What's the temperature in tropical caves?

PLoS One. 2020 Dec 31;15(12):e0237051. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237051. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Hourly temperature was measured for approximately one year at 17 stations in three caves in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Thirteen of these stations were in the extensive twilight zones of all three caves. All seventeen stations showed seasonality in temperature with a 3°C drop during the Nortes season. Two of the caves, Muévelo Sabrosito and Muévelo Rico, showed greater variability during the winter months while in Río Secreto (Tuch) variability was greatest during the rainy season. Río Secreto is less open to the surface than the other two. All sites also showed a daily temperature cycle, although it was very faint in some Río Secreto (Tuch) sites. While temperature variability is diminished relative to surface variation, its temporal pattern is worthy of further study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Caves / chemistry*
  • Ecosystem
  • Mexico
  • Rain
  • Seasons
  • Temperature*
  • Tropical Climate*

Grants and funding

LMMO was supported by CONACYT (www.conacyt.gob.mx) grant 258494 (Fondo Sectorial de Investigacion para la Educacion). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. MCC Statistical Consulting LLC provided support in the form of salaries for MCC, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific role of this author is articulated in the author contribution section.