This project aims to investigate the current use of caves by vertebrate species in southwestern Germany, with a focus on mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Three caves from the Swabian Jura with different characteristics – in terms of size, accessibility, and landscape setting – will be selected as case studies. Monitoring will take place from April 2026 until at least October 2028. 

The project pursues two interlinked goals: (1) To improve the interpretation of archaeological and palaeoecological cave assemblages by documenting how modern vertebrates use caves today. This includes identifying which species enter caves, when and how often they do so, and for what purposes (e.g., shelter, foraging, nesting, or transit). These data will provide a behavioural and ecological framework for understanding the types of traces (such as bones, coprolites, or sediment DNA) that may become preserved in cave contexts over time. (2) To evaluate the ecological significance of caves as potential refugia for ectothermic species, especially amphibians and reptiles, in the context of ongoing climate change. Drawing on studies from southern Europe, the project will examine whether patterns of cave use correlate with climatic variables – and whether caves could serve as microhabitats that buffer against extreme weather and habitat degradation. To address both aims, the methodological approach combines automatized camera trapping (over the whole year) with monthly site visits (April to October). The camera traps will record activity patterns of mammals and birds, while the site visits will specifically target amphibians and reptiles. Together, these data will create a modern ecological reference that links present-day cave usage with long-term site formation processes and helps assess the conservation potential of caves under changing environmental conditions.