Does Size Matter? Two Subterranean Biodiversity Hotspots in the Lessini Mountains in the Veneto Prealps in Northern Italy

Abstract

In the Lessini Mountains, the southernmost prealpine area in the Veneto region, thousands of caves are found, many of which have been extensively studied from the biological point of view. Numerous studies have been carried out on taxonomic and biogeographic aspects over the last hundred years. Two caves, in particular, have been found to be extremely rich in species adapted to life in subterranean environments. These are the Arena Cave in the Monti Lessini Veronesi and the Buso della Rana cave system in the Monti Lessini Vicentini. The two caves have extremely different development: Arena Cave is about 100 meters in length, and the Buso della Rana-Pisatela cave system is more than 37 km in length. Despite this huge difference in size, they both have the highest number of subterranean dwelling species in northern Italy (16 troglobionts and 8 stygobionts in Arena Cave, and 7 troglobionts and 11 stygobionts in the Buso della Rana-Pisatela cave system).