Ice Cave Fauna

Ice caves are extreme environments where low temperatures significantly contribute to shaping the structural pattern of terrestrial and aquatic biocoenosis. Extreme ice cave inhabitants range from troglobiotic beetles to stygobites, crustaceans, insects, and Acarina that show resistance to low temperatures. Many species are rare and endemic and are strictly tied to cold, microclimate habitat conditions. Here we provide a review of the environmental settings, habitats, and recent and extant fauna in ice caves in Europe, Canada, and North America.