Cave shrimps

[kay]

A guide to cave crustaceans, including an identification key, has been published by the Freshwater Biological Association under the ambitious title "Cave Life in Britain", and is available for free download from http://www.fba.org.uk/downloads

Rather unexpectedly, this information came to me from the Royal Horticultural Society, who for a couple of years now have had a regular column in their magazine on wildlife in the garden.

 

[Les W]

This is the booklet by Lee Knight, a Devon caver who is very well informed on cave crustacea.
He is often at BCRA science meets with his microscopes and specimens so that everybody can have a good look.
The bookled is well prepared and presented and should be in every caver's library... 

 

[martinm]

I have just sent him an email. In the Manifold Valley in the Peak District, some of the caves contain not only shrimps, but worms, leeches, Bullheads, Eels & even Trout in certain caves. The title 'Cave Life in Britain' seems to imply there are only Shrimp type wild life in our caves. Just curious... 

 

[cap n chris]

Quality of life, Stu.

 

[Les W]

Quality of life, Stu.

??????? 

 

[owd git]

Great 'heads up' Kay, Thank you.
Shall have to identify the 'shrimps' in the coffin level off waterfall chamber (Knottlow)
Piccies to follow!!
O. G.

 

[martinm]

Have had a lengthy reply off Lee already! (Lots of techy terms in it I don't quite understand atm, lol.) Some interesting work in progress apparently due for publishing in 2014. Have sent him the Biospeleology section from my Manifold Audit of a few years back for him to look at as they don't seem to have much on the Peak District atm.

In the mean time, you might find this web site interesting:-

http://www.cambriancavingcouncil.org.uk/cavelife/index.html

Regards, Mel.