Biospeleology in Germany

Biospeleology is dedicated to the research of life in caves, and all the ecological relations connected with it. In Germany alone, around 3.000 animal and plant species have been reported from caves, artificial caves and the ground water. Each year, new species are added, which shows, that the research is still in its infancy.

The recording of subterranean species is done on a purely voluntary base. The States of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland are the only ones where countrywide surveys of the habitat "cave" have been conducted. Earlier works have been dealing with the cave fauna of the Harz Mountains, in Westfalen, as well as the Frankonian and Swabian Albs. Supported are the biospeleologists by a multitude of scientists, which assist with the identification of the different species.