Caves are openings in bedrock caused by solution or erosion by percolating water, flowing water, or wave action. To some extent, abandoned mine shafts and tunnels also function as cave habitat. The lack of light in caves produces a unique habitat with sparse flora and some specialized fauna.

In Nova Scotia, caves may occur in any limestone or gypsum area. The best-known examples are in the gypsum formations of Hants County and Victoria County. The best-studied example is Hayes Cave near Maitland, where bat counts have been kept for a number of years. It is believed that there are many other small cave systems, particularly in Cape Breton Island.

This Document Includes:

Formation
Physical Aspects
Ecosystem
Successional Sequence
Plants
Animals
Special Features
Distribution In Nova Scotia

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Additional Keywords:
beetles, springtails, dragonfly, Threespine Stickleback, dace, bats, porcupines, karst topography, sinkholes

Associated Topics:

T2.4 The Carboniferous Basin
T3.1 Development of the Ancient Landscape
T3.2 Ancient Drainage Patterns
T3.3 Glaciation, Deglaciation and Sea-level Changes
T3.4 Terrestrial Glacial Deposits and Landscape Features
T10.10 Fungi
T11.8 Land Mammals
T11.11 Small Mammals
T12.3 Geology and Resources

Associated Habitats:

H3.6 Water's Edge Lentic (Lakes and Ponds) H5.3 Cliff and Bank