The Biospeleology web site is sponsored by the Texas Memorial Museum at The University of Texas at Austin and the Missouri Department of Conservation. This site is dedicated to exploring the world of cave biology (biospeleology), ranging from completely cave-adapted species (troglobites) of fishes, salamanders, and invertebrates, to troglophiles (animals that may be somewhat adapted to caves, but which may be found in similar habitats), and trogloxenes (animals that roost in caves, such as bats and cave crickets). You also will find information on cave microbes here. Cave biology is an interdisciplinary science that is related to cave exploration, geology, hydrology, ecology, and conservation. Cave biology and geology are two of the "backbone" sciences within speleology, the study of caves. See our glossary for definitions of cave biology terms.

We hope that this site will be visited by professional biospeleologists, cavers, researchers, conservationists, students, and teachers. This site also will have links to other web sites related to this subject, and will aid the Biology Section of the National Speleological Society. If you would like to receive e-mail announcements about the NSS Biology Section, please send your name, address, phone, and e-mail address to me or to Megan Porter, Executive Secretary. The Editor of the North American Biospeleology Newsletter currently is Katharina Dittmar de la Cruz.

Please note that I will try to post new material on the Biospeleology web site when you send it to me. You may send me information as e-mail messages, or as computer files attached to e-mail. Images may be sent as JPEG (.jpg) files, or compressed TIFF (.tif) files, or other formats. If attached files are >1 MB in size, try and compress them into a zip file. You may even mail color slides and prints to me, and I will scan them to show on the web site. (Photographers must grant me the right, in writing, to display their photos here.) Questions, comments, and praise are welcome! Address:

William R. Elliott, Ph.D.
Cave Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation
Resource Science Division
P.O. Box 180
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-0180 USA

Office phone— 573/522-4115 ext 3194

Bill.Elliott@mdc.mo.gov                        Photo of William R. Elliott, your troglomeister

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11-08-05