out, and their relationship was determined. Data on the chemical composition of waters were supplemented. Samples of speleothems, including cryogenic calcite, were selected, their isotopic composition was studied and dating was carried out, which made it possible to obtain completely new information about interglacial periods. The modern data obtained allowed us to supplement previously known information about Divya cave.

In cave environments, stable conditions devoid of light-dark cycles and temperature fluctuations sustain circadian clock mechanisms across various species. However, species adapted to these conditions may exhibit disruption of circadian rhythm in locomotor activity. This study examines potential rhythm loss due to convergent evolution in five semi-aquatic troglobitic isopod species (Crustacea: Styloniscidae), focusing on its impact on locomotor activity. The hypothesis posits that these species display aperiodic locomotor activity patterns. Isopods were subjected to three treatments: constant red light (DD), constant light (LL), and light-dark cycles (LD 12:12), totaling 1656 h. Circadian rhythm analysis employed the Sokolove and Bushell periodogram chi-square test, Hurst coefficient calculation, intermediate stability (IS), and activity differences for each species. Predominantly, all species exhibited an infradian rhythm under DD and LL. There was synchronization of the locomotor rhythm in LD, likely as a result of masking. Three species displayed diurnal activity, while two exhibited nocturnal activity. The Hurst coefficient indicated rhythmic persistence, with LD showing higher variability. LD conditions demonstrated higher IS values, suggesting synchronized rhythms across species. Significant individual variations were observed within species across the three conditions. Contrary to the hypothesis, all species exhibited synchronization under light-dark conditions. Analyzing circadian activity provides insights into organism adaptation to non-cyclical environments, emphasizing the importance of exploring underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavernicolous populations of the spider wasp Ageniella evansi Townes, 1957 (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) nest deep within limestone caves at Colossal Cave Mountain Park near Tucson, Arizona, USA. These remarkable populations are the only truly cavernicolous pompilid wasps currently known. As many as 79 females were documented nesting simultaneously within Arkenstone Cave. The facts that the wasps do not nest near cave entrances but only deep within the interior of the caves, are philopatric to each occupied cave and have been present each year for decades confirm their cavernicolous behaviour as subtroglophiles. Studies conducted for over 30 years revealed many insights into the behaviour of these wasps in addition to their nesting deep within limestone caves, including: intraspecific and interspecific competition, plasticity in host selection, precision solar navigation, evidence that some form of communal nesting may be present and behaviour suggestive of rudimentary cognition in the species. This study demonstrates the importance of assessing all animals found in caves as potential ecological elements and not focusing solely on exotic troglobiotic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphometric analysis is the quantification of shapes, which makes irregular shapes found in nature analyzable and comparable. Cave morphometry has been used for the genetic classification of caves, the digital reconstruction of their conduits, the decoding of their paleoenvironment, and other research purposes. Ratios and indices that have been derived from Euclidean geometry and application of fractal geometry onto karst features and topological parameters are the basic methodologies that have been used for shape quantification. This paper reviews the literature that focuses on methodologies used for morphometric analyses and the applications that these methodologies have found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important signs that can be seen in the fundamental traditions of the world in the transition stage of a person to individuality is [passing through] a horizontal or vertical winding corridor (well/cave); a dark place full of fear and terror due to not being seen and unknown. Monsters, snakes and creatures of the underworld live in this place and can only be saved by fighting. Sometimes, in the depth of this scary place, there are obstacles that appear to be rewards or anything else pleasant, but the same object or situation, by creating suspense, is itself considered a test stage and sometimes an obstacle to victory. He will be a hero. In this article, the examples of suspension with the repeating pattern of "Hanging Man" in public and official literature of Iran and the world will be investigated. The result of the work shows that this image is rooted in the common essence of human attitude in facing life difficulties and according to the time and place of life and the type of human being, it is powerful in literature, culture and religion, art, politics and economy. It has continued its life. This image, influenced by the experience of disaster, which is the function of the human mind, and despite the cultural evolution of the human species, has not been removed from his mind, and was first reflected in the form of materialistic myths and rituals, and in modern times, by entering formal or general literary types, it has found a different function and created special literary types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, in Türkiye only a limited number and volume of combined geophysical and geological studies about karst have been performed. In this study, karstification and geomorphological features were examined with geophysical and geological methods together and initial results were obtained for Türkiye. Although the geology of the limestone forming the Şahinkaya Member, which contains Çayırbağı, Çalköy, and Çal Cave, near the Düzköy district of Trabzon/Türkiye province was studied by many researchers to date, there is no geophysical study to determine the internal structural features, groundwater, dolines, and karstic voids. The aim of this study was to identify karst formations and their structural extensions in Şahinkaya Member with geophysical methods. Therefore, three different study locations with a total surface area of approximately 3.2 km2 were examined with electrical resistivity tomography, self-potential, seismic refraction tomography, multichannel analysis of surface waves, and ground penetrating radar. These geophysical applications in limestone helped to identify karst cavities, water-saturated zones and dolines. Finally, the order of priority and efficiency of the five applied geophysical methods was compared, and the stages of the applications were outlined. In addition, the origin of karstification in the area investigated in this study was supported by petrographic, petrophysical and rock mechanic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of foraging behaviour is crucial for understanding several ecological and adaptive processes, as well as for developing conservation measures. While extensive research has been completed on birds and mammals, few studies have been conducted on the learning capabilities of amphibians, particularly those pertaining to foraging behaviour. Amphibians may detect potential prey through distinct sensory systems including visual detection, chemoreception, and mechanoreception. In this study, we tested whether fire salamander larvae shift their prey recognition depending on the prey stimulus typology. We performed behavioural assays to better understand the roles of visual and chemical cues in prey recognition and how a continuative visual stimulus may change behavioural patterns. For this assessment, larvae from different habitats (cave and stream) were reared under laboratory conditions and fed while exposed to accompanying sensory stimuli. Their responses to visual and olfactory cues were measured before and after rearing. Both visual and chemical cues significantly affected the time of approach to the stimulus. The period of rearing significantly interacted with the time of approach for both cues. After rearing, when visual cues occurred, the time of approach was much lower than before rearing. These findings provide a basis for further studies on the role of plasticity in the predator–prey interactions of fire salamander larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Quantifying the relative contribution of environmental filtering versus limiting similarity in shaping communities is challenging because these processes often act simultaneously and their effect is scale‐dependent. Focusing on caves, island‐like natural laboratories with limited environmental variability and species diversity, we tested: (i) the relative contribution of environmental filtering and limiting similarity in determining community assembly in caves; (ii) how the relative contribution of these driving forces changes along environmental gradients. Location: Europe. Time period: Present. Major taxa studied: Subterranean spiders. Methods: We used data on distribution and traits for European cave spiders (n = 475 communities). We estimated the trait space of each community using probabilistic hypervolumes, and obtained estimations of functional richness independent of the species richness of each community via null modelling. We model functional diversity change along environmental gradients using generalized dissimilarity modelling. Results: Sixty‐three percent of subterranean spider communities exhibited a prevalence of trait underdispersion. However, most communities displayed trait dispersion that did not depart significantly from random, suggesting that environmental filtering and limiting similarity were both exerting equally weak or strong, yet opposing influences. Overdispersed communities were primarily concentrated in southern latitudes, particularly in the Dinaric karst, where there is greater subterranean habitat availability. Pairwise comparisons of functional richness across caves revealed these effects to be strongly scale‐dependent, largely varying across gradients of cave development, elevation, precipitation, entrance size and annual temperature range. Conversely, geographical distance weakly affected trait composition, suggesting convergence in traits among communities that are far apart. Main conclusions: Even systems with stringent environmental conditions maintain the potential for trait differentiation, especially in areas of greater habitat availability. Yet, the relative influence of environmental filtering and limiting similarity change with scale, along clear environmental gradients. The interplay of these processes may explain the assembly of species‐poor subterranean communities displaying high functional specialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on slope stability and geological hazard analyses at the Italian Paleolithic site of Grotta Paglicci. The site is characterized by a cave that contains rich archaeological and anthropological finds, spanning various Paleolithic periods, and includes faunal remains, lithic artifacts, human burials, ornaments, mobiliary art objects, and unique Paleolithic wall paintings. The study employs a multi-technique approach that includes topographic surveys carried out by the robotic total station and GNSS receivers, photogrammetric acquisitions with an unmanned aerial system, 3D SLAM-based LiDAR mapping, and an engineering geological survey. The collected data allowed for the creation of georeferenced 3D models that were utilized in rock slope stability analysis and modeling. The results of this comprehensive survey highlighted how the bedding and joint discontinuities influence rock stability in both the external and internal areas of the cave. The integrated use of SLAM-based LiDAR and photogrammetry has been proven to be an efficient and essential tool in the evaluation of the structural interactions between the external morphology and the cave, thus allowing the proposal of safety measures that will keep the site accessible for future activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first record of the grand leaf-nosed bat, Hipposideros grandis, from a cave in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. We confirmed its identity using morphometric and molecular analyses. This study enhances the number of national bat fauna and underscores the importance of comprehensive bat surveys in Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on slope stability and geological hazard analyses at the Italian Paleolithic site of Grotta Paglicci. The site is characterized by a cave that contains rich archaeological and anthropological finds, spanning various Paleolithic periods, and includes faunal remains, lithic artifacts, human burials, ornaments, mobiliary art objects, and unique Paleolithic wall paintings. The study employs a multi-technique approach that includes topographic surveys carried out by the robotic total station and GNSS receivers, photogrammetric acquisitions with an unmanned aerial system, 3D SLAM-based LiDAR mapping, and an engineering geological survey. The collected data allowed for the creation of georeferenced 3D models that were utilized in rock slope stability analysis and modeling. The results of this comprehensive survey highlighted how the bedding and joint discontinuities influence rock stability in both the external and internal areas of the cave. The integrated use of SLAM-based LiDAR and photogrammetry has been proven to be an efficient and essential tool in the evaluation of the structural interactions between the external morphology and the cave, thus allowing the proposal of safety measures that will keep the site accessible for future activities.

In this paper we will describe the former boundaries of the cadastral municipalities in the Slovenian-Italian cross-border area between the Socerb castle and the Rosandra valley. Today, the villages of Socerb and Beka are located on the Slovenian side of the border, and Mačkolje (Caresana), Prebeneg (Prebenico), Dolina (San Dorlingo della Valle), Boljunec (Bagnoli della Rosandra), Kroglje (Crogole), Gornji Konec (Bagnoli Superiore) and Botač (Bottazzo) on the Italian side. At the time of the Franciscan cadastral survey in this area (from 1818 to 1822), i.e., at the time of the Austrian Empire, these villages, except for Mačkolje, belonged to the district of Fünfenberg, which was part of the province of Istria. Therefore, the same type of cadastral municipality boundary marks from the Franciscan or a revised cadastral survey can be found here as elsewhere in the present-day territory of Slovenia. In addition to the twelve boundary stones with inscriptions, we will also present two natural boundary marks: inscriptions carved on the entrance walls of a cave and inscriptions carved on the smooth rock wall. We will also show that the boundary stones in the Primorska region, which have the same shape as the former cadastral municipality boundary stones, could also have once marked former common lands of agrarian communities, here called jusi, and these were not always the same as the cadastral municipality boundaries.

Abstract Mitochondrial genomes play important roles in studying genome evolution, phylogenetic analyses, and species identification. Amphipods (Class Malacostraca, Order Amphipoda) are one of the most ecologically diverse crustacean groups occurring in a diverse array of aquatic and terrestrial environments globally, from freshwater streams and lakes to groundwater aquifers and the deep sea, but we have a limited understanding of how habitat influences the molecular evolution of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Subterranean amphipods likely experience different evolutionary pressures on energy management compared to surface-dwelling taxa that generally encounter higher levels of predation and energy resources and live in more variable environments. In this study, we compared the mitogenomes, including the 13 protein-coding genes involved in the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway, of surface and subterranean amphipods to uncover potentially different molecular signals of energy metabolism between surface and subterranean environments in this diverse crustacean group. We compared base composition, codon usage, gene order rearrangement, conducted comparative mitogenomic and phylogenomic analyses, and examined evolutionary signals of 35 amphipod mitogenomes representing 13 families, with an emphasis on Crangonyctidae. Mitogenome size, AT content, GC-skew, gene order, uncommon start codons, location of putative control region (CR), length of rrnL and intergenic spacers differed between surface and subterranean amphipods. Among crangonyctid amphipods, the spring-dwelling Crangonyx forbesi exhibited a unique gene order, a long nad5 locus, longer rrnL and rrnS loci, and unconventional start codons. Evidence of directional selection was detected in several protein-encoding genes of the OXPHOS pathway in the mitogenomes of surface amphipods, while a signal of purifying selection was more prominent in subterranean species, which is consistent with the hypothesis that the mitogenome of surface-adapted species has evolved in response to a more energy demanding environment compared to subterranean amphipods. Overall, gene order, locations of non-coding regions, and base-substitution rates points to habitat as an important factor influencing the evolution of amphipod mitogenomes.

Circadian clocks, internal mechanisms that generate 24-hour rhythms, play a crucial role in coordinating biological events with day-night cycles. In light-deprived environments such as caves, species, particularly isolated obligatory troglobites, may exhibit evolutionary adaptations in biological rhythms due to light exposure. To explore rhythm expression in these settings, we conducted a comprehensive literature review on invertebrate chronobiology in global subterranean ecosystems, analyzing 44 selected studies out of over 480 identified as of September 2023. These studies revealed significant taxonomic diversity, primarily among terrestrial species like Coleoptera, with research concentrated in the United States, Italy, France, Australia, and Brazil, and a notable gap in African records. Troglobite species displayed a higher incidence of aperiodic behavior, while troglophiles showed a robust association with rhythm expression. Locomotor activity was the most studied aspect (>60%). However, approximately 4% of studies lacked information on periodicity or rhythm asynchrony, and limited research under constant light conditions hindered definitive conclusions. This review underscores the need to expand chronobiological research globally, encompassing diverse geographical regions and taxa, to deepen our understanding of biological rhythms in subterranean species. Such insights are crucial for preserving the resilience of subsurface ecosystems facing threats like climate change and habitat loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable estimates of population trends are important for prioritizing and implementing wildlife management actions. Abundance estimates are the most informative metric of population status but are difficult and costly to achieve for rare or elusive species. For bat species that are highly mobile and nocturnal, abundance estimates are usually only possible at their roosts. Although they are relatively easy to census in individual roosts, it is often unclear whether observed trends are representative of broader populations trends. Dual‐frame sampling is useful for monitoring wildlife populations that exhibit site fidelity and are highly visible but where the proportion of the population in known sites is unknown. We adapted a dual‐frame sampling approach to estimate abundance of Townsend's big‐eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii) hibernating in a system of >800 caves at Lava Beds National Monument (LBNM) in northern California, USA, in 2013–2022. Beginning with a list of opportunistically discovered hibernacula, we expanded inference to the entire system by randomly selecting sites and stratifying survey effort according to number of bats observed during previous counts. Following 4 years of surveys, we began substituting survey‐informed estimates for some site types to improve efficiency of the monitoring effort. We estimated that a mean of 2,216 ± 112 (SE) bats hibernated at the study site annually and observed fluctuations of up to 22% around the mean population estimate and as much as 21% from the previous year. Despite annual fluctuations, we did not detect a trend in the number of hibernating bats at LBNM over the study period, underlining the challenges of detecting population trends in long‐lived species not exposed to pronounced stressors. Because our analytical approach generates reliable estimates of trend while accommodating annual variability in survey effort among years, it should be attractive to wildlife managers faced with shifting priorities and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper traces the making of Bamiyan Buddhas beyond the Bamiyan valley in Afghanistan since 2002. Recounting the building and rebuilding of a monastic complex in Bangkok, the study focuses on one of these new Buddhas, more complete than the "original" Bamiyan Buddha of the dually inscribed grotto, "Bamiyanguha-Bamiyan Museum", at Wat Saket. In their global manifestations, the Bamiyan Buddhas have emerged as mobile sites, as place holders with direct and indirect citations to the destroyed Buddhas of the valley. The building of Wat Saket's Bamiyan Buddha is situated within larger transnational histories of planned, projected, rejected, and reproduced Bamiyan Buddhas, within stylistic decisions related to questions of shifting material media, scale, and iconography involved in copying and reproductions, in the context of Thailand's changing engagements with itinerance, multiplication, and copying strategies around Buddha images, and in national and global circuits of collecting, exhibitions, gift, and piety. The museum, specifically the cave-museum of Wat Saket, as a site of retinal and haptic vision which continues to challenge and blur the distinctions between curatorial visions, specialist pedagogy, visual instructions, aesthetic contemplation, and rapidly shifting and evolving complex of ritual practices and leisure, remains at the heart of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acoustics of nature gave people many musical ideas, and people enriched musical features and performance skills with the ability of a person to imitate the surrounding sound effects. Imitating and studing the audio nature, man learned to create instruments, and over time, based on instrumental modifications and many different, artificially created rules, he developed a variety of sounds (including electronic music) and principles of the different type of the composition techniques. With this approach, music moved away from its real environment and, as a result of the formation of aesthetic norms by a human, was separated from the general sound of the universe. The true echo of this problem is a question and suggestion of the famous 20th century Italian composer Ferruccio Busoni: "How can music return to its primitive, natural essence? .. .Let us free it from architectonic, acoustic, and aesthetic dogmas;"[3] Since 2023 a group of research-composers from the Vano Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire - Maka Virsaladze, Alexander Chokhonelidze, Joni Asitashvili under the leadership of Eka Chabashvili - inspired by the above-mentioned question, are trying to answer F.Busoni through the artistic research "Specifics of composing and performing eco-music works created for 'Sound Oasis''. This project is carried out within the framework of the fundamental research "Implementation of Ecomusicology Research Methodology for the Study of the Georgian Music Ecosystem" [FR-22-8174] conducted by them, which is funded by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSFG). Consultant of the project is American musicologist Aaron S. Allen, who is the author of various books about ecomusicology. In the music of the 20th and 21st centuries, there is a growing interest in environmental sounds. Many composers of this period incorporate recorded environmental sounds into their music or imitate sounds of neture using the different effects of the instruments. The main goal of the Georgian researchers is to create a modern compositional method to compose an eco-music piece, where an artificial source of music (recording, instrument) interacts with live ambient sound, which is incorporated into the texture of the piece. They are studing the eco-system of the urban and suburban soundscape in Georgia and are looking for the ways to restore the principles of the approach of the peoples of ancient culture to music, when sound of the environment was introduced into the music. Mentioned composers studied the soundscape of one of the Sound Oasis and found compositional methods to include its acoustical features and anvironmental sounds in the texture of the piece composed specifically for the selected Sound Oasis. We present to you compositional methods of eco-musical work - an interactive experimental performance "Let's Listen to the Cave", created as a result of the research; it took place in an alternative concert space -the Cave of Prometheus, which the researchers called "Oases of Sound". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caves are underground cavities with unique structures that form over time due to various forces, including geochemical and tectonic processes, water erosion, and hydrothermal activity. From past to the present humans have used caves for many different purposes such as shelter, dungeon, place of worship, cold storage, therapy, treatment of respiratory diseases, use of underground water, tourism, etc. Since caves are protected places, they are also the places where the oldest known works of art of mankind are located. The wide range of uses of caves, their dark and closed structures, and the different roles they have played throughout history, have always made them places of curiosity, discovery, and artistic creation. In this study, caves, which serve as shelters, were examined in terms of their role in human life, the emotions they evoke, their status as sacred places, and their representation through photography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 3000 iron formation caves (IFCs) have formed in erosion-resistant Fe(III)-rich rocks throughout Brazil. Microbial Fe(III) reduction occurs in IFCs, where a microbe-rich, Fe(III)-depleted paste (sub muros) is found behind an Fe(III)-(hydr)oxide crust in the ceiling/walls. Microbial Fe(III) reduction in sub muros appears to be responsible for the transformation of Fe(III) to more soluble Fe(II), which is removed, leading to cave formation. This process of biospeleogenesis is likely controlled by O2 availability, which is linked to seasonal changes. Here, we studied the effects of alternating anoxia/oxia on the microbial community and on Fe solubility in banded iron formation (BIF), a rock type consisting of layered Fe(III)-oxide and silicate. Incubations of synthetic pore water, pulverized BIF, and sub muros were prepared and incubated under anoxia, during which BIF-Fe(III) reduction proceeded. During the Fe(III) reduction period, Firmicutes and/or Alphaproteobacteria were enriched, and genes involved in Fe(III) and sulfate reduction were detected in the metagenomes. Fe(II) oxidation genes, which were detected in the fresh sub muros, were not found. Upon the addition of atmospheric O2, Fe(III) reduction was arrested, and incomplete Fe(II) oxidation occurred. Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Chloroflexi increased in relative abundance following aeration, and Fe(III) reduction genes were still identified. Our results demonstrate that the sub muros microbial community retains the ability to reduce Fe(III) and drive speleogenesis despite fluctuations in O2 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersive virtual reality (iVR) employs head-mounted displays or cave-like environments to create a sensory-rich virtual experience that simulates the physical presence of a user in a digital space. The technology holds immense promise in neuroscience research and therapy. In particular, virtual reality (VR) technologies facilitate the development of diverse tasks and scenarios closely mirroring real-life situations to stimulate the brain within a controlled and secure setting. It also offers a cost-effective solution in providing a similar sense of interaction to users when conventional stimulation methods are limited or unfeasible. Although combining iVR with traditional brain imaging techniques may be difficult due to signal interference or instrumental issues, recent work has proposed the use of functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in conjunction with iVR for versatile brain stimulation paradigms and flexible examination of brain responses. We present a comprehensive review of current research studies employing an iVR-fNIRS setup, covering device types, stimulation approaches, data analysis methods, and major scientific findings. The literature demonstrates a high potential for iVR-fNIRS to explore various types of cognitive, behavioral, and motor functions in a fully immersive VR (iVR) environment. Such studies should set a foundation for adaptive iVR programs for both training (e.g., in novel environments) and clinical therapeutics (e.g., pain, motor and sensory disorders and other psychiatric conditions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial genomes play important roles in studying genome evolution, phylogenetic analyses, and species identification. Amphipods (Class Malacostraca, Order Amphipoda) are one of the most ecologically diverse crustacean groups occurring in a diverse array of aquatic and terrestrial environments globally, from freshwater streams and lakes to groundwater aquifers and the deep sea, but we have a limited understanding of how habitat influences the molecular evolution of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Subterranean amphipods likely experience different evolutionary pressures on energy management compared to surface-dwelling taxa that generally encounter higher levels of predation and energy resources and live in more variable environments. In this study, we compared the mitogenomes, including the 13 protein-coding genes involved in the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway, of surface and subterranean amphipods to uncover potentially different molecular signals of energy metabolism between surface and subterranean environments in this diverse crustacean group. We compared base composition, codon usage, gene order rearrangement, conducted comparative mitogenomic and phylogenomic analyses, and examined evolutionary signals of 35 amphipod mitogenomes representing 13 families, with an emphasis on Crangonyctidae. Mitogenome size, AT content, GC-skew, gene order, uncommon start codons, location of putative control region (CR), length of rrnL and intergenic spacers differed between surface and subterranean amphipods. Among crangonyctid amphipods, the spring-dwelling Crangonyx forbesi exhibited a unique gene order, a long nad5 locus, longer rrnL and rrnS loci, and unconventional start codons. Evidence of directional selection was detected in several protein-encoding genes of the OXPHOS pathway in the mitogenomes of surface amphipods, while a signal of purifying selection was more prominent in subterranean species, which is consistent with the hypothesis that the mitogenome of surface-adapted species has evolved in response to a more energy demanding environment compared to subterranean amphipods. Overall, gene order, locations of non-coding regions, and base-substitution rates points to habitat as an important factor influencing the evolution of amphipod mitogenomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a growing concern in every known ecosystem. However, MP presence in groundwaters and the ecological impact they can have on groundwater fauna is still poorly investigated. Here, we assess the presence of MPs in three Italian groundwater bodies, comprising two karst caves and two monitoring bores of a saturated alluvial aquifer. In addition to water samples, groundwater invertebrates were collected to assess their potential ingestion of MPs. For water samples, chemical characterization of polymers was done by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) 2D imaging, while fauna samples were analyzed with a tandem microscopy approach (fluorescence microscopy and FTIR). The abundance of MPs in water samples varied from 18 to 911 items/L. The majority of MPs were fibers (91%), with a mean size in the range of 100 µm and 1 mm. Black, red, and blue were the most abundant colors (30%, 25%, and 19%, respectively). The most abundant polymer was artificial/textile cellulose (65%), followed by PET (21%). MPs were found in every groundwater taxon. Pellets were the most abundant in each specimen (87% on average), while the largest were fragments, with a mean dimension of 26 µm. Cellulose was found to be the most abundant polymer (51%). This study is the first to highlight the presence of MPs ingested by groundwater fauna. Further investigations are urgently required to assess the potential ecological impact MPs can have on the resident fauna in these sensitive ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that challenges the assumption that animals adapted to underground environments are strictly bound to those environments. The researchers found evidence of olms, a species of amphibian, actively exploiting surface habitats outside of caves. This discovery expands our understanding of the interactions between subterranean and surface environments and highlights the importance of studying groundwater and its borders. The article also provides a list of references for further research on subterranean organisms, particularly the Olm. [Extracted from the article]

Although geoheritage is gaining importance wordwide, much appreciation is still required for the overlooked geoheritage resources. The geoheritage of Saudi Arabia is promising and gaining much attention towards geoconversation and geotourism, but thematic publications are limited compared to the global context. This paper aims to identify the relevant geosites in Saudi Arabia according to the IUCN theme and propose a geoheritage strategic plan. For identification of the geosite, we have conducted a comprehensive review of published literature and online material, including web blogs, YouTube videos, social media, and governmental websites. For the strategic plan for known/unknown geosite, published literature from established geoparks with similar key landforms has been reviewed. Seven IUCN themes can be linked with the geoheritage of Saudi Arabia. Most of these sites are local tourist spots, therefore, immense potential for the geotourism development. The key geomorphological heritage in Saudi Arabia is volcanic harrat, escarpment, cave, mesas, butte, pinnacle, canyon, island, aeolian dune, and submarine corals. Geological heritage includes various fossils in Tuwaiq Mountain. Submarine geoheritage includes different colourful corals and rock structures with high scientific value. Biodiversity-protected area and cultural heritage site enhance the geoheritage value of the geosite, and its geotourism importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Northern Cape town of Daniëlskuil takes its name from a natural hole or cave in the vicinity. To explain the origin of the name, a myth was connected with this hole, namely that the Griqua used it as a prison. In this article the origin of the name Daniëlskuil has been analysed critically as part of a process to clear history of such myths. Research suggests that it is very unlikely that the cave was ever used as a prison.

Haining Xiashi seismic station is located in the civil air defense cave in Xishan Park, Xiashi Street, Haining City, Zhejiang Province. During the construction of the station, the first problem is the poor quality of rock mass. When the tunnel is excavated to a depth of more than 2 m below the ground, the rock is still porous and broken; The second is the problem of high chamber humidity (>95% Rh). Finally, in the case that it is impossible to use rock pier to build the platform, the large area concrete instrument pier is poured and the cavern environment is transformed to reduce the humidity of the cavern, achieve thermal insulation and constant humidity, and improve the observation environment. So far, the station has been in operation for more than ten years. From the current situation, the observation data of the station is stable and continuous, and the solid tide is clear, which has achieved the expected effect of the station transformation. This paper summarizes the experience gained in the reconstruction process of Haining Xiashi Seismic Station, and provides reference for the construction of topographic deformation observation stations in some civil air defense and civil caves without rock piers.

In 1988, in one of the burial mounds near the village. Rybinsk in the North-Eastern Azov region, a bone product was discovered, which was originally called a cheek-piece, but ultimately remained unidentified. Later it turned out that the cultural, and, consequently, the chronological position of the burial is undisputed. This short article again draws attention to an incomprehensible bone product from the North-Eastern Sea, because an analogy appeared – a bone product from a kind of Neolithic burial ground in the Bom Santo cave (southcentral Portugal), discovered in 1993 and partially explored in 1994-1995, 1997, 2001. The product from the Bom Santo cave was tentatively called a «flute», but the authors of the find are not sure that this is a musical instrument, and ultimately the find in this case also remained uncertain. Despite the significant territorial and cultural heterogeneity of the two bone finds, I consider it useful to compare them, especially since the chronological position of the item from the Sea of Azov can be significantly omitted and not differ so much now from the dating of the bone find from the Bom Santo cave.

With the global pandemic of Covid-19, the putative threats related to the increasing contact between wild animals, including bats, and human populations have been highlighted. Bats are indeed known to carry several zoonoses, but at the same time, many species are currently facing the risk of extinction. In this context, being able to monitor the evolution of bat populations in the long term and predict future potential contact with humans has important implications for conservation and public health. In this study, we attempt to demonstrate the usefulness of a small-scale paleobiological approach to track the evolution of an insular population of Antillean fruit-eating bats (Brachyphylla cavernarum), known to carry zoonoses, by documenting the temporal evolution of a cave roosting site and its approximately 250 000 individuals bat colony. To do so, we conducted a stratigraphic analysis of the sedimentary infilling of the cave, as well as a taphonomic and paleobiological analysis of the bone contents of the sediment. Additionally, we performed a neotaphonomic study of an assemblage of scats produced by cats that had consumed bats on-site. Our results reveal the effects of human-induced environmental disturbances, as well as conservation policies, on the bat colony. They also demonstrate that the roosting site is currently filling at a very fast pace, which may lead to the displacement of the bat colony and increased contact between bats and human populations in the near future. Our research outcomes advocate for a better consideration of retrospective paleobiological data to address conservation questions related to bat populations.

Guilan province, located in northern Iran and surrounded by the Caspian Sea to the north and the Hyrcanian forests to the south, boasts the most diverse habitats in the country. However, there is a lack of information on bat fauna in the caves of Guilan province, with all existing records limited to artificial roosts, foraging individuals or echolocation calls. Despite this, available data suggests that 13 species of bats have been reported in the region. In this study, 12 caves throughout the province were observed, resulting in the identification of five bat species, namely Miniopterus pallidus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Myotis blythii, Rhinolophus hipposideros, and R. ferrumequinum. One colony and two individuals in separate localities were also identified at the generic level as Rhinolophus sp., while two cave roosts with large populations and considerable number of species were described in detail. Furthermore, this study encompasses data on five new sample records, comprising three from Pipistrellus kuhlii, one from Rhinolophus sp., and one from Rhinolophus hipposideros, from foraging individuals and artificial roosts. Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of the diversity and distribution of bats in Guilan province, particularly within its caves.

The paper presents for the first time a detailed chronological and cultural framework of the pottery found in the Pertosa Cave (SA) and preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Inside this cave, the most important one in the Alburni Massif, is the only known prehistoric cave settlement with piledwelling structures. Discovered in 1898, it has been the subject of a complex series of excavations, reconstructed through archival documentation. The habitation aspect, so far little emphasised by the traditional interpretation, especially for the Final Bronze Age, is said to be uninterrupted from the Middle Bronze Age-phase 2, to the Final Bronze Age-Early Iron Age, when the cult aspect would become prevalent, as testified by the miniature pottery pertaining to the internal stipe.

Caves evolution is controlled by lithological properties, discontinuities, water, climate, and physicomechanical properties of soluble rocks, vegetation and human impact. This study investigates the cave formation in Upper Miocene-Pliocene clastic rock in Menteşe town of Muğla. The lithology, physico-mechanical properties and hydrogeologic factors of host rocks and morphology of the caves in Asar Hill and Damlam Stream valley were examined. The caves are 1.47-9.71 m long, 2.24-19.36 m wide and 1.38-27 m high. Four joint sets and bedding planes affect the clastics in the Asar Hill area. Mudstones (low plasticity clay, sandy clay) are in soft-very soft rock, while conglomerate is in moderate-hard rock class. The mudstone removal has started the formation of the caves. The vegetation roots act as groundwater circulation paths in the Damlam Stream area. Water has eroded mudstone and muddy matrix of conglomerate following cracks and led to the formation of the caves. Water infiltration may have led to stalactite, flowstone and travertine formation in Damlam Stream caves. Possible cave collapse could threaten life and property in the Asar Hill area, and may cause the destruction of internal structures of the caves in the Damlam Stream. Thus, precautionary measures such as continuous monitoring and protection must be taken in both cave areas.

Radon concentrations in the tourist part of the Cango cave were measured using 25 strategically placed electret ion chambers. Airflow rates were also measured and found to be less than 1 m/s throughout the cave. An IDW interpolated radon concentration overlay was constructed using QGIS and overlayed on maps of the cave. The maximum radon concentration of 2625 Bq/m3 was measured in the Grand Hall, located in the central part of the cave following a narrow passage. The initial part of the cave near the entrance exhibited normal cave breathing characteristics, with radon concentrations of less than 300 Bq/m3. The deepest section of the cave, however, demonstrated an unexpected decrease in radon levels, temperature, and humidity. The average radon concentration in the Cango cave, measured at 1265 Bq/m3, is relatively low compared to other caves worldwide that need mitigation measures according to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

Bats are important hosts of zoonotic viruses with pandemic potential, including filoviruses, MERS-Coronavirus (CoV), SARS-CoV -1, and likely SARS-CoV-2. Viral infection and transmission among wildlife are dependent on a combination of factors that include host ecology and immunology, life history traits, roosting habitats, biogeography, and external stressors. Between 2016 and 2018, four species of insectivorous bats from a readily accessed roadside cave and buildings in Ethiopia were sampled and tested for viruses using consensus PCR assays for five viral families/genera. Previously identified and novel coronaviruses and paramyxoviruses were identified in 99 of the 589 sampled bats. Bats sampled from the cave site were more likely to test positive for a CoV than bats sampled from buildings; viral shedding was more common in the wet season; and rectal swabs were the most common sample type to test positive. A previously undescribed alphacoronavirus was detected in two bat species from different taxonomic families, sampling interfaces, geographic locations, and years. These findings expand knowledge of the range and diversity of coronaviruses and paramyxoviruses in insectivorous bats in Ethiopia and reinforce that an improved understanding of viral diversity and species-specific shedding dynamics is important for designing informed zoonotic disease surveillance and spillover risk reduction efforts.

In this study, the chemical composition of calcite crystals and pore-filling sediments in a stalagmite from Küpeli Cave was investigated for the first time using the electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). It was supplemented by petrographic, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses to improve understanding of EPMA findings. The EPMA results show that the stalagmite consists mainly of pure calcite crystals with a CaO composition of 56 ± 1 wt%. These crystals are the primary components of both sparite calcite mosaic and dendritic microfabrics. Calcite crystals in the dendritic microfabric appear as long fiber-like crystals surrounding calcite needles extending in two directions and cement filling the pores between these crystals. Internal sediments are also abundant in the pores of the dendritic microfabric and contain components such as Al2O3, SiO2, K2O, FeO, and CaO. The XRD analyses show that the pore-filling sediments consist mainly of calcite, smectite, quartz, chlorite, and feldspar. The abundance of siliceous constituents in the internal sediment, together with the stalagmite position within the conduit, indicate that the clastic sediments in the pores were deposited primarily by floods. However, it is thought that some clastic carbonates in the pores may have been transported by water dripping from the epikarst region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In large-scale water conservancy and hydropower projects, complex rock structures are considered to be the main factor controlling the stability of hydraulic structures. The classification of rock mass structure plays an important role in the safety of all kinds of large buildings, especially underground engineering buildings. As a quantitative classification index of rock mass, the rock block index is very common in the classification of borehole and dam foundation rock mass structures. However, there are few studies on the classification of underground engineering rock masses. Moreover, their classification criteria have disadvantages in spatial dimension. Therefore, this paper takes the long exploratory cave CPD1 in the water transmission and power generation system of the Qingtian pumped storage power station in Zhejiang Province as the research object and launches a study on the structural classification of the rock mass of a flat cave based on the 3D rock block index. According to the group distribution of joints, the sections are statistically homogeneous. Additionally, the Monte Carlo method is used to carry out random simulations to generate a three-dimensional joint network model. The virtual survey lines are arranged along the center of the shape of the three different orthogonal planes of the 3D joint network model to represent the boreholes, and the RBI values of the virtual survey lines on each orthogonal plane are counted to classify the rock mass structure of the flat cave in a refined manner using the rock block index of the rock mass in 3D. The above method realizes the application of the 3D rock block index in underground engineering and overcomes the limitations of traditional rock mass classification methods in terms of classification index and dimension. The results show that: (1) Three-dimensional joint network simulations built on statistical and probabilistic foundations can visualize the structure of the rock mass and more accurately reflect the structural characteristics of the actual rock mass. (2) Based on the 3D rock block index, the rock mass structure of the long-tunnel CPD1 is classified, from that of a continuous structure to a blocky structure, corresponding to the integrity of the rock mass from complete to relatively complete. The classification results are consistent with the evaluation results of horizontal tunnel seismic wave geophysical exploration. (3) Based on the 3D joint network model, it is reasonable and feasible to use the 3D rock block index as a quantitative evaluation index to determine the structure type of flat cave rock masses. The above method is helpful and significant in the classification of underground engineering rock mass structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Fully coupled heat transfer modeling during the thawing of frozen rock clefts yields melting rates that differ from those predicted by conventional conduction-based models. This research develops a conceptual model of a karst system subject to mountain permafrost supported by a numerical simulation incorporating free water convection. The numerical simulations rely on the apparent heat capacity method and the Darcy approach for energy and momentum equations. Notably, the anomalous behavior of water between 0 and 4? causes warmer meltwater to flow downwards, increasing the melting rate by approximately an order of magnitude as compared to conventional models that disregard free convection. The model outcomes are compared qualitatively with field data from Monlesi ice cave (Switzerland) and confirm the close agreement between the proposed model and real-world observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]