The biodiversity of Krem Mawkhyrdop of Meghalaya, India, on the verge of extinction

摘要

Cave fauna are unique and constitute one of the important components of biodiversity. The prevalence of cave organisms (cavernicoles) is always more in wet and longer caves compared to small and dry ones. Cavernicoles continue to evolve in the habitat characterized by complete darkness, constant temperature, high humidity and low predatic pressure. The subterranean biospheres located in tropical and sub-tropical India are poorly explored. Quarrying/mining activities in the karst area directly or indirectly harm such subterranean biosphere. Krem Mawkhyrdop located in Meghalaya, is affected by such activities. Recently, a portion of this cave collapsed despite early warning calls. In this article, we explain how an unscientific and random quarrying/mining process may possibly lead to extinction of biodiversity of this cave.