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Journal of Threatened Taxa PLATINUM The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles OPEN ACCESS online every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton. Journal of Threatened Taxa Building evidence for conservaton globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Communication Faunal diversity of an insular crepuscular cave of Goa, India Pratksha Sail, Manoj Ramakant Borkar, Ismat Shaikh & Archana 26 February 2021 | Vol. 13 | No. 2 | Pages: 17630-17638 DOI: 10.11609/jot.6628.13.2.17630-17638 For Focus, Scope, Aims, Policies, and Guidelines visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0 For Artcle Submission Guidelines, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions For Policies against Scientfc Misconduct, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-2 For reprints, contact <[email protected]> The opinions expressed by the authors do not refect the views of the Journal of Threatened Taxa, Wildlife Informaton Liaison Development Society, Zoo Outreach Organizaton, or any of the partners. The journal, the publisher, the host, and the part- Publisher & Host ners are not responsible for the accuracy of the politcal boundaries shown in the maps by the authors. Member Threatened Taxa Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2021 | 13(2): 17630–17638 ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) PLATINUM OPEN ACCESS htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.6628.13.2.17630-17638 #6628 | Received 27 August 2020 | Final received 06 February 2021 | Finally accepted 19 February 2021 COMMUNICATION Faunal diversity of an insular crepuscular cave of Goa, India Pratksha Sail 1 , Manoj Ramakant Borkar 2 , Ismat Shaikh 3 & Archana Pal 4 1–4 Biodiversity Research Cell, Department of Zoology, Carmel College of Arts, Science & Commerce for Women, Nuvem, Goa 403713, India. 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected] (corresponding author), 3 [email protected], 4 [email protected] Abstract: This study is the frst atempt to document troglofaunal diversity of crepuscular cave ecosystem from the state of Goa. Twelve faunal species (seven invertebrates and fve vertebrates) have been documented from an insular crepuscular cave which measures 18.62m in foor length and shows a transiton of light and hygrothermal profle between its entrance and dead end. Absence of primary producers, thermal constancy, high humidity, poor ventlaton, and compettve exclusion due to limited food resources restricts the faunal diversity of this cave; though trophic linkages are interestng yet speculatve, as is typical of subterranean ecosystem. Among the macro-invertebrates, cavernicolous Whip Spider is a signifcant species here; whereas the important vertebrates encountered are the Fungoid frog and the Indian Cricket frog, besides roosts of the Rufous Horseshoe bat. Eco-energetc subsidy, possibly ofered by crickets and bats that regularly feed outside this oligotrophic cave ecosystem is discussed. The need to document the unique and vulnerable troglofauna of this sensitve ecosystem from the conservaton perspectve is highlighted. Keywords: Crepuscular, eco-energetc subsidy, insular cave, troglofauna. Editor: Jayant Biswas, Natonal Cave Research and Protecton Organizaton, Raipur, India. Date of publicaton: 26 February 2021 (online & print) Citaton: Sail, P., M.R. Borkar, I. Shaikh & A. Pal (2021). Faunal diversity of an insular crepuscular cave of Goa, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(2): 17630–17638. htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.6628.13.2.17630-17638 Copyright: © Sail et al. 2021. Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of this artcle in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton. Funding: Self-funded. Competng interests: The authors declare no competng interests. Author details: Ms. Pratiksha Sail has a master’s degree in Zoology from Goa University. She has been conductng research in the area of ecology and conservaton science working on impact of linear infrastructure projects and EIA. Dr. Manoj Ramakant Borkar, senior academic and zoologist with 33 years of teaching and research experience, has served on Goa’s State Biodiversity Board, State Wildlife Board and State Experts Appraisal Commitee for EIA. Presently serving as Associate Professor & Head, Department of Zoology at Carmel College for Women, Nuvem Goa. Ms. Ismat Shaikh has a master’s degree in Zoology from Goa University. Ms. Archana Pal has a master’s degree in Biotechnology from Birla Insttute of Technology (BITS), Mesra. She has been pursuing research in the area of microbial degradaton. Author contributon: PS—Field work, laboratory analysis, computaton of data and writng frst draf; MRB—Conceptualizaton and supervision of feld & laboratory work, data collaton and interpretaton, writng fnal research manuscript and editng; IS—Field work and laboratory analysis; AP—Field work and laboratory analysis. Acknowledgements: Senior corresponding author Dr. Manoj R. Borkar expresses grattude to Dr. Pradeep Sarmokadam, Member Secretary of Goa State Biodiversity Board for encouragement towards biodiversity listng of hitherto unexplored ecosystems in Goa. Ms. Andrea Sequeira is acknowledged for assistance in feld photography. Thanks are also due to Superior General of Apostolic Carmel Congregaton Sr. Maria Nirmalini AC for upgrading facilites at the Biodiversity Research Cell of Carmel College of Arts, Science & Commerce for Women, Nuvem, Goa. 17630 Faunal diversity of an insular crepuscular cave, Goa Sail et al. J TT INTRODUCTION zone boundaries. The organic carbon and phosphate content of the soil through the foor length of the cave Caves are natural or man-made subterranean have been analysed. The data gathered addresses cavites that may also be formed in the face of a clif or an important gap in our state specifc biodiversity of a hillside. Their speleogenesis is atributed to various sensitve ecosystems. geologic processes; inclusive of a combinaton of chemical processes, erosion by water, tectonic forces, microorganisms, pressure and atmospheric infuences MATERIALS AND METHODS (Ford & Williams 2007). Cave as an ecosystem has its unique features The cave investgated in this study is located at characterized by gradients of darkness, narrow range 15.5350N & 73.9240E on Divar Island towards the north of temperature diferences and high humidity with of Old Goa, 9.50km from Panaji and surrounded by the limited air currents as some of its abiotc factors. These Mandovi estuary and its network of tributaries (Image features make the cave ecosystem unique and the study 1a,b ). The island is dominated by agricultural landscape of its biota fascinatng (Biswas 2009). Bio-speleology is a and a few aquaculture units (Image 1c). relatvely nascent area of ecology in India; the dearth of The cave was physically measured for various bio-speleological data being on account of the relatvely speleometric dimensions and a schematc diagram was hostle and secluded nature of these ecosystems. hand drawn by mapping the layout of the cave and later The cave environment creates an ecosystem, which digitzed to add details like measurements and sampling the fauna living in epigean conditons fnd difcult to points. Physical parameters such as light (Luxmeter adapt to (Biswas 2010). Nonetheless, caves support HTC Model LX-103), temperature and humidity (Digital and sustain a good faunal diversity within the limited Hygrometer-Thermometer HTC Model 103-CTH) were geophysical parameters. Organisms atracted to live in recorded throughout the cave. caves show high degree of morphological, behavioral, Soil samples from various points within the cave and physiological adaptatons necessary to endure and were collected in pre-sterilized zipped plastc pouches thrive in such an ecosystem (Vandel 1965; Barr 1968; using a spatula and analysed for organic carbon (Walkley Biswas 1992; Gunn 2004). Species colonise caves for & Black 1934) and phosphate content (Adelowo et al. various reasons for at least part of their life cycles for 2016). Monthly visits were made for seven months temporary shelter or due to low predaton pressure and from August 2018 to February 2019 for documentaton easy availability of prey (Biswas 2009). of troglofauna in relaton to three zones of the cave. This study is the frst atempt at chartng out the Only direct evidences were considered to compile an faunal diversity of crepuscular cave ecosystem of inventory of troglofauna. Most observatons were made Goa’s insular landscape. The term insular is used here between 09.00h and 17.00h, but occasional observatons to indicate the cave’s presence on an island. Divar is were made at night to account for any night cave visitors. the third largest of the seven islands of Goa; roughly Species were photo-documented and collecton was triangular in shape and measures an average 5.80km avoided to uphold conservaton ethics, unless absolutely long and about 3.00km wide, with an area of around necessary for taxonomy. 17.56km2. A cursory menton of this cave
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