SREL Reprint #2573

A biological inventory of eight caves in northwestern Georgia with conservation implications

Kurt A. Buhlmann

University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC 29802 USA

Abstract: A 1995 biological inventory of 8 northwestern Georgia caves documented or re-confirmed the presence of 46 species of invertebrates, 35 considered troglobites or troglophiles. The study yielded new cave records for amphipods, isopods, diplurans, and carabid beetles. New state records for Georgia included a pselaphid beetle. Ten salamander species were in the 8 caves, including a true troglobite, the Tennessee cave salamander. Two frog, 4 bat, and 1 rodent species were also documented. One cave contained a large colony of gray bats. For carabid beetles, leiodid beetles, and millipeds, the species differed between the caves of Pigeon and Lookout Mountain. Diplurans were absent from Lookout Mountain caves, yet were present in all Pigeon Mountain caves. A comparison between 1967 and 1995 inventories of Pettijohns Cave noted the absence of 2 species of drip pool amphipods from the latter. One cave had been contaminated by a petroleum spill and the expected aquatic fauna was not found. Further inventory work is suggested and the results should be applied to management strategies that provide for both biodiversity protection and recreational cave use.

SREL Reprint #2573

Buhlmann, K.A. 2001. A biological inventory of eight caves in northwestern Georgia with conservation implications. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 63: 91-98.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).