A New foodweb based on microbes in calcitic caves: The Cansiliella (Beetles) case in Northern Italy

Abstract

The troglobitic beetle, Cansiliella servadeii (Leptodirini), has specialized mouthparts modified for browsing and feeding under percolating water on moonmilk, a speleothem formation in Grotta della Foos, Italy. Results from analyses of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen suggest thatacquires and assimilates dissolved allochthonous organic carbon, inorganic nitrogen, and possibly phosphorus and other nutrients from the microbial fauna associated with moonmilk.

Keywords

• Cansiliella servadeii
• cave
• moonmilk
• stable isotopes
• food web
• bacteria
• microorganisms