Photo by Jennifer Redell
State Rank: SU Global Rank: GNR what are these ranks?
Both naturally occurring caves as well as mines and tunnels created by human activity can be found throughout Wisconsin and are important and unique subterranean features. They often have an opening to the surface but are characterized by little or no light. Structure, geology, and hydrology are other dominant ecological influences. Caves form from the dissolution of several rock types including limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, which differ in their chemical composition and rates of erosion, and influence cave size and structure. The distinctive biodiversity and geologic formations in caves and artificial subterranean openings depend on unique and specific environmental conditions. Bats, raccoons, salamanders, and many invertebrates, including a number of rare macroinbertebrates including springtails, amphipods, and isopods are known to use or inhabit these systems. Caves, mines, tunnels, and similar underground structures provide summer roosting and winter hibernating sites for significant numbers of bats.
The following Species of Greatest Conservation Need are listed according to their level of association with the Cave natural community type, based on the findings in Wisconsin's 2015 Wildlife Action Plan.
Scores: 3 = high association, 2 = moderate association, and 1 = low association. See the key to association scores for complete definitions.
| Amphibians | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Pickerel Frog | Lithobates palustris | 1 |
| Aquatic and terrestrial snails | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Dull Gloss | Zonitoides limatulus | 1 |
| Mammals | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | 3 |
| Little Brown Bat | Myotis lucifugus | 3 |
| Northern Long-eared Bat | Myotis septentrionalis | 3 |
| Tricolored Bat | Perimyotis subflavus | 3 |
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | 1 |
| Reptiles | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Gray Ratsnake | Pantherophis spiloides | 1 |
Please see Section 2. Approach and Methods of the Wildlife Action Plan to learn how this information was developed.
The following Ecological Landscapes have the best opportunities to manage for Cave, based on the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook.
| Ecological Landscape | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Central Sand Plains | Major |
| Southeast Glacial Plains | Major |
| Western Coulee and Ridges | Major |
| Central Lake Michigan Coastal | Important |
| North Central Forest | Important |
| Northern Lake Michigan Coastal | Important |
| Southwest Savanna | Important |
| Western Prairie | Important |
Major (3 on map)
A major opportunity for sustaining the natural community in the Ecological Landscape exists, either because many significant occurrences of the natural community have been recorded in the landscape or major restoration activities are likely to be successful maintaining the community's composition, structure, and ecological function over a longer period of time.
Important (2 on map)
Although the natural community does not occur extensively or commonly in the Ecological Landscape, one to several occurrences do occur and are important in sustaining the community in the state. In some cases, important opportunities may exist because the natural community may be restricted to just one or a few Ecological Landscapes within the state and there may be a lack of opportunities elsewhere.
Present (1 on map)
The natural community occurs in the Ecological Landscape, but better management opportunities appear to exist in other parts of the state.
Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the WWAP because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.
Threats/issues and conservations actions for natural communities
Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating your photos to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use
Photo by Jennifer Redell.
Photo by Jennifer Redell.
Note: photos are provided to illustrate various examples of natural community types. A single photograph cannot represent the range of variability inherent in a given community type. Some of these photos explicitly illustrate unusual and distinctive community variants. The community photo galleries are a work in progress that we will expand and improve in the future.