Les dolines d'effondrement et les dolines-lacs des Causses du SW du Moyen Atlas (Maroc)

Abstract

Karstic geosystems of the Causses in SW Middle Atlas (Morocco) : Interference between geomorphologic and hydrogeologic factors. The karstic geosystems of the Causses in the Middle Atlas present a number of old and present karstic landforms. The interference between karstic geomorphology and the process of deep karstification find expression in an important development of sinkholes and collapse zones. Inventory and spatial distribution of these superficial karstic landforms show a very close relationship with the apparition of saline springs. Water chemistry and the exported rock tonnage are analysed and point out the importance of caveming which takes place in gypsum and salt triassic formations.

Karstic Microrefugia Host Functionally Specific Ant Assemblages

“…We also found that dolines may act as key habitats for a number of ants adapted to warmer and/or drier (e.g., Formica cunicularia, M. sabuleti, and Tapinoma subboreale) conditions. The main reason for this is that the south-facing slopes of dolines receive more insolation during daytime than the other microhabitats (Bárány-Kevei, 1999). This is in line with Růžička et al (2016) who found that south-facing slopes and edges of dolines may provide habitats for warm-adapted steppe species (e.g., Danacea pallipes, Insecta: Coleoptera).…”

“…Mean annual temperature is 6.3 • C and mean annual precipitation is 800 mm (Dövényi, 2010). Solution dolines are characteristic landforms of the area, having high topographic complexity (Figures 1c,d) and unique microclimate (Bárány-Kevei, 1999). The north-facing slopes of dolines receive less insolation than bottoms, south-facing slopes and the plateau, and therefore are consistently cooler and moister than their surroundings.…”

“…in doline bottoms at night (Bárány-Kevei, 1999). Although only a few studies have been published on the distribution of animal taxa in European dolines (and most of these studies focus on collapse dolines with cave entrances), their ability to support species adapted to cooler and/or moister conditions is widely accepted (Kemencei et al, 2014;Bátori et al, 2017;Su et al, 2017).…”

Data_Sheet_1.xlsx

“…Functional in doline bottoms at night (Bárány-Kevei, 1999). Although only a few studies have been published on the distribution of animal taxa in European dolines (and most of these studies focus on collapse dolines with cave entrances), their ability to support species adapted to cooler and/or moister conditions is widely accepted (Kemencei et al, 2014;Bátori et al, 2017;Su et al, 2017).…”