Whether it’s the idyllic, crystal pools that flow with water from the largest underground river in the world, or the icicle-esque rocks that hang like vines; the ancient underwater caves in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula are nothing short of a tourist’s dream.
However, a new study led by UNE Professor of Ecosystem Management, Dr Karl Vernes, has revealed these caves are more than just a traveller’s hotspot; they also play a crucial role in the survival of the region’s native mammals.
“Our work has revealed the Yucatán to have the most species-rich mammal community thus far recorded in a cave network anywhere in the world,” says Professor Vernes.
“We demonstrated extensive use of caves by at least 20 species of terrestrial non-flying mammals, such as pumas and jaguars, and there are probably that many bat species also using these caves.”
It’s the first study of mammals using caves in Mexico, and one of just a few in the world.
By using camera traps to monitor the activity of animals inside the caves (also known as ‘cenotes’), the study shines a new light into the behaviour of the region’s local wildlife and the important role the caves play in the ecosystem.
“Our camera traps showed that mammals mostly accessed cenotes to drink - everything from jaguars and pumas to shy herbivores like deer and opossums came to drink at different times of the day and night,” says Professor Vernes.
“We also saw a range of other activities in caves, including searching for food, nesting, mating, resting, and bathing. For example, on occasion, two jaguars used a cave as a mating site, while in another cave, a jaguar slept on the relatively cool and dark cave floor for nearly an hour during the heat of the day.”
Image: Researchers observed many mammals, such as this jaguar, using the caves for activities such as drinking, resting and mating.
However, as the region’s popularity continues to grow among tourists and developers, these unique ecosystems are being put at risk.
“There is a massive amount of development happening on the Yucatán - some of this is small, such as tourists using cenotes as a swimming location, while others are widespread, such as pollutants travelling tens or hundreds of kilometres through the aquifer to otherwise pristine cenotes,” says Professor Vernes.
“Recently, a large railway project threatens many cenotes across the whole peninsula. Tourism is important to the local economy, but unchecked, it might have huger impacts on this fragile environment.”
Professor Vernes says the study emphasises the importance of preserving the natural drinking holes.
“These water-filled caves are the only place mammals can access a reliable source of water, and our study revealed they’re used for a number of other vital activities, such as mating and hunting. If there were no cenotes, the mammal diversity of this region would be greatly reduced,” he says.
“As regional development continues, we expect wildlife will be forced to use fewer cenotes or to change their timing of access to cenotes to avoid people. For large animals with extensive home ranges like jaguar and puma, access to an abundance of undisturbed cenotes within their home range for both drinking water and shelter may be an important requirement that allows for their coexistence, and their continued presence in the region.”
The study was recently published in the journal Biotropica, and can be viewed here.
