14
THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Conclusions
The accidental trogloxenes are numerous in both numbers and
species. They may be of importance in the food supply of any
troglophile-troglobite population of the deneholes. The fauna of
the dark regions is probably poor in species, but should be more
closely investigated. Human agencies probably greatly influence
the fauna in various ways. A study of the microflora would be of
interest and we hope to collect fungi and bacteria in the future.
In any newly opened holes, immediate bacterial sampling and
collection of any fauna would be of interest.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Mr. E. J. Spence of Short &
Mason Ltd., London, E.17, and Mr. K. Marshall, Curator of the
Passmore Edwards Museum for the loan of equipment; the Boy
Scout Group of the Royal Liberty School, Romford, for arranging
some of the visits, and Brig. E. A. Glennie, Librarian of the Cave
Research Group of Great Britain, for his useful advice concerning
cave-fauna. We are indebted, also, to Miss I. Finch and Messrs
A. A. Allen, R. S. George, C. R. C. Paul, E. E. Syms, A. C. Wheeler,
and W. M. Young for help with the identification of specimens, and
to Mr. E. Saunders for drawing the maps.
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