Preliminary Studies of the Tardigrade Fauna of the Faroe Bank

Four cruises to the Faroe Bank have collected bottom samples for qualitative analysis of the meiofauna. The preliminary results show a very rich tardigrade fauna, with a large proportion of species new to science. At present 35 species of tardigrades belonging to 4 families (6 sub-families) have been found, of these are 22 new to science (63%). The 35 species comprise more than 20% of all known marine tardigrades. Halechiniscidae is represented by 30 species (1 Euclavarctinae, 11 Styraconyxinae, 12 Tanarctinae, 3 Halechiniscinae, 2 Florarctinae and 1Dipodarctinae). This family comprises 87.87% of the specimens sorted out so far. Specimens from the subfamilies Tanarctinae (46.63%) and Styraconyxinae (31.54%) are dominating. Batillipedidae is represented with 3species (8.63% of the specimens) and Coronarctidae (1.89%) and Stygarctidae (1.61%) with a single species each. Samples with similar sediment from 104—260 m depth have similar species distribution in the families. This implicates that the sediment is the key factor involved in the species distribution and that depth is less important. The calcareous sediment is a unique substrate and the tardigrade fauna of the Faroe Bank can be compared with that of sub-tropical and tropical coralline sand. The composition of species exhibits a strong taxonomic affinity with the tardigrade fauna from more southern latitudes, i.e. the Mediterranean Sea and the south-eastern coast of USA.     

Evolution of cave living in Hawaiian Schrankia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with description of a remarkable new cave species

Although temperate cave‐adapted fauna may evolve as a result of climatic change, tropical cave dwellers probably colonize caves through adaptive shifts to exploit new resources. The founding populations may have traits that make colonization of underground spaces even more likely. To investigate the process of cave adaptation and the number of times that flightlessness has evolved in a group of reportedly flightless Hawaiian cave moths, we tested the flight ability of 54 Schrankia individuals from seven caves on two islands. Several caves on one island were sampled because separate caves could have been colonized by underground connections after flightlessness had already evolved. A phylogeny based on approximately 1500 bp of mtDNA and nDNA showed that Schrankia howarthi sp. nov. invaded caves on two islands, Maui and Hawaii. Cave‐adapted adults are not consistently flightless but instead are polymorphic for flight ability. Although the new species appears well suited to underground living, some individuals were found living above ground as well. These individuals, which are capable of flight, suggest that this normally cave‐limited species is able to colonize other, geographically separated caves via above‐ground dispersal. This is the first example of an apparently cave‐adapted species that occurs in caves on two separate Hawaiian islands. A revision of the other Hawaiian Schrankia is presented, revealing that Schrankia simplex, Schrankia oxygramma, Schrankia sarothrura, and Schrankia arrhecta are all junior synonyms of Schrankia altivolans. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 156 , 114–139.     

Cyanobacterially deposited speleothems: Subaerial stromatolites

Stalagmites, which appear to be deposited by cyanobacterial action, have been identified in two caves in New South Wales (Australia). These have a characteristic morphology, which has given rise to local names likening them to crustaceans. We have studied these speleothems, and the cyanobacteria covering them, by microscopic and chemical techniques. Both calcite precipitation and aeolian sediment trapping are involved in their deposition, which is strongly controlled by environmental conditions. They can be regarded as stromatolites within currently accepted definitions of the term.     

Kotumsar Cave biodiversity: a review of cavernicoles and their troglobiotic traits

The evolutionary adaptations of the organisms which inhabit the unusual and fragile ecosystems within caves are of inherent interest to both biologists and laymen. Cave organisms generally develop a high degree of physiological and behavioural adaptation for survival in the subterranean environment. The Kotumsar Cave is biologically the best known cave in India and has attracted interest from researchers from all over the world. This paper assesses the ecological community and overall habitat of the cave. This is based on long-term field observations and the review of the extensive literature on Kotumsar. For each species, features indicative of evolutionary adaptation to the cave environment are noted and conclusions drawn regarding the status of the species as a cavernicole. Several species of this cave are yet to get a proper study for correct taxonomic position although they have apparent troglomorphic dispositions. Several species which are highly endemic to this cave are probably in verge of its extinction. A serious measure to conserve the whole biodiversity has been suggested.     

Inconsistency in short-term temporal variability of microgastropods within and between two different intertidal habitats

Small-scale temporal variation in abundances of fauna in marine soft sediments has long been recognised. Many studies on rocky intertidal shores have, however, focused on larger fauna in single habitats and have primarily examined relatively long time-scales. The implications of small-scale variability are frequently not adequately addressed in the studies of changes in fauna over longer time-scales. Without knowledge of the magnitude of variation at smaller scales, comparisons across longer time-scales may be confounded. In this study, the temporal variability of a number of co-existing species of microgastropods in patches of two different intertidal habitats (coralline turf and sediment) in Botany Bay, New South Wales, Australia, was measured using a nested, hierarchical sampling design incorporating temporal scales of weeks, 1 and 3 months. In addition to habitats, there were also spatial scales of metres between plots and 100s of metres between the locations. There was generally a lack of consistency in the trends of variance for the three temporal scales at the smallest spatial scale of plots. In addition, the different species, including those that were closely related, showed different patterns of variation, depending on the habitat and site. These data show the importance of incorporating adequate scales of sampling in different habitats when analysing the distribution and abundance of microbenthos in intertidal habitats.     

Crossing the Tasman Sea: Inferring the introduction history of Litoria aurea and Litoria raniformis (Anura: Hylidae) from Australia into New Zealand

Abstract The amphibian fauna of New Zealand consists of three native species (Leiopelma spp.), and three Litoria species introduced from Australia in the last 140 years. We conducted a molecular phylogeographical study that aimed to identify the Australian origins of two species, Litoria aurea and Litoria raniformis. We used partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (cox1) gene from 59 specimens sampled from across the range of both species to identify the probable source populations for the New Zealand introductions, and to describe the current genetic diversity among New Zealand Litoria populations. Our genetic data suggest that L. aurea was introduced into the North Island of New Zealand from two regions in Australia, once from the northern part of coastal New South Wales and once from the southern part of coastal New South Wales. Our data indicate that L. raniformis introductions originated from the Melbourne region of southern Victoria and once established in the South Island of New Zealand, the species subsequently spread throughout both islands. In addition, we found a distinct haplotype in L. raniformis from Tasmania that strongly suggests, contrary to earlier reports, that this species was not introduced into New Zealand from Tasmania. Finally, we identified two very distinctive mitochondrial lineages of L. raniformis within the mainland Australia distribution, which may be previously unrecognized species.     

Cultivable microscopic fungi from an underground chemosynthesis-based ecosystem: a preliminary study

Movile Cave, a unique groundwater ecosystem in southern Romania, was discovered in 1986. This chemoautotrophic cave contains an abundant and diverse fauna with terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate communities, including 33 endemic species. Since its discovery, studies have focused mainly on cave chemoautotrophic bacteria, while the microfungal community has been largely neglected. In this study, we determined the microfungal species living on various substrates in Movile Cave and compared this spectrum with the mycobiota detected outside the cave (outside air-borne and soil-borne microfungi). To investigate all of the niches, we collected samples for two consecutive years from the dry part of the cave (cave air and sediment, corroded limestone walls, isopod feces, and isopod and spider cadavers) and from the post-siphon part of the cave, i.e., Airbell II (sediment and floating microbial mat). A total of 123 microfungal species were identified from among several hundred isolates. Of these, 96 species were only detected in the cave environment and not outside of the cave, while 90 species were from the dry part of the cave and 28 were from Airbell II. The most diverse genera were Penicillium (at least 18 species) and Aspergillus (14 species), followed by Cladosporium (9 species). Surprisingly, high CFU counts of air-borne microfungi were found inside the cave; they were even higher than outside the cave during the first year of investigation.     

Sequence of mammalian fossils, including hominoid teeth, from the Bubing Basin caves, South China

A Plio-Pleistocene to Holocene faunal sequence has been recovered from four carefully excavated caves in the Bubing Basin, adjacent to the larger Bose Basin of South China. The caves vary in elevation; we suggest that the higher caves were formed and filled with sediments prior to the lower caves. The highest deposits, which are from Mohui Cave, contain hominoid teeth and other fossilized remains of mammalian taxa most similar to late Pliocene and early Pleistocene faunas. Wuyun Cave ( approximately 50m lower in elevation than Mohui) contains a late middle Pleistocene fauna, which is supported by U-series age constraints from 350 to 200ka. Lower Pubu Cave ( approximately 23m below Wuyun) is assigned to the late Pleistocene, while the Cunkong Cave (the lowest, approximately 2m lower elevation than Lower Pubu) preserves a Holocene fauna. The four faunal assemblages indicate species-level changes in Ailuropoda, Stegodon, and Sus, the appearance of Elephas, the local disappearance of Stegodon, and the migration of Equus hemionus to South China. These initial results of our work call into question the continued value of the Stegodon/Ailuropoda Fauna, a category long used to characterize the Pleistocene faunas of South China. Excavation of karstic caves of varying elevation within the basins of South China holds promise for defining local sequences of mammalian fossils that can be used to investigate faunal variations related to climate change, biogeographic events, and evolutionary change over the past two million years. Stable isotopic analysis of a small sample of mammalian teeth from Bubing Basin caves is consistent with 100% C(3) vegetation in the Bubing/Bose region, with certain delta(13)C values consistent with a canopied woodland or forest. A preliminary assessment of the hominoid teeth indicates the presence of diverse molar and premolar morphologies including dental remains of Gigantopithecus blacki and a sample with similarities to the teeth reported from Longgupo.     

Evidence for reproductive isolation between cave bear populations

The European cave bear (Ursus spelaeus), which became extinct around 15,000 years ago, had several morphologically different forms. Most conspicuous of these were small Alpine cave bears found at elevations of 1,600 to 2,800 m. Whereas some paleontologists have considered these bears a distinct form, or even a distinct species, others have disputed this. By a combination of morphological and genetic methods, we have analyzed a population of small cave bears from Ramesch Cave (2,000 m altitude) and one of larger cave bears from Gamssulzen Cave (1,300 m), situated approximately 10 km apart in the Austrian Alps (Figure 1A). We find no evidence of mitochondrial gene flow between these caves during the 15,000 years when they were both occupied by cave bears, although mitochondrial DNA sequences identical to those from Gamssulzen Cave could be recovered from a site located about 200 km to the south in Croatia. We also find no evidence that the morphology of the bears in the two caves changed to become more similar over time. We suggest that the two cave bear forms may have represented two reproductively isolated subspecies or species.     

岩溶洞穴苔藓群落特征及其对重金属污染的指示意义: 以贵州织金洞为例

岩溶洞穴的开发与利用导致的重金属污染严重威胁洞穴环境及地下水, 因此对洞穴环境的监测具有重要的现实意义。本文通过对典型的暗河型溶洞贵州织金洞内的苔藓群落特征及其重金属污染状况进行研究, 拟揭示苔藓群落对洞穴重金属污染的指示意义。共发现苔藓群落类型34个, 苔藓植物种类20科33属49种, 含苔类8科8属12种, 藓类12科25属37种。优势科为丛藓科、凤尾藓科和提灯藓科, 物种占比率分别为16%、14%、14%。Hg污染超标倍数最高达59.45倍, 在距洞口不同深度均远高于Cr和Zn, 说明洞内Hg污染较为严重。苔藓群落指标随着重金属污染含量的上升总体呈下降趋势。所测定的重金属中基质Hg含量与苔藓群落指标的拟合程度最好, 与其对应的苔藓群落指标均呈显著负相关关系(P < 0.05), 说明苔藓群落特征能够很好地反映洞内Hg污染的变化趋势。RDA排序结果分析表明: 洞穴苔藓群落为适应低光度环境会表现出向光性运动、喜钙生基质、耐重金属等生理特征。蛇苔(Conocephalum conicum)植物体内的Hg含量与其基质Hg含量具有显著相关性(P < 0.05), 说明蛇苔受基质Hg污染影响较大。在今后的治理过程中, 可以考虑将蛇苔作为洞内环境的生物监测材料之一。     

Graphical Presentation of the African Tardigrade FaunaUsing GIS with the Description of Isohypsibius malawiensis sp. n. (Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae) from Lake Malawi

The tardigrade fauna of the African continent is reviewed and presented graphically using Worldmap, a Geographical Information System (GIS) developed for exploring geographical diversity patterns in large biological datasets. References to the African tardigrade fauna have been gathered from published literature and supplemented with unpublished species information from the collection of Prof. Reinhardt M. Kristensen (RMK), Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen. 156 species belonging to 36 genera of tardigrades are present. They consist of 105 eutardigrade species and 51 heterotardigrade species, of which 42 species are semiterrestrial and 9 species are marine. The presence of tardigrades are reported from 20 countries, but of these 9 are represented by a single reference. Marine tardigrades in particular have been neglected, with only a single report from the shores of the African continent. Data from the RMK collection of samples from Egypt is included in the analysis.

The scattered and sparse knowledge of the African tardigrade distribution makes general conclusions difficult, but emphasises the large regions which require further investigation. The current distribution patterns corresponds with easy accessible or ‘tourist’ locations. Regions where GIS could be used to illustrate ecological preferences are also pointed out by the analysis.

Isohypsibius malawiensis sp. n. is described from Lake Malawi. It has a smooth body surface and lacks eyes. The heteronych claws are without lunulae, but below the claws a double arched cuticular bar is present. The dorsal and ventral apophyses of the buccal tube have a large drop-shaped swelling. The first macroplacoid is the largest followed by the second, which is only slightly larger than the third; microplacoid is absent. Males are smaller than females. Females lay only one to two very large eggs in the exuvium. The Malpighian tubules are clover-shaped. The new species is interstitial in coarse sediment and no other tardigrade species were present.     

Parasites and associated pathology of the swamp wallaby, Wallabia bicolor (Marsupialia)

Thirty-five swamp wallabies from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, Australia were examined for parasites. Thirty-nine species of nematodes, five species of cestodes and eight species of arthropods were found. Wallabies from Queensland and northern New South Wales had a less diverse helminth fauna (23 species) than did wallabies from southern New South Wales and Victoria (32 species). Rugopharynx spp. and Cloacina spp. occurred in large numbers in the stomach but provoked no pathological changes. Known pathogenic species (Globocephaloides trifidospicularis and Hypodontus macropi) were encountered in small numbers only and did not produce any lesions. Pathological changes associated with parasites were: gastric nodules associated with Labiostrongylus clelandi and Parazoniolaimus collaris, bronchopneumonia due to Marsupostrongylus spp., biliary fibrosis associated with Progamotaenia festiva and fibrous peritonitis, pleuritis, pericarditis and eosinophilic splenitis due to Breinlia mundayi. Echinococcus granulosus was the only parasite found which also occurs in domestic animals.     

Cave invertebrate assemblages differ between native and exotic leaf litter

Abstract Allochtonous leaf litter is an important source of energy and nutrients for invertebrates in cave ecosystems. A change to the quality or quantity of litter entering caves has the potential to disrupt the structure and function of cave communities. In this study, we adopted an experimental approach to examine rates of leaf litter decomposition and the invertebrate assemblages colonizing native and exotic leaf litter in limestone caves in the Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve, New South Wales, Australia. We deployed traps containing leaf litter from exotic sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and radiata pine (Pinus radiata) trees and native eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.) in twilight zones (near the cave entrance) and areas deep within the caves for 3 months. Thirty‐two invertebrate morphospecies were recorded from the litter traps, with greater richness and abundance evident in the samples from the twilight zone compared with areas deep within the cave. Sycamore litter had significantly greater richness and abundance of invertebrates compared with eucalypt and pine litter in samples from the twilight zone, but there was no difference in richness or abundance among litter samples placed deep within the cave. Relative rates of decay of the three litters were sycamore > eucalypt > pine. We discuss the potential for the higher decomposition rates and specific leaf area in sycamores to explain their higher invertebrate diversity and abundance. Our findings have important implications for the management of exotic plants and the contribution of their leaf litter to subterranean ecosystems.     

The biology of Schizomus vinei (Chelicerata: Schizomida) in the caves of Cape Range, Western Australia

The chelicerate order Schizomida is represented in Western Australia by a single species, Schizomus vinei Harvey, from caves in the semi–arid Cape Range on the North West Cape peninsula. Schizomus vinei occurs in eight of 170 caves known from the range but is found only in areas where the relative humidity exceeds 92%. The schizomids are associated with a rich fauna (at least 11 species) mostly of detritivores, some of which show troglobitic adaptations. They prey on the cave animals that feed on detritus and are known to eat oniscoid isopods, millipedes, cockroaches, worms and S. vinei.
The size class structure of the population in cave C 118 was strongly skewed negatively suggesting that the smaller size classes occupy interstices of the infill of sumps. Schizomids in this cave were found to be distributed at random up to the third nearest neighbour. The minimum population size, with 95% confidence, was estimated to be 1323 individuals. Schizomus vinei grew very slowly in vivaria. One female produced nine eggs which did not survive.
Schizomus vinei has a high mean rate of water loss (470–4 mg g^-1 h^-1) and a low resistance to water loss (15–2 cm sec^-1); their resistance is about 10 x greater than that of a free water surface, but is about two orders of magnitude lower than that of some spiders and scorpions. Schizomus vinei excretes a clear fluid and may be ammonotelic.
Allozyme electrophoresis strongly suggests that individuals from the different caves are of the same species. Consideration of climate, age of separation of the caves and the general biology of the schizomids suggests that those caves containing schizomids may be linked.     

Role of meiofauna in estuarine soft-bottom habitats*

Meiofauna are ubiquitous in estuaries worldwide averaging 10⁶ m^?2. Abundance and species composition are controlled primarily by three physical factors: sediment particle size, temperature and salinity. While meiofauna are integral parts of estuarine food webs, the evidence that they are biologically controlled is equivocal. Top down (predation) control clearly does not regulate meiofaunal assemblages. Meiofauna reproduce so rapidly and are so abundant that predators cannot significantly reduce population size. Food quantity (bottom up control) also does not appear to limit meiofaunal abundance; there is little data on the effect of food quality. In estuarine sediments meiofauna: (i) facilitate biomineralization of organic matter and enhance nutrient regeneration; (ii) serve as food for a variety of higher trophic levels; and (iii) exhibit high sensitivity to anthropogenic inputs, making them excellent sentinels of estuarine pollution. Generally mineralization of organic matter is enhanced and bacterial production stimulated in the presence of meiofauna. Tannins from mangrove detritus in northern Queensland appear to inhibit meiofaunal abundance and therefore the role of meiofauna in breakdown of the leaves. Meiofauna, particularly copepods, are known foods for a variety of predators especially juvenile fish and the meiofaunal copepods are high in the essential fatty acids required by fish. The copepod’s fatty acid composition is like that of the microphytobenthos they eat; bacterial eaters (nematodes?) do not have the essential fatty acids necessary for fish. Most contaminants in estuaries reside in sediments, and meiofauna are intimately associated with sediments over their entire life-cycle, thus they are increasingly being used as pollution sentinels. Australian estuarine meiofauna research has been concentrated in Queensland, the Hunter River estuarine system in New South Wales, and Victoria’s coastal lagoons. Studies in northern Queensland have primarily concentrated on the role of nematodes in mineralization of organic matter, whereas those from southern Queensland have concentrated on the role of meiofauna as food for fish and as bacterial grazers. The New South Wales studies have concentrated on the Hunter River estuary and on the structure and function of marine nematode communities. In Victoria, several fish have been shown to eat meiofauna. The Australian world of meiofaunal research has hardly been touched; there are innumerable opportunities for meiofaunal studies. In contaminated estuarine sediments reduced trophic coupling between meiofauna and juvenile fish is a basic ecological question of habitat suitability, but also a question with relevance to management of estuarine resources. Because meiofauna have short lifecycles, the effects of a contaminant on the entire life-history can be assessed within a relatively short time. The use of modern molecular biology techniques to assess genetic diversity of meiofauna in contaminated vs uncontaminated sediments is a promising avenue for future research. Much of the important meiofaunal functions take place in very muddy substrata; thus, it is imperative to retain mudflats in estuaries.     

Targeted control of widespread exotic species for biodiversity conservation: The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in New South Wales, Australia

Summary   Widespread exotic species provide one of the greatest challenges to biodiversity conservation because they often have devastating impacts on native biota but are near impossible to eradicate. The Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) is established across most of mainland Australia, where it has been linked to severe declines and extinctions of a broad suite of native fauna. A targeted approach to reducing the impacts of Foxes on biodiversity was instigated in New South Wales in 2001 under the New South Wales Fox Threat Abatement Plan. It is based on three simple steps. First, explicit priorities for Fox control are established by identifying which native species are at greatest risk from Fox predation and at which sites Fox control for these species is most critical. Second, high-frequency broad-area Fox-control programmes are established across all land tenures at these priority sites. Third, monitoring programmes are established to measure the response of targeted native fauna and Foxes to Fox control. Monitoring helps refine the priorities for control and the methods used over time. This approach provides a model for the strategic control of widespread exotic pests which threaten biodiversity.     

Fish Assemblages of Mediterranean Marine Caves

Fish assemblages associated with 14 marine caves and adjacent external rocky reefs were investigated at four Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the coasts of Italy. Within the caves sampling was carried out in different sub-habitats: walls, ceilings, bottoms and ends of caves. On the whole, 38 species were recorded inside the 14 caves investigated. Eighteen species were exclusively found inside the caves: they were mainly represented by speleophilic (i.e. species preferentially or exclusively inhabiting caves) gobids (e.g. Didogobius splechtnai) and nocturnal species (e.g. Conger conger). Forty-one species were censused outside, 20 of which were shared with cave habitats. Apogon imberbis was the most common fish found in all 14 caves investigated, followed by Thorogobius ephippiatus (recorded in 13 caves), and Diplodus vulgaris and Scorpaena notata (both censused in 12 caves). Distinct fish assemblages were found between external rocky reefs and the different cave sub-habitats. New data on the distribution of some speleophilic gobids were collected, showing the existence of a pool of species shared by marine caves on a large scale (i.e. hundreds of km). Considering the uniqueness of cave fishes (18 exclusive species and different assemblage structures), the inclusion of marine caves among the habitats routinely investigated for fish biodiversity monitoring could facilitate the achievement of more comprehensive inventories. Due to their contribution to local species diversity and the shelter they provide to species valuable for conservation, marine caves should be prioritized for their inclusion not only within future MPAs through the Mediterranean Sea, but also into larger management spatial planning.     

广西扶绥岩亮洞与巨猿伴生的鼠亚科及其动物群的层序对比

本文系统研究了产自广西扶绥岩亮洞与步氏巨猿下颌骨伴生的鼠亚科化石,包括：锡金小鼠（相似种）（Mus cf. M. pahari）、小巢鼠（Micromys minutus）、亚洲姬鼠（Apodemus asianicus）、细狨鼠（Hapalomys gracilis）、原始笔尾树鼠（Chiropodomys primitivus）、先社鼠（Niviventer preconfucianus）、安氏白腹鼠（Niviventer andersoni）、拟爱氏巨鼠（Leopoldamys edwardsioides）和始家鼠（相似种）（Rattus cf. R. pristinus）,共计8属9种,其中包括了6个绝灭种,鼠亚科绝灭种的比例高达67%。研究表明,岩亮洞鼠亚科动物群的性质比重庆巫山龙骨坡的相关鼠类显得稍进步,但比湖北建始龙骨洞以及广西崇左泊岳山巨猿洞和三合大洞的鼠亚科组合都要原始,因此推测其时代为早更新世早期（可能距今约200万年）。此外,依据主要属种的形态差异和演化水平,本文还初步建立了广西左江流域更新世鼠亚科动物群的层序,从早到晚依次为：扶绥岩亮洞（距今约200万年）—崇左泊岳山巨猿洞（距今约180万年）—崇左三合大洞（距今约160-120万年）—木榄山智人洞（距今约11万年）,这对于深入研究我国南方早更新世巨猿—中华乳齿象动物群的系统演化,以及探讨我国南方第四纪生物地层的划分具有积极的意义。     

中国喀斯特洞穴维管植物多样性

洞穴是喀斯特景观中普遍存在的地质地貌结构, 拥有丰富的植物资源。仅2001-2020年间, 就发表了中国喀斯特洞穴维管植物新属1个; 新种(含种下等级) 170个, 隶属于16科31属, 占近20年发表的中国维管植物新种的3.9%, 说明洞穴植物具有较高的物种多样性潜力。据统计, 中国喀斯特洞穴维管植物有110科339属871种, 主要分布于广西、广东、贵州、云南、重庆等地。物种数排名前5的科包括苦苣苔科、荨麻科、鳞毛蕨科、秋海棠科和茜草科, 其所含物种数共占整个洞穴植物种类的39.4%; 排名前5的属包括报春苣苔属(Primulina)、楼梯草属(Elatostema)、耳蕨属(Polystichum)、秋海棠属(Begonia)和凤尾蕨属(Pteris), 其所含物种数共占整个洞穴植物种类的25.1%。本名录的所有洞穴植物中, 草本习性的种类占一半以上。从洞内分布来看, 仅有10.7%的种类分布于弱光带, 其中石松类和蕨类植物占比远高于被子植物, 说明前者更能适应弱光带的极端环境。不仅如此, 洞穴维管植物也具有较高的特有性成分, 其中省级特有种占比25.8%, 分别包括非洞穴特有种(11.0%)、多洞穴特有种(3.3%)和单洞穴特有种(11.5%)。依据文献显示受威胁种类有115种(占13.0%)。受威胁种类占比较高的类群均是近年来发表新种较多的科, 包括鳞毛蕨科、苦苣苔科、荨麻科、秋海棠科、茜草科等。针对这些类群, 有待更详细地调查来完善对它们的评估。此外, 本名录中至少有36%的种类没有任何分子数据, 亟待补充。