View source for Caves

Caves are under-surface [[Biomes|biomes]] that usually have very little life within them, and a [[Succession Stage|succession stage]] of 1. Caves can be water or land biomes. The list of cave biomes is almost complete.

== River Caves ==
Occurs: on the sides of mountains<br>
Resources: rainfall, snowmelt<br>
Elevation: Approximately 5000 feet upwards - I will revise this sucker, but it's relative to latitude.<br>
Climate: high temperatures are up to 10 C. great temperature variation between day and night<br>
Topography: sloped ground, poor soil<br>
Secession stage: 2<br>
Autotroph niches: carnivores and herbivores up to midsize<br>
Heterotroph niches: up to midsize. (small trees/shrubs are included.)<br>
Other: All organisms must be adapted to a thinner atmosphere, meaning less oxygen or whatever your critter breathes. High winds probable.

== Undersea Caves ==
Occurs: underwater, in the ocean near land<br>
Resources: none<br>
Elevation: 0 to -100 m below sea level<br>
Climate: cool to warm, depending on climate above water<br>
Topography: these caves are sometimes freshwater caves that ran into the ocean, but can also be lava tubes<br>
Biodiversity: 1<br>
Autotroph niches: none, except at entrance(s)<br>
Heterotroph niches: tiny to midlarge carnivores/omnivores/detrivores<br>
Other: more permanent residents than a river cave, again, more visitors than permanent residents

== Blue Hole ==
Occurs: near sea level<br>
Resources: possible fresh water<br>
Elevation: opening @100m above to 50 m below sea level<br>
Climate: cool, usually anoxic at a certain depth<br>
Topography: basically a huge cylinder cut out of the earth by limestone dissolving- requires flat terrain<br>
Biodiversity: 1<br>
Autotroph niches: small/tiny floating plants<br>
Heterotroph niches: tiny to small herbivores/carnivores/omnvores<br>
Other: only bacterial life in the anoxic zone. May have visitors from surrounding environment.