78 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
Series 4, Volume 64, Supplement 1 
Elliott (1978) provided temperature and humidity data, transplanted species counts, and pop¬ 
ulation estimates for Banksula grahami, B. melones, and the beetle Ptomaphagus nevadicus in 
McLean’s Cave and Transplant Mine, SNN, and feeding experiment data for B. melones. The mean 
air temperature in McLean’s Cave in December/January 1977-78 was 14.1°C with a range of 2.0°C 
(13.6°C in the main level to 15.6°C in the highest level). Relative humidity (RH) ranged from 
82-97% in McLean’s as measured with wet and dry bulbs on a digital IMC thermometer. Condi¬ 
tions in the cave were generally dry and dusty because of a drought until January 1978, when con¬ 
siderable dripping began. Afterwards the atmosphere was saturated in most places except in the 
Entrance Room. From December 1977 to May 1978, the Transplant Mine air ranged from 12.2°C 
at the entrance gate to 15.1°C in a side passage where fauna was transplanted (Fig. 11). RH ranged 
from 80 to 100%. Temperature and humidity data were recorded in 3 other caves in the same inter¬ 
val, and ranged from 15.7-16.3°C in Moaning Cave (a show cave with electric lights); 
10.0-15.5°C air and 13.1°C in the amphipod stream in Crystal Palace; and 11.2-11.3°C air in 
Windeler Cave. 
Rudolph (1979) reported population evaluations for B. melones (Figs. 7, 8 and 21) in 18 caves, 
and conducted faunal surveys in 80 caves in northern California. More localities for B. melones 
were found in the Stanislaus River basin, partly because the drought had broken and the ground 
and caves were wetter, consequently more cave fauna was visible than during the surveys of 
McEachem and Grady in 1977 and Elliott in the winter of 1977-1978. 
Taylor and Krejca (2006) reported on their extensive studies in 29 lava tubes at Lava Beds 
National Monument. Enviro nm ental data showed that most of the lava tubes have a dark zone vary¬ 
ing from just above freezing to about 12°C. Relative humidity varies from about 85-100%. Many 
tables and graphs are presented in their report, three of which are reproduced here (Figs. 110-112). 
The preferences for light, RH, temperature, and substrate type were graphed for a rhagidiid mite, 
the millipede Plumatyla humerosa, a Haplocampa dipluran, a tomocerid collembolan, the cricket 
Ceuthophilus inyo, and the bat Corynorhinus townsendii. The fauna and caves were extensively 
photographed, providing a valuable record and photographic guide for future ecologists monitor¬ 
ing the fauna. At least 3 undescribed species were discovered among 25 caves: 2 Haplocampa cam- 
podeid diplurans (Fig. 70) and a telemid spider in the genus Usofila (Fig. 37). 
Krejca (2006, 2009a) conducted similar studies of 35 caves in Sequoia National Park, Kings 
Canyon National Park, and Yosemite National Park (SNS), providing extensive faunal surveys and 
photographs, some of which show previously unknown species interactions. Twenty-seven new 
species were found. Two granitic talus caves in Yosemite ranged from 8.0-11.0°C. The high cave 
biodiversity of the two parks was not fully realized until these studies were done. 
Our present study has much more information than was available to early researchers regard¬ 
ing the total fauna of some caves. Tables 18-22 give us the opportunity to compare and contrast 
the cave communities. 
Clough Cave. The map of Clough Cave, Sequoia National Park, Tulare County, SNS Region, 
is shown in Figure 114. A marble cave, Clough is at 1,311 m above sea level (among the 6 highest 
caves), in a cliff 40 m above the South Fork of the Kaweah River. The cave is only 277 m long 
with 13 m of vertical relief. A minimal age for the cave is 1.03 +/- 0.13 Ma as dated by cosmogenic 
26 Al/i°Be burial dating of coarse sediment deposited in the cave (Stock et al. 2005), but it is prob¬ 
ably much older. The cave probably retains moisture year-round because the entrance is at the 
lower end, thus limiting the invasion of cold, dry air in the winter. Cold air flows into down-slop¬ 
ing caves because it is dense, often causing winter drying for some distance. The cave was abused 
for many years, as evidenced by broken speleothems throughout, but it has been somewhat restored 
and is doubly gated. 
