Avaliação in situ do aporte de alimento nas diferentes zonas de uma caverna: estudo de caso e recomendações metodológicas

Due to the absence of light, cave environments are devoid of photosynthesizing organisms, and depend on the input of food from above ground. We compared the quantity of food available in the different zones of two caves in Serra da Canastra, MG. The amount of plant debris was highest in the entrance zone, intermediate in the twilight zone, and minimal in the dark zone. Guano was practically absent from the entrance zone, but did not present any clear pattern between the twilight and the dark zones. Therefore, plant debris seem to be more important in the entrance zone, and guano in deeper zones. We conclude with some methodological recommendations related to the quantification of food input and to statistical inference. Keywords. Guano; Vegetal debris; Roots; Subterranean environment.