Caves as laboratories for the study of the effects of temperature on ecosystems and biodiversity: researches of the CaveLab Project at Bossea show-cave (NWItaly)

Cave ecosystems offer unique opportunities for ecological studies because they are characterized by low abundance and diversity of organisms, they receive poor energy inputs and they are easily modelled. The fact that caves are stable and semi‐closed systems make them ideal sites where to study the influence of temperature on ecosystems processes, functions and biodiversity, which is the core issue of this interdisciplinary project. We created a multidisciplinary research team in order to provide a deep understanding and a precise characterization of the cave ecosystem, from both an abiotic and biotic point of view, also by means of innovative technology developed within the project. Once characterized, cave ecosystems are set in a bigger frame, by considering direct and indirect factors at a local and global scale like availability of energy sources, anthropic perturbations, structure of biocoenosis, climate and past glaciations dynamics. The influence of temperature is evaluated on each ecosystem component by means of direct observations, experiments and statistical modelling. Focusing on the results, we address the role of the cave ecosystems in understanding and monitoring the effects induced by global warming. The research project is structured in seven work packages (WPs), coordinated by different member of the research team. All WPs are interconnected with each other, with concrete opportunities of transdisciplinary collaboration. Studies on cave microclimate (WP1) aim at characterizing cave climate and temperature fluctuations. A deeper understanding of such dynamics is essential for the following WPs, which focus on the influence of temperature on the different ecosystem components. The very base of the trophic interactions within cave ecosystems is studied in WP2 (bioavailability of organic matter) and WP3 (fungi and their interactions with other organisms). Cave dwelling biocoenosis and their potential as bioindicators are studied in WP4, with a special focus on direct and indirect effects of human disturbance. Species distributions and their relationships with past climatic events are the focus of WP5 and represent the basis for WP6, aimed at modelling future processes of species extinction or expansion, addressing the role of the cave ecosystem in understanding and monitoring the effects induced by global warming on biocoenosis. Focusing on the results obtained in each WP, WP7 aims at the development of the project in terms of scientific and social impact. In this interactive session we will present the researches of the CaveLab project set within the Bossea show cave, with special focus on WP1 (cave microclimate), WP3 (subterranean fungi), WP4 (lampenflora) and WP6 (cave dwelling arthropods and their potential in the study of global warming dynamics). Talks will be presented through an itinerant session inside the Bossea show cave by direct observation of the phenomena herein described.