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Windsor Great Cave

{{Infobox cave

| name = Windsor Great Cave

| photo =

| photo_caption =

| map = Jamaica

| location = Trelawny Parish, Jamaica

| coordinates = {{coord|18.3509614|N|77.6475263|W|region:JM-07|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref = {{cite web |url=http://www.jamaicancaves.org/windsor.htm|title=Windsor Cave Jamaica - Field Notes |last=Stewart|first=R S |date=2002–2005 |publisher=Jamaican Caves Organisation |accessdate=2009-09-18}}

| depth = {{convert|80|m|ft}}

| length = {{convert|2980|m|ft}}

| survey =

| survey_format =

| discovery =

| geology =

| entrance_count = 4

| entrance_list = Main
Upper
Bamboo Bottom
Flood Rising

| difficulty =

| hazards =

| access =

| translation =

| language =

| pronunciation =

}}

Windsor Great Cave is a {{convert|3000|m|ft}} long cave in Trelawny Parish on the north coast of Jamaica. The land external to the main entrance is owned by the WWF (UK), and access is often denied by the

Windsor Research Centre who act as their proxy.{{cite web|url=http://www.cockpitcountry.com/windsorcave.html|title=Windsor Cave|publisher=Windsor Research Centre|accessdate=2009-09-18}}

Natural history

The caves contain a major bat roost that hosts 12 or so species including Mormoops blainvillii, Pteronotus parnellii, Glossophaga soricina, Artibeus jamaicensis and Ariteus flavescens. Bat guano has been harvested from the caves for many years and this continues.

Invertebrates include springtails of the species Troglopedetes jamaicanus, fungal gnats, troglobitic spiders (Nesticidae), larval Neodytomyia farri and the invasive roach Periplaneta americana.

Stygobites include cave-adapted crabs of the species Sesarma verleyi, but note that the misnamed Sesarma windsor is not found here.

Palaeoclimatic records

In the main bat roost there is a mound of guano over two metres high, directly under a particularly good roosting-spot. The deeper strata of this deposit may record the climate of the island for periods that could extend back for thousands of years.

See also

External links

  • [http://www.cockpitcountry.com/windsorimgs/W%20Cave%20(Fincham).gif Map].
  • [http://wikimapia.org/#lat=18.3509614&lon=-77.6475263&z=16&l=0&m=b&v=8 Aerial view].
  • [http://www.fincham.co.uk/Caves/windsor.htm Photos].
  • [http://www.jamaicancaves.org/windsor.htm Windsor Great Cave Field Notes - Jamaican Caves Organisation].

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Caves of Jamaica}}

Category:Bat roosts

Category:Caves of Jamaica

Category:Geography of Trelawny Parish

Category:Caves of the Caribbean

{{Jamaica-geo-stub}}