Examining possible foraging differences in urban and rural cave cricket populations: Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N) as indicators of trophic level Steven J. Taylor1, Jean K. Krejca2, and Keith C. Hackley3 1Division of Biodiversity and Ecological Entomology, Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820 (
[email protected] phone: 217-649-0240 ) 2Zara Environmental, LLC, Buda, TX 78610 (
[email protected] phone: 512-295-5333 ) 3Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory, Illinois State Geological Survey, 615 E Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820 (
[email protected] phone: 217-244-2396 ) 30 November 2007 Illinois Natural History Survey Technical Report 2007 (59) prepared for: Attn: Dr. C. Craig Farquhar Section 6 Grant Program Coordinator, Wildlife Division Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744 USA Cover: Cicurina varians (Araneae) in web in Surprise Sink, Bexar County, Texas. Note Pseudosinella violenta (Collembola) in lower left and fresh fecal pellets of Ceuthophilus sp. to left of center. Photo by Jean K. Krejca. Abstract The energy regime in small Texas caves differs significantly from many caves of the better studied eastern United States in that surface-foraging cave crickets (Ceuthophilus secretus and Ceuthophilus “species B”) are major contributors to these systems. The federally listed endangered cave invertebrates of Travis, Williamson, and Bexar counties, Texas, are dependent on these crickets to transport energy from the surface to the cave environment. Using stable isotope analysis in combination with in- cave counts of animal life we examined foraging differences between S. invicata and cave cricket populations in nine caves chosen based on their low, medium, and high levels of human impact.