ELLIOTT ET AL.: THE CAVE FAUNA OF CALIFORNIA 
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came from higher elevations, reaching the caves overland by migration during the cooler and more 
moist conditions of the last glaciation ... As the glacial ice retreated and the warming and drying 
trends of the present interglacial continued, some of the populations retreated into the suitable envi¬ 
ronments offered by the cave. This mechanism certainly is true for Plumatyla and Idagona, and for 
the species of Grylloblatta, all of which show no special cave modification. The modified . . . 
troglobites, may have occupied caves during earlier interglacials.” He continued, “Some of this 
fauna has affinities with the faunas of limestone caves in the United States to the south and east, 
such as Stygobromus, Apochthonius, Microcreagris, Rhagidia, Bathyphantes, and Plusiocampa. 
However, some of this fauna is unique and is limited to the cave or to the general cave-containing 
region of the Pacific Northwest. A conclusion which may be drawn from this observation is that, 
although the caves themselves have histories different from those of caves in limestone regions, 
their internal conditions have attracted, isolated, and supported faunas in the same way as those of 
limestone caves.” 
To Peck’s general conclusion that cavemicoles were isolated during interglacials, we must add 
the likely opposite effect in the southern Sierra Nevada and Mojave Desert, in which southern 
forms colonized caves after expanding in the general area during warm, wet periods, but survived 
underground during glacials or extremely arid periods. This could apply to schizomids, scorpions, 
certain spiders, Texella harvestmen, Rhadine beetles, and other associated fauna. This is perhaps 
why there is a mix of boreal and tropical elements in the caves of the Sierra Nevada South region. 
Ecological, biogeographical, and evolutionary questions continue to draw the attention of cave 
biologists to California. We expect that many more species will be discovered in California’s 
diverse cave regions. To what degree is cave biodiversity related to root systems in caves and the 
adjacent topography? What food chains are related to different roots? How were boreal and tropi¬ 
cal species isolated in caves? Why are there so many phreatobites, even at this early stage of knowl¬ 
edge, and so few stygobites in California? Why do rhaphidophorid crickets rarely form large cave 
colonies, or are absent from some caves? 
Conservation of California’s caves and their diverse fauna benefit tremendously from the pre¬ 
vailing land ownership pattern within the state, with many caves on federal and state lands, 
although some of those caves are still abused. There also are opportunities to improve cave con¬ 
servation on private lands. Pressures from an expanding human population and intense water usage 
present challenges to effective conservation of these resources. The authors hope that the informa¬ 
tion we have presented will be useful in identifying specific conservation issues, informing the dis¬ 
cussions, and ultimately result in better conservation outcomes. 
Acknowledgments 
Our sincere thanks to the following individuals and organizations for assistance in the field, 
laboratory, and administrative matters: Dannique Aalbu, Denise Aalbu, Cheryl Akin, Amy, Hillary 
Armstrong, Shawna Arrington, Tracy Audisio, Kyle Baker, Ryan Baker, Sanjana Baker, Mark Bal- 
com, Cristi Baldino, Jason Ballensky, Cheryl Barr, N. Barth, Kip Baumann, James Bergdahl, Kat 
Biacindo, Doug Billings, Hugh Blanchard, Robin Blanchard, D. Boiano, Monique Bom, Sam 
Borstein, Richard Bottorff, Ronald Bourret, Mark Bowers, Doug Bradford, Manuel Bradly, Becky 
Broeckel, Bighorn Broeckel, Bill Broeckel, Roger Brown, Charles Braes, Lauren Bucholtz, Dave 
Bunnell, Byron, Sandi Calhoun, Cat, Caterino, Wayne Cedidla, Dani Cessna, Brien Chartier, Neil 
Chartier, Daniel Chatterton, Chatzimanolis, Alan Chern, Mike Chestnut, Childs, Ernie Coffman, 
Rich Collier, Mark Conover, Claudia Copley, Cordelia, David Cowan, Rod Crawford, Julie Crow, 
Nathan Cullen, Jake Davies, Mike Davies, Ron Davis, Joel Despain, Don Dunn, Sean Dunn, 
