Dunivan, James D.

McDaniel, V. Rick

Tumlison, C. Renn

English

UARK (University of Arkansas )

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science Volume 36 Article 28 1982 Cave Fauna of Arkansas: Further Records James D. Dunivan Arkansas State University C. Renn Tumlison Arkansas State University V. Rick McDaniel Arkansas State University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas  Part of the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, and the Zoology Commons Recommended Citation Dunivan, James D.; Tumlison, C. Renn; and McDaniel, V. Rick (1982) "Cave Fauna of Arkansas: Further Records," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 36 , Article 28. Available at: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol36/iss1/28 This article is available for use under the Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0). Users are able to read, download, copy, print, distribute, search, link to the full texts of these articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This General Note is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact scholar@uark.edu. Arkansas Academy of Science Proceedings, Vol. XXXVI,1982 87General NotesCAVE FAUNA OF ARKANSAS: FURTHER RECORDSThis report represents the fourth in a series ofreports describing the fauna of Arkansas caves. The first paper included records ofselectedinvertebrate taxa (McDaniel and Smith, 1976); the second included a summary ofvertebrate records (McDaniel and Gardner, 1977); and the thirdincluded additional records ofboth invertebrate and vertebrate taxa (McDanielet al., 1979). Inthis paper we update previous records with respectto collections and/or identifications made during the past three years.The number of troglobites (obligate cavernicoles) known to inhabit any one cave continues to increase, as does the distribution ofcavernicolous taxa reported from Arkansas.Methodology was as reported earlier (McDaniel and Smith, 1976) in which collection ofspecimens was minimal and usually for the purposeof identification only. Allforms collected by the authors are represented by voucher specimens in the collections at Arkansas State University,or in the taxonomic collections of other recognized researchers.We have included notable records ofextinct faunal elements reported by Hawksley et al. (1980), Youngsteadt and Youngsteadt (1980) anda recent record of Typhlichthys subterraneus by Paige et al. (1981) in an effort to collate information on Arkansas cavernicoles.For newly reported taxa, we have again included probable ecological position in the cave environment, and we continue to utilize the termstroglobite, troglophile, trogloxene, and accidental (Barr, 1963).Records of taxa not previously reported from Arkansas caves comprise the following list;new records for previously reported taxa are foundin the table.PHYLUM ARTHROPODAClass InsectaOrder MegalopteraFamily CorydalidaeChauliodes sp. Accidental; Izard Co.; Clay Cave.Order DipteraFamily Calliphoridaeundetermined sp. Accidental; Stone Co.; Wind Tunnel Cave.Family Streblidaeundetermined sp. Trogloxene; Marion Co.; Blue Heaven CaveA large population occurs on Plecotus townsendii ingens and occasionally on co-inhabiting Myolisgrisescens.PHYLUM CHORDATAClass MammaliaOrder CarnivoraFamily UrsidaeUrsus americanus Trogloxene; Stone Co.; Wind Tunnel Cave.Skeletal remains of a juvenileblack bear were located far into the cave suggesting a former entrance. Searcy Co.; Hurricane River Cave.Youngsteadt and Youngsteadt (1980) reported signs and remains ofblack bear.Family FelidaeSmilodon floridanus Trogloxene; Searcy Co.; Hurricane River Cave.This extinct species was reported by Hawksley et al. (1980).Assistance in identification ofspecimens is gratefullyacknowledged from T.C. Barr, carabids; N.B. Causey, millipedes;J. R. Holsinger, amphipods; L.Knutson, insects; J. Lewis and T. Bowman, isopods; and G. Steyskal, heleomyzids.TABLETAXON NEW RECORD(S) TAXON NEW RECORDSBactrurus mucronatus Randolph Co.: Mansell C. Typhlotriton spelaeus Fulton Co.: Richardson C:Caecidotea antricola Baxter Co.: Roper C. Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Scoterpes sp. Searcy Co.: Davis Pit: Rana palustris Baxter Co.: Grahum C.Stone Co.: Roland C. Storeria occipitomaculata Baxter Co.: Grahum C:Auturus evides Fulton Co.: Richardson C. Stone Co.: Hell Creek C.Pseudopolydesmus pinetorum Fulton Co.: Richardson C: Virginia valerie elegans Baxter Co.: Grahum C:Searcy Co.: Davis Pit Stone Co.: Hell Creek C.Ptomaphagus cavernicola Stone Co.: Bald Scrabby C.Sinella barri Randolph Co.: Mansell C.Agkislrodon contortrix Baxter Co.: Grahum C.l . contortrixStaphilinidae: Izard Co.: Clay C.S Baxter Co. Myotis grisescens Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.undetermined sp. Roper C.i Fulton Co. Pipistrellus subflavus Baxter Co. Grahum C.iStone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Richardson C.Amoebalaria defessa Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C. Neotoma floridana Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Exechia Fulton Co.: Richard C.Neuratelia sp. IzardCo.: Clay C. Peromyscus attwateriMicrotus pinetorumStone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Baxter Co.: Grahum C.iPhoridae: undetermined sp. Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Tipulidae: undetermined sp. Izard Co.: Clay C.Typhlichthys subterraneus Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Eurycea longicauda Stone Co.: Hell Creek C.Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Independence Co.: unnamed C.Felis rufus. Mephitis mephitisProcyon lotormelanopluraEurycea lucifuga Izard Co.: unnamed C.87Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 36 [1982], Art. 28Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 198288 Arkansas Academy of Science Proceedings, Vol. XXXVI,1982Arkansas Academy of ScienceLITERATURE CITEDBARR, T. C. 1963. Ecological classification ofcavernicoles. Cave Notes5(2):9-12.HAWKSLEY, O., N. W. YOUNGSTEADT, and J. O.YOUNGSTEADT. 1980. Asabertooth cat, Smilodon floridanusfrom northwest Arkansas. N. S. S. Bull. 42:8-14.MCDANIEL,V. R., and J. E. GARDNER. 1977. Cave fauna ofArkansas: selected vertebrate taxa. Proc. Ark. Acad. Sci.31:68-71.MCDANIEL,V.R., K. N.PAIGE, and C. R. TUMLISON.1979. Cavefauna of Arkansas: additional invertebrate and vertebraterecords. Proc. Ark. Acad. Sci. 33:84-85.MCDANIEL, V. R., and K. L. SMITH. 1976. Cave fauna ofArkansas: selected invertebrate and vertebrate taxa. Proc. Ark.Acad. Sci. 30:57-60.PAIGE, K.N., C. R. TUMLISON,and V.R. MCDANIEL.1981. Asecond record of Typhlichthyssubterraneus (Pisces: Amblyop-sidae) from Arkansas. Southw. Nat. 26(1):67.YOUNGSTEADT, N. W., and J. O. YOUNGSTEADT. 1980.Prehistoric bear signs of Hurricane River Cave. N. S. S. Bull.42:1-7.JAMES D. DUN/VAN, C. RENN TUMLISONand V. RICK MCDANIEL.Dept. ofBiological Sciences, Arkansas State University, StateUniversity, Arkansas 72467.AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATE TAXAPRESENT IN TWOOZARK SPRINGS INRANDOLPH COUNTY, ARKANSASPrevious studies concerning the aquatic macroinvertebrates found in the Ozark Plateau ofArkansas have dealt only with stream populations(Sublette, 1956; Van Kirk,1962; Aggus and Warren, 1965; Robison and Harp, 1971; McGary and Harp, 1972; Cather and Harp, 1975). Nonehave involved aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in cold water springs. The Salem Plateau section of the Ozark Plateau province suppliesmany cold water springs of varying size. This is largely due to the abundance of limestone and dolomite, which provides a good geologic basefor the development of springs (Croneis, 1930; Thornbury, 1965). Spring basins provide a slightlydifferent habitat for aquatic macroinvertebratecommunities. Temperatures and water levels generally are confined to a more narrow range than in a stream and experience minimal seasonalvariations with regard to several other physiochemical parameters (Clifford, 1966). However, temperatures are not so limitingas in cold waterdischarges from main stem reservoirs (McGary and Harp, 1972).The springs that were sampled were designated Spring Iand Spring II.Spring Iis located in S7, T20N, R1E inRandolph County, Arkansas,and is considered tobe a permanent spring. Itis at an elevation of 110 m and has an average volume flow of65.5 cc/sec that flows in a southwarddirection. This spring is surrounded by grassy pastureland which has not had any domestic grazing for more than eight years. The spring is shadedby one sycamore tree (Plantanus occidentalis) with one eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) located about 15 m to the west. A small, spring-fedpond occurs about 100 m to the west. The spring basin was dredged over a year ago and its greatest depth is 1 m. The north end has an almostvertical drop, and this deep end covers approximately 25 percent of the basin's surface area. The rest of the basin ranges in depth from 0.08 to0.23 m. The basin has a mean width of2.13 m.Spring IIis located in S27, T20N, R2W, Randolph Co., Arkansas. It is a smaller spring in terms of volume flow and basin size. The volumeflowceased temporarily during the driest part of the 1980 summer drought, but the spring was still able to maintain most ofits basin size. Thisspring lies at an elevation of 140 m and has an average volume flow of 57.8 cc/sec. Spring IIis not nearly as open as Spring I,but rather issurrounded by an oak-hickory forest with thick undergrowth which provides shade throughout the entire day. It has been free of domestic animalsformore than eight years and is about 200 m from a small creek. This spring varies in depth from 0.08 to 0.18 m. Itsbasin has a mean width of1.22 m.Data were collected biweekly from each spring from 26 Aprilthrough 13 June 1981. Ambient and water temperatures were taken using astandard Celsius thermometer. Water was tested for pH, nitrate (NOi), carbon dioxide, ammonium nitrogen and phosphate (PO 4) using Hachwater test kits 17-N, NI-11, CA-23, NI-8 and PO-19/PO-19A, respectively. Spatial measurements were made by using a standard yardstick anconverting values to metric units. Spring volume flow was measured at the outflow from the basin by a modification ofthe mean-sectional methoi(Butler, 1957). The first and third macroinvertebrate samples were collected by use of a fine mesh aquatic dip net. The second and fourthmacroinvertebrate samples were obtained by use ofa 12 volt-DC BioQuip blacklight collecting light.Two adult odonates were obtained using anaerial net. Samples were preserved in 70 percent ethanol. Aquatic organisms were identified according to Pennak (1978), with the exception ofGerridae which were identified according toKittle (1980). Allsamples were quantified by standardizing the length of the sampling period, specificallyone hour.To minimize the effects of extrinsic factors, springs were sampled under similar logistic conditions. Water quality was quite similar forbothsprings, and little fluctuation occurred in the physicochemical parameters measured during the study period (Table 1). This is typical of springs(Clifford, 1966), and is derived from the ground waters flowing through similar geologic formations. Carbon dioxide, ammonium nitrate and phosphatewere never present in detectable concentrations in either spring. A total of225 organisms representing 13 taxa was collected from Spring I,whileonly 80 organisms of8 taxa were collected from Spring II(Table 2). The reduced taxonomic diversity resulted primarilyfrom the limitingfactorofa rather low constant water temperature. Numerical standing crop was moderate, considering the small basin size of these two springs. Thelower numerical standing crop and reduced diversity in Spring IIwere probably derived from its less constant discharge (which ceased during theheight of the 1980 drought). Further, this spring is shaded throughout the day, thus reducing photosynthesis and therefore autochthonous foodmaterials. The smaller size of this basin may also have been a contributing factor. Crangonyx was the most abundant organism inboth springs,constituting 67 and 51 percent of the organisms in Springs Iand II,respectively. Isoperla was the second most abundant organism in Spring 1(11%), while Gerris was second most abundant in Spring II(29%). Crangonyx is an omnivorous, general scavenger. Gerris usually eat a varietyofcrustaceans and aquatic insects that they catch just below the water surface, but alternatively may consume terrestrial insects that fall into thewater. Isoperla is polyphagous, but is primarilypredatory on other aquatic insects (Pennak, 1978). The dominance of these organisms implies thatprimary production and other autochthonous food sources were minimal in these two springs.88Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 36 [1982], Art. 28https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol36/iss1/28

Cave Fauna of Arkansas: Further Records

ScholarWorks@UARK

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of ScienceVolume 36 Article 281982Cave Fauna of Arkansas: Further RecordsJames D. DunivanArkansas State UniversityC. Renn TumlisonArkansas State UniversityV. Rick McDanielArkansas State UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaasPart of the Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, and the Zoology CommonsThis article is available for use under the Creative Commons license: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0). Users are able toread, download, copy, print, distribute, search, link to the full texts of these articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking priorpermission from the publisher or the author.This General Note is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the ArkansasAcademy of Science by an authorized editor of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact scholar@uark.edu, ccmiddle@uark.edu.Recommended CitationDunivan, James D.; Tumlison, C. Renn; and McDaniel, V. Rick (1982) "Cave Fauna of Arkansas: Further Records," Journal of theArkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 36 , Article 28.Available at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol36/iss1/28Arkansas Academy of Science Proceedings, Vol. XXXVI,1982 87General NotesCAVE FAUNA OF ARKANSAS: FURTHER RECORDSThis report represents the fourth in a series ofreports describing the fauna of Arkansas caves. The first paper included records ofselectedinvertebrate taxa (McDaniel and Smith, 1976); the second included a summary ofvertebrate records (McDaniel and Gardner, 1977); and the thirdincluded additional records ofboth invertebrate and vertebrate taxa (McDanielet al., 1979). Inthis paper we update previous records with respectto collections and/or identifications made during the past three years.The number of troglobites (obligate cavernicoles) known to inhabit any one cave continues to increase, as does the distribution ofcavernicolous taxa reported from Arkansas.Methodology was as reported earlier (McDaniel and Smith, 1976) in which collection ofspecimens was minimal and usually for the purposeof identification only. Allforms collected by the authors are represented by voucher specimens in the collections at Arkansas State University,or in the taxonomic collections of other recognized researchers.We have included notable records ofextinct faunal elements reported by Hawksley et al. (1980), Youngsteadt and Youngsteadt (1980) anda recent record of Typhlichthys subterraneus by Paige et al. (1981) in an effort to collate information on Arkansas cavernicoles.For newly reported taxa, we have again included probable ecological position in the cave environment, and we continue to utilize the termstroglobite, troglophile, trogloxene, and accidental (Barr, 1963).Records of taxa not previously reported from Arkansas caves comprise the following list;new records for previously reported taxa are foundin the table.PHYLUM ARTHROPODAClass InsectaOrder MegalopteraFamily CorydalidaeChauliodes sp. Accidental; Izard Co.; Clay Cave.Order DipteraFamily Calliphoridaeundetermined sp. Accidental; Stone Co.; Wind Tunnel Cave.Family Streblidaeundetermined sp. Trogloxene; Marion Co.; Blue Heaven CaveA large population occurs on Plecotus townsendii ingens and occasionally on co-inhabiting Myolisgrisescens.PHYLUM CHORDATAClass MammaliaOrder CarnivoraFamily UrsidaeUrsus americanus Trogloxene; Stone Co.; Wind Tunnel Cave.Skeletal remains of a juvenileblack bear were located far into the cave suggesting a former entrance. Searcy Co.; Hurricane River Cave.Youngsteadt and Youngsteadt (1980) reported signs and remains ofblack bear.Family FelidaeSmilodon floridanus Trogloxene; Searcy Co.; Hurricane River Cave.This extinct species was reported by Hawksley et al. (1980).Assistance in identification ofspecimens is gratefullyacknowledged from T.C. Barr, carabids; N.B. Causey, millipedes;J. R. Holsinger, amphipods; L.Knutson, insects; J. Lewis and T. Bowman, isopods; and G. Steyskal, heleomyzids.TABLETAXON NEW RECORD(S) TAXON NEW RECORDSBactrurus mucronatus Randolph Co.: Mansell C. Typhlotriton spelaeus Fulton Co.: Richardson C:Caecidotea antricola Baxter Co.: Roper C. Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Scoterpes sp. Searcy Co.: Davis Pit: Rana palustris Baxter Co.: Grahum C.Stone Co.: Roland C. Storeria occipitomaculata Baxter Co.: Grahum C:Auturus evides Fulton Co.: Richardson C. Stone Co.: Hell Creek C.Pseudopolydesmus pinetorum Fulton Co.: Richardson C: Virginia valerie elegans Baxter Co.: Grahum C:Searcy Co.: Davis Pit Stone Co.: Hell Creek C.Ptomaphagus cavernicola Stone Co.: Bald Scrabby C.Sinella barri Randolph Co.: Mansell C.Agkislrodon contortrix Baxter Co.: Grahum C.l . contortrixStaphilinidae: Izard Co.: Clay C.S Baxter Co. Myotis grisescens Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.undetermined sp. Roper C.i Fulton Co. Pipistrellus subflavus Baxter Co. Grahum C.iStone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Richardson C.Amoebalaria defessa Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C. Neotoma floridana Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Exechia Fulton Co.: Richard C.Neuratelia sp. IzardCo.: Clay C. Peromyscus attwateriMicrotus pinetorumStone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Baxter Co.: Grahum C.iPhoridae: undetermined sp. Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Tipulidae: undetermined sp. Izard Co.: Clay C.Typhlichthys subterraneus Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Eurycea longicauda Stone Co.: Hell Creek C.Stone Co.: Wind Tunnel C.Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Fulton Co.: Richardson C.Independence Co.: unnamed C.Felis rufus. Mephitis mephitisProcyon lotormelanopluraEurycea lucifuga Izard Co.: unnamed C.87Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 36 [1982], Art. 28Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 198288 Arkansas Academy of Science Proceedings, Vol. XXXVI,1982Arkansas Academy of ScienceLITERATURE CITEDBARR, T. C. 1963. Ecological classification ofcavernicoles. Cave Notes5(2):9-12.HAWKSLEY, O., N. W. YOUNGSTEADT, and J. O.YOUNGSTEADT. 1980. Asabertooth cat, Smilodon floridanusfrom northwest Arkansas. N. S. S. Bull. 42:8-14.MCDANIEL,V. R., and J. E. GARDNER. 1977. Cave fauna ofArkansas: selected vertebrate taxa. Proc. Ark. Acad. Sci.31:68-71.MCDANIEL,V.R., K. N.PAIGE, and C. R. TUMLISON.1979. Cavefauna of Arkansas: additional invertebrate and vertebraterecords. Proc. Ark. Acad. Sci. 33:84-85.MCDANIEL, V. R., and K. L. SMITH. 1976. Cave fauna ofArkansas: selected invertebrate and vertebrate taxa. Proc. Ark.Acad. Sci. 30:57-60.PAIGE, K.N., C. R. TUMLISON,and V.R. MCDANIEL.1981. Asecond record of Typhlichthyssubterraneus (Pisces: Amblyop-sidae) from Arkansas. Southw. Nat. 26(1):67.YOUNGSTEADT, N. W., and J. O. YOUNGSTEADT. 1980.Prehistoric bear signs of Hurricane River Cave. N. S. S. Bull.42:1-7.JAMES D. DUN/VAN, C. RENN TUMLISONand V. RICK MCDANIEL.Dept. ofBiological Sciences, Arkansas State University, StateUniversity, Arkansas 72467.AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATE TAXAPRESENT IN TWOOZARK SPRINGS INRANDOLPH COUNTY, ARKANSASPrevious studies concerning the aquatic macroinvertebrates found in the Ozark Plateau ofArkansas have dealt only with stream populations(Sublette, 1956; Van Kirk,1962; Aggus and Warren, 1965; Robison and Harp, 1971; McGary and Harp, 1972; Cather and Harp, 1975). Nonehave involved aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in cold water springs. The Salem Plateau section of the Ozark Plateau province suppliesmany cold water springs of varying size. This is largely due to the abundance of limestone and dolomite, which provides a good geologic basefor the development of springs (Croneis, 1930; Thornbury, 1965). Spring basins provide a slightlydifferent habitat for aquatic macroinvertebratecommunities. Temperatures and water levels generally are confined to a more narrow range than in a stream and experience minimal seasonalvariations with regard to several other physiochemical parameters (Clifford, 1966). However, temperatures are not so limitingas in cold waterdischarges from main stem reservoirs (McGary and Harp, 1972).The springs that were sampled were designated Spring Iand Spring II.Spring Iis located in S7, T20N, R1E inRandolph County, Arkansas,and is considered tobe a permanent spring. Itis at an elevation of 110 m and has an average volume flow of65.5 cc/sec that flows in a southwarddirection. This spring is surrounded by grassy pastureland which has not had any domestic grazing for more than eight years. The spring is shadedby one sycamore tree (Plantanus occidentalis) with one eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) located about 15 m to the west. A small, spring-fedpond occurs about 100 m to the west. The spring basin was dredged over a year ago and its greatest depth is 1 m. The north end has an almostvertical drop, and this deep end covers approximately 25 percent of the basin's surface area. The rest of the basin ranges in depth from 0.08 to0.23 m. The basin has a mean width of2.13 m.Spring IIis located in S27, T20N, R2W, Randolph Co., Arkansas. It is a smaller spring in terms of volume flow and basin size. The volumeflowceased temporarily during the driest part of the 1980 summer drought, but the spring was still able to maintain most ofits basin size. Thisspring lies at an elevation of 140 m and has an average volume flow of 57.8 cc/sec. Spring IIis not nearly as open as Spring I,but rather issurrounded by an oak-hickory forest with thick undergrowth which provides shade throughout the entire day. It has been free of domestic animalsformore than eight years and is about 200 m from a small creek. This spring varies in depth from 0.08 to 0.18 m. Itsbasin has a mean width of1.22 m.Data were collected biweekly from each spring from 26 Aprilthrough 13 June 1981. Ambient and water temperatures were taken using astandard Celsius thermometer. Water was tested for pH, nitrate (NOi), carbon dioxide, ammonium nitrogen and phosphate (PO 4) using Hachwater test kits 17-N, NI-11, CA-23, NI-8 and PO-19/PO-19A, respectively. Spatial measurements were made by using a standard yardstick anconverting values to metric units. Spring volume flow was measured at the outflow from the basin by a modification ofthe mean-sectional methoi(Butler, 1957). The first and third macroinvertebrate samples were collected by use of a fine mesh aquatic dip net. The second and fourthmacroinvertebrate samples were obtained by use ofa 12 volt-DC BioQuip blacklight collecting light.Two adult odonates were obtained using anaerial net. Samples were preserved in 70 percent ethanol. Aquatic organisms were identified according to Pennak (1978), with the exception ofGerridae which were identified according toKittle (1980). Allsamples were quantified by standardizing the length of the sampling period, specificallyone hour.To minimize the effects of extrinsic factors, springs were sampled under similar logistic conditions. Water quality was quite similar forbothsprings, and little fluctuation occurred in the physicochemical parameters measured during the study period (Table 1). This is typical of springs(Clifford, 1966), and is derived from the ground waters flowing through similar geologic formations. Carbon dioxide, ammonium nitrate and phosphatewere never present in detectable concentrations in either spring. A total of225 organisms representing 13 taxa was collected from Spring I,whileonly 80 organisms of8 taxa were collected from Spring II(Table 2). The reduced taxonomic diversity resulted primarilyfrom the limitingfactorofa rather low constant water temperature. Numerical standing crop was moderate, considering the small basin size of these two springs. Thelower numerical standing crop and reduced diversity in Spring IIwere probably derived from its less constant discharge (which ceased during theheight of the 1980 drought). Further, this spring is shaded throughout the day, thus reducing photosynthesis and therefore autochthonous foodmaterials. The smaller size of this basin may also have been a contributing factor. Crangonyx was the most abundant organism inboth springs,constituting 67 and 51 percent of the organisms in Springs Iand II,respectively. Isoperla was the second most abundant organism in Spring 1(11%), while Gerris was second most abundant in Spring II(29%). Crangonyx is an omnivorous, general scavenger. Gerris usually eat a varietyofcrustaceans and aquatic insects that they catch just below the water surface, but alternatively may consume terrestrial insects that fall into thewater. Isoperla is polyphagous, but is primarilypredatory on other aquatic insects (Pennak, 1978). The dominance of these organisms implies thatprimary production and other autochthonous food sources were minimal in these two springs.88Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 36 [1982], Art. 28http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol36/iss1/28

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Cave Fauna of Arkansas: Further Records

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