[Texascavers] Home Decor

2017-04-23 Thread David 
Check out this wall mural in this tv room:
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Re: [Texascavers] Lechuguilla Cave at Monday's Bexar Grotto meeting

2017-04-23 Thread PRESTON FORSYTHE 
Well, this April 24 Bexar Grotto mtg will be great but an 18 hours drive, one 
way. Hope it repeats at NM in June.
Preston in west KY 

On Sunday, April 23, 2017 6:54 PM, Bennett Lee  
wrote:
 

  At the Bexar Grotto meeting this Monday, 
April 24, the illustrious Jean Krejca is giving a presentation on her recent 
trip to the magnificent Lechuguilla Cave.    Recent Discoveries in Lechuguilla 
Cave:In 2012 the successful climb of the Kansas Twister lead to a new section 
of cave, Oz, that contains Munchkinland, the 2nd largest known room in the 
cave. In 2016, one Texas caver, Creature, joined a team lead by Derek Bristol 
to continue working on leads in that area and some other places in the Far 
West. The presentation details that trip, and includes images from the 
spectacular pools and helictites in Oz.    The Bexar Grotto meets every 2nd and 
4th Monday of the month at 7pm in the Party Room of Chester’s at 410 and N New 
Braunfels.    Chester's Hamburgers 1006 NE Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78209    
Bennett Lee Programs Vice-Chair Bexar Grotto    
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Re: [Texascavers] Why do cave fish evolve to become blind?

2017-04-23 Thread William R. Elliott 
If any of you want to dig into the scientific literature on cavefishes, I
suggest visiting the Cavefin website:

http://research.stowers.org/cavefin/

There you will find several links, including the 2015 book *Biology and
Evolution of the Mexican Cavefish*, available from Academic Press (Elsevier
Science). There are 19 chapters in the book (I wrote 2 of them). On Cavefin
I posted a bibliography of 552 papers on *Astyanax mexicanus*, the
well-known Mexican cavefish. This huge literature is growing at an
accelerated pace because of the new DNA studies by many researchers. This
species is now a popular genetics model for researchers.

The theories that Jerry Coyne mentions, plus others, have been discussed in
the literature for many years. The idea of selection against eyes in the
dark because of eye injury goes back to Carl H. Eigenmann's 1909 book *Cave
Vertebrates of America: A Study in Degenerative Evolution*. So, there is
little new there, but eye injury has not been pursued much by researchers.

I agree with Coyne that there may be multiple causes for the evolution of
eye regression: natural selection for energy economy, eye injury
(especially as *Astyanax* nibble on each other), pleiotropy and polygeny,
and because of genetic drift in very small populations. In the latter case,
Horst Wilkens proved many years ago that only a few mutations are
sufficient to knock out eye development, because the eye is a complex
structure that can fail in development if key events do not happen. These
causes don't necessarily happen at the same time, but in episodes caused by
the environment.

In the Elsevier book, we refer to cave forms of *Astyanax mexicanus* as the
“Mexican cavefish," but actually Mexico is home to at least 7 known species
of cavefishes. These cavefishes have reduced or nearly absent eyes and
pigment, and they have evolved in 6 families from widely separated areas:
Characidae, Ictaluridae, Pimelodidae, Poeciliidae, Bythitidae, and
Synbranchidae.

*William R. (Bill) Elliott*

*speodes...@gmail.com *

573-291-5093 cell

On Sun, Apr 23, 2017 at 9:14 PM, Lee H. Skinner  wrote:

> Evolutionist Jerry Coyne responds to biologist Mike Smith's new theory on
> the evolution of cavefish  blindness:
>
>
> https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/why-
> do-cave-fish-evolve-to-become-blind/
>
>
> Lee Skinner
>
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[Texascavers] Why do cave fish evolve to become blind?

2017-04-23 Thread Lee H. Skinner 
Evolutionist Jerry Coyne responds to biologist Mike Smith's new theory 
on the evolution of cavefish  blindness:



https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2017/04/23/why-do-cave-fish-evolve-to-become-blind/


Lee Skinner

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[Texascavers] NCKRI Cave and Karst News and Announcements

2017-04-23 Thread George Veni 
Dear Friends,

Today's news and announcements from NCKRI are:


·   UIS Prizes 2017 - Nominations open

·   UNESCO Course: Characterization and Engineering of Karst Aquifers

·   Mammoth Cave Entrance Now Owned by SCCI

·   List of Upcoming Cave and Karst Meetings

You are welcome to share this information with anyone who may be interested. If 
you have questions, please contact the people and organizations listed below. 
If you are not receiving this message directly and want to be added to NCKRI' 
e-mail list, please contact me.

George

---

UIS Prizes 2017 - Nominations open

Dear friends,

The 17th International Congress of Speleology (ICS) is coming and it is time to 
talk about the International Union of Speleology (UIS) Prizes. As you know, the 
UIS gives prizes for specific accomplishments at the ICS or during the period 
since the previous congress. The UIS Prizes were introduced at the 12th ICS in 
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, held in August 1997. These prizes are 
non-competitive and not related to the cartographic, photographic, athletic, or 
other competitions at the congresses. More than one prize may be given for a 
category, but no prize is necessarily awarded.
For the UIS Prizes 2017, four categories are considered:



4.a - The most significant discovery/exploration

The UIS Bureau reserves the right to nominate additional discoveries for this 
prize, which is judged by a committee of international speleologists familiar 
with exploration throughout the World. If more than one discovery or 
exploration is outstanding enough, Honorable Mentions can be awarded.

4.b - The most significant publication about caves or a karst-related topic

Scientific and/or technical publications will be considered for this prize.



4.c - Special Book

Prize for books that are important speleological publications.


4.d - Poster Prize

This prize is for the best poster displayed at the ICS, divided in two 
categories as follow:

 - Best Scientific Poster - Judged by a Scientific Committee composed 
of international experts.

 - Caver's Prize - The best poster in the opinion of the visitors to 
the poster display.

The poster can be about any cave or related to any karst-related topic. Entries 
in the cave photographic and surveying competitions are ineligible for this 
prize. No poster should exceed 2 m (height) x 1 m (width).



Each poster should contain a concise title, as well as the name, institutional 
affiliation and address of the author(s). It should include information about 
the materials and methods used, the results obtained (even if preliminary), and 
the conclusions reached. The poster may contain photos, figures, tables and 
maps. Authors must be present at the congress to discuss their work with the 
other participants.



France Habe Prize
This prize was introduced by the Department of Karst and Cave Protection in 
2012.
It is organized annually and has its own rules, available on the UIS site:
http://uis-speleo.org/index.php?option=com_content=article=79=383.


NOMINATIONS FOR 2017

We encourage that nominations (except Poster Prize category) be sent by May 
31st, 2017.



1 - Nominations for the prize for "The most significant discovery/exploration" 
(4.a) should be sent to the Chairman of the UIS Prizes Committee at the email 
address uisprizes2...@uis-speleo.org.

Please include the information below:

Responsible for the nomination: full name and contact address.

Brief Description of the discovery/exploration:

Location:

Author(s):

Mention in publication(s):


2 - Nominations for the prizes for "The most significant publication about 
caves or a karst-related topic" (4.b) and the "Special Book" (4.c) should be 
sent to the Chairman of the UIS Prizes Committee and include the information 
below:

Responsible for the nomination: full name and contact address

Title of the book:

Author(s) or editor:

Brief Description:

Publisher:

Date of publication:

Language (s):

Information about printing: Color, paper, size, number of pages, etc.
Site of digital version, if available:

ATTENTION: In addition to nomination via internet, we request that a copy of 
the printed book be sent to the following address:
Attn
Dr Julia M. James,
41 Northwood Street, Camperdown
NSW 2050
Australia
The author(s) agree that the books received be exhibited during the 17th ICS 
and after the event be sent to the UIS Library in La Chaux-des-Fonds, 
Switzerland.

3 - For the "Poster Prize" (4.d) we will not have nominations but only judgment 
by a Scientific Committee composed of international experts (Best Scientific 
Poster) and votes by the visitors of the 17th ICS (Caver's Prize).

RECOGNITION
The main recognition that will be delivered to the winners is a certificate.
Any other different one will be decided by the UIS Prizes Committee together 
the UIS Bureau (e.g. medal, plate, funds).

PRESENTATION

The

[Texascavers] Lechuguilla Cave at Monday's Bexar Grotto meeting

2017-04-23 Thread Bennett Lee 
At the Bexar Grotto meeting this Monday, April 24, the illustrious Jean Krejca 
is giving a presentation on her recent trip to the magnificent Lechuguilla Cave.

Recent Discoveries in Lechuguilla Cave: In 2012 the successful climb of the 
Kansas Twister lead to a new section of cave, Oz, that contains Munchkinland, 
the 2nd largest known room in the cave. In 2016, one Texas caver, Creature, 
joined a team lead by Derek Bristol to continue working on leads in that area 
and some other places in the Far West. The presentation details that trip, and 
includes images from the spectacular pools and helictites in Oz.

The Bexar Grotto meets every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at 7pm in the 
Party Room of Chester’s at 410 and N New Braunfels.

Chester's 
Hamburgers
1006 NE Loop 
410
San Antonio, TX 
78209

Bennett Lee
Programs Vice-Chair
Bexar Grotto

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Re: [Texascavers] Fw: confirm f39a4430a4ffda5599000ba83bae9be3cd88f4cd

2017-04-23 Thread JAMES JASEK 

> On Apr 23, 2017, at 10:05 AM, JAMES JASEK  wrote:
> 
> 
>> On Apr 23, 2017, at 9:24 AM, Mixon Bill  wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Nature is a hanging judge.
>> 
>> You may "reply" to the address this message
>> (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
>> came from, but for long-term use, save:
>> Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
>> AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org
>> 
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Re: [Texascavers] Fw: confirm f39a4430a4ffda5599000ba83bae9be3cd88f4cd

2017-04-23 Thread JAMES JASEK 

> On Apr 23, 2017, at 9:24 AM, Mixon Bill  wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Nature is a hanging judge.
> 
> You may "reply" to the address this message
> (unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
> came from, but for long-term use, save:
> Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
> AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org
> 
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Re: [Texascavers] Fw: confirm f39a4430a4ffda5599000ba83bae9be3cd88f4cd

2017-04-23 Thread Mixon Bill 


Nature is a hanging judge.

You may "reply" to the address this message
(unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org

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Re: [Texascavers] Fw: confirm f39a4430a4ffda5599000ba83bae9be3cd88f4cd

2017-04-23 Thread James Jasek 


Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 23, 2017, at 8:09 AM, bally barnery  wrote:

 
 



- Forwarded Message -
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To: texas9bi...@yahoo.com 
Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2017 8:00 AM
Subject: confirm f39a4430a4ffda5599000ba83bae9be3cd88f4cd

Your membership in the mailing list Texascavers has been disabled due
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[Texascavers] Fw: confirm f39a4430a4ffda5599000ba83bae9be3cd88f4cd

2017-04-23 Thread bally barnery 
  

 
- Forwarded Message -
 From: "texascavers-requ...@texascavers.com" 

 To: texas9bi...@yahoo.com 
 Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2017 8:00 AM
 Subject: confirm f39a4430a4ffda5599000ba83bae9be3cd88f4cd
   
Your membership in the mailing list Texascavers has been disabled due
to excessive bounces The last bounce received from you was dated
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you re-enable your membership.  You will receive 2 more reminders like
this before your membership in the list is deleted.

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You can also visit your membership page at

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On your membership page, you can change various delivery options such
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    unbrxeha

If you have any questions or problems, you can contact the list owner
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