Cave-dwelling Arthropods of Cayo District, Belize скачать в хорошем качестве

Cave-dwelling Arthropods of Cayo District, Belize

This video was produced to accompany the science poster presentation with the same title. The poster was presented at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. https://www.researchgate.net/publicat... Poster Abstract: Cave-dwelling arthropod communities in Belize remain largely undocumented, though recent discoveries have revealed high biodiversity. Three caves in the Cayo District were surveyed in the summer of 2024. Preliminary results include at least 31 distinct morphospecies. Of these, nine were identified as troglobionts—species evolved for life deep within caves. These organisms are often of management concern as most are considered short-range endemics occurring in a single cave or geologic formation. Future research will include assessing the effects of wildfires, which are becoming more frequent and severe in the region. A fire during the 2023 dry season burned portions of the forest above one of our study caves resulting in a shift in land cover now dominated by regenerating pioneer species. Another area of inquiry will be evaluating the impacts of adventure tourism, as cave tourism is an important economic activity in Belize. Quantifying these anthropogenic pressures will be critical for informing conservation and cave resource management planning. Collectively, these findings underscore the need for long-term monitoring and targeted conservation efforts to protect Belize’s fragile cave ecosystems. Reference: Hammelrath, C., Dart, K., Pleitez, G. & Wynne, J.J. 2025. Cave-dwelling arthropods of Cayo District, Belize, 25 APR 25, UGRADS, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31725.50409