What are the roles of caves in out ecosystem?

Lava tubes play important roles in our ecosystem, our history, and our culture.Caves formed in lava are found where volcanoes have producedcertain types of flowing lava--western United States, Canary Islands, Italy,Japan, Korea, Kenya, Australia, Pacific Ocean islands, and other volcanichot spots. The islands of Hawaii harbor some of the world’s most spectacular lava tubes. A lava tube’s spacious passageways and unusual, fragile, formations offerextraordinary scenery and scientific opportunities. Underground passagesprovide unique and fragile habitats for organisms and vegetation. On itsway to becoming our drinking supply, water often travels through lavacaves into wells, springs and aquifers. Since prehistoric times, lava cavesalso have served as homes, as burial grounds, and sites for religious practices.Lava tube caves however, are threatened by human activities both underground and on the surface. Carelessness and ignorance, as well as intentional vandalism, can quickly—and permanently—damage a lavatube cave for all time: its formations, its fragile archaeological records, itsenvironment, and the plants and animals that live there. We need to worktogether to manage lava cave systems responsibly, and to protect them fromdamage. Once destroyed, a lava cave and its contents cannot be recovered