The term ecosystem can be defined as "any given space in which plants and animals interact with each other and the physical environment." This guide is based on this definition which also suits the syllabus requirements..

• spatial patterns - where limestone caves occur
• physical environment - climate, landform and soils of caves
• plants and animals - communities, biodiversity
• natural interactions - food chains, webs, cycles
• human interactions - impacts and management

Caves have very fragile ecosystems; cave animals, including troglobites, have evolved to survive in a very stable, unchanging environment. The caves themselves are also very fragile, the weathering of limestone by solution to form caves and its reverse, the deposition of pure calcite to form speleothems (cave decorations) depends on a very fine chemical equilibrium which either dissolves or deposits calcium carbonate. This equilibrium is influenced by the catchment above the cave including geology and soils, climate, the water cycle and vegetation. Inside the cave it is influenced by carbon dioxide levels, humidity, groundwater flow and temperature. Small changes by people to the catchments above caves or the caves themselves to allow access can have a major impact on the caves and their ecosystems.

	location

because there are not many caves