Trophic Interactions in Subterranean Environments

This article reports the current knowledge of trophic dynamics in both aquatic and terrestrial subterranean communities. Scarcity of nutrients characterizes subterranean food web interactions and drives opportunistic adaptive strategies. However, recent research contrasts the archetype of poorly structured food chains against emerging convoluted mechanisms sustaining a great range of biotic diversity and functional complexity. Novel analytical designs described in this work provide important new perspectives into the investigation of these key ecological dynamics, which, together with future advances, will enable the understanding of the immense conservational value of these often overlooked ecosystems.