texascavers Digest 15 Aug 2010 03:53:50 -0000 Issue 1134
Topics (messages 15789 through 15797):
University of Alabama researchers first to study cave ground water ecology :
15789 by: JerryAtkin.aol.com
WP Combo
15790 by: Mark.Alman.L-3com.com
15791 by: Joe Ranzau
15793 by: Matt Turner
Re: [NMCAVER] A good deed done by midwestern cavers yesterday
15792 by: Linda Palit
15796 by: Louise Power
mobile Cavetex related
15794 by: David
Cave miners close to connecting three British counties underground :
15795 by: JerryAtkin.aol.com
LED headlamps in the news
15797 by: David
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Begin Message ---
University of Alabama researchers first to study cave ground water ecology
August 11, 3:34 AMBirmingham Science News Examiner
Paul Hamaker
Jonathan P Benstead, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences and
Michael Venarsky both at the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa received a
$14,940
grant from the National Science Foundation on August 9, 2010, to complete
their dissertation research entitled "Testing carbon limitation of cave
stream ecosystems via a whole-reach detritus addition"
The research centers around Bluff River Cave in Jackson County Alabama and
is the first to test the energy-limitation hypothesis and the first to
characterize a cave stream's food web over an extended period of time.
The results are expected to provide information to protect endangered cave
species, provide a first of its kind study of natural ground water
purification systems and the effect of pollution on this system, and will
develop
a high school education course on basic principles of cave and groundwater
ecology.
_Abstract at Time of Award:_
(http://www.research.gov/rgov/anonymous.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=awardInfo_1_4&awardInfo_1_4_actionOverride=/gov/rese
arch/services/awardInfo/viewAwardDetail&awardInfo_1_4viewAll=false&awardInfo
_1_4agencyId=NSF&awardInfo_1_4awardId=1011403&_pageLabel=page_research_fundi
ng_search)
The overall goal of this study is to determine whether the availability of
energy limits biological activity in cave stream ecosystems. In cave
ecosystems, the resource at the base of the food web, and thus the resource
that
potentially controls overall biological activity, is dead organic matter
(e.g. dead leaves, twigs, and logs, hereafter referred to as detritus).
Because there are few physical openings into cave systems, the amount of
detritus washed into caves is typically very low, so cave communities are
assumed
to be energy-limited. However, this energy-limitation hypothesis has never
been tested, despite it being central to scientific understanding of cave
ecology, evolution, and conservation. This study has been designed to be the
first rigorous test of this hypothesis. The study design is elegantly
simple: corn litter (leaves, stalks, and husks leftover from corn harvest)
were
added to a 100-m reach of a cave stream (Bluff River Cave, Jackson Co.,
AL) beginning in February 2010. The response of the stream community to this
addition of energy will be followed for one year relative to that of a
reference reach upstream (which will receive no litter). Additionally, over
one
year of pre-manipulation data (October 2008 to February 2010) has already
been collected from both reaches. Samples will be collected monthly to
track changes in species composition, abundance, and growth, as well as the
incorporation of corn-derived material into animal tissue.
This study will examine the response of the entire food web of the cave
stream, from the most basal consumer (the bacteria and fungi that consume
natural detritus and the added corn litter) to top predators (cave crayfish
and salamanders). Thus, not only is this study the first to test the
energy-limitation hypothesis, but it is also the first to characterize a cave
stream's food web over an extended period of time. The results from this study
will be valuable to various individuals and organizations. Conservation
personnel and cave conservation groups will use the life history information
(growth rates and time to maturity) obtained for the critically threatened
Tennessee cave salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus) and cave crayfishes
(Cambarus tenebrosus and the imperiled Cambarus hamulatus). Cave systems are a
window through which groundwater systems can be studied and monitored. Thus
the general scientific community and society at large will benefit because
groundwater systems are poorly understood but contain about 99% of all liquid
freshwater on the planet, and provide important ecological services,
including sustaining surface aquatic ecosystems, natural purification of water
supplies, and maintenance of many highly endemic and endangered species.
Results from this study will be shared both through scientific (journal
articles, reports, and oral presentations) and public avenues (interactions
with
caving groups, landowners, state and federal agencies, and K-12 educators).
As part of this project, a lesson plan for local high-school students has
been developed, which teaches basic principles of cave and groundwater
ecology, illustrates how ecology and evolution interact to structure cave
communities, and introduces the concept of detritus-based food chains. To
increase the number of students exposed to this material, the entire lesson
plan
(i.e., instructions, lectures, and activities) will be disseminated to
local high-school teachers.
_http://www.examiner.com/x-6180-Birmingham-Science-News-Examiner~y2010m8d11-
University-of-Alabama-researchers-first-to-study-cave-ground-water-ecology_
(http://www.examiner.com/x-6180-Birmingham-Science-News-Examiner~y2010m8d11-
University-of-Alabama-researchers-first-to-study-cave-ground-water-ecology)
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--- Begin Message ---
All,
If someone here has the current combo to Whirlpool Cave, could you
contact me offline with that info?
I want to verify that the combo I have is correct.
Ryan Monjaras and I will be taking a group of Boy Scouts thru there
Saturday AM, the 14th.
If you're interested in helping out, or need something to do, meet us at
WP this Saturday at 10 AM.
Thanks!
Mark
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--- Begin Message ---
Hey Mark -
Julies Jenkins is the preserve manager, here is the info I have for her.
julesje...@yahoo.com
Cheers!
Joe
On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 11:12 AM, <mark.al...@l-3com.com> wrote:
>
>
> All,
>
>
>
> If someone here has the current combo to Whirlpool Cave, could you contact
> me offline with that info?
>
>
>
> I want to verify that the combo I have is correct.
>
>
>
> Ryan Monjaras and I will be taking a group of Boy Scouts thru there
> Saturday AM, the 14th.
>
>
>
> If you’re interested in helping out, or need something to do, meet us at WP
> this Saturday at 10 AM.
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
> Mark
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I've replied to Mark offline.
Matt Turner
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without
accepting it." - Aristotle
"Empty pockets never held anyone back.Only empty heads and empty hearts can do
that."- Norman Vincent Peale
________________________________
From: "mark.al...@l-3com.com" <mark.al...@l-3com.com>
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Sent: Thu, August 12, 2010 11:12:44 AM
Subject: [Texascavers] WP Combo
All,
If someone here has the current combo to Whirlpool Cave, could you contact me
offline with that info?
I want to verify that the combo I have is correct.
Ryan Monjaras and I will be taking a group of Boy Scouts thru there Saturday
AM,
the 14th.
If you’re interested in helping out, or need something to do, meet us at WP
this
Saturday at 10 AM.
Thanks!
Mark
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: John Lyles <j...@losalamos.com>
To: nmca...@caver.net
Sent: Thu, August 12, 2010 8:24:43 PM
Subject: [NMCAVER] A good deed done by midwestern cavers yesterday
Every once in a while, you hear of a good thing that cavers did for a
landowner.
Its more infrequent to hear of successful rescues of their animals, but it does
happen, as Nate points out below. This is not
a transcript from an ONSTAR commercial, its a copy of the CAVE DIGGERS mailing
list in digest form today.
Enjoy.
jtml
Messages In This Digest (16 Messages)
1a.
PLEASE HELP - DOG TRAPPED IN CAVE
Posted by: "Bobbie" bobbierh...@yahoo.com bobbierhine
Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:49 am (PDT)
My husband's dog got into a cave almost 72 hours ago. He has finaly heard
him yelling
for help this morning! We have contacted the local fire deparments and no one
will go in
for an animal only humans. Anybody have any ideas on what we can do next? My
husband has climbed in a little over 100 feet but he is not equipped nor is he
familiar
about any type of saftey issues on dirt collapses, etc... The other dog that
went in got out
on her own but was extremely muddy and wet to the bone. The fire rescurer
mentioned
that he had been in the cave as a child and that there is a Y in the cave /
tunnel and there
is a pit below it. He must have fallen down the pit. We need help as soon as
possible to
save him. He is like one of our children and we dont want to see him suffer and
pass
away. PLEASE HELP!!!! We are in Illinois about 1 hour north of St Louis
Missouri. My
phone number is 618-729-9247. Thank you for any help you can offer!!!
1b.
Re: PLEASE HELP - DOG TRAPPED IN CAVE
Posted by: "Chad McCain" chads9...@hotmail.com chads93gt
Wed Aug 11, 2010 12:13 pm (PDT)
I'll forward this onto the mo-caves list server. Exactly what town do you
live in? 1 hour
north is a little vague. The more info the better and hopefully someone local
can help
you.
1c.
Re: PLEASE HELP - DOG TRAPPED IN CAVE
Posted by: "Bobbie Poncar Gamboe" bobbierh...@yahoo.com bobbierhine
Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:46 pm (PDT)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! WE HAVE 5 GUYS ON THEIR WAY TO HELP.
PLEASE KEEP "THREAT" (Dog) IN YOUR PRAYERS! WE WILL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED
ON THE CAVEDIGGERS FORUM. THANK YOU!!!!!!
1d.
Re: PLEASE HELP - DOG TRAPPED IN CAVE
Posted by: "Nathan Dale" soliton.oc...@gmail.com chollamuncher
Wed Aug 11, 2010 4:55 pm (PDT)
Five years ago members of my caving grotto at New Mexico Tech rescued a
small dog who had fallen into a mine shaft in the nearby mountains. It had
been in the mine for the better part of a week before we were contacted.
Later that day the dog was rescued. It lived (!), and it was able to recover
from its broken leg afterwards. The dog's owners were immensely grateful and
we were very happy about having helped an animal who would have otherwise
have died without having us there to rescue it. I hope your dog comes back
to you in good health.
--Nathan
1e.
Re: PLEASE HELP - DOG TRAPPED IN CAVE
Posted by: "Bobbie Poncar Gamboe" bobbierh...@yahoo.com bobbierhine
Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:18 pm (PDT)
Thank you kindly!! Your response has given me hope! Good work on rescuing
the
dog, I wish there were more people like you in this world that realize life
is
important no matter what the species!!!!
2.
PLEASE HELP - DOG TRAPPED IN CAVE - UPDATE!!!
Posted by: "Bobbie" bobbierh...@yahoo.com bobbierhine
Wed Aug 11, 2010 3:45 pm (PDT)
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUGGESTIONS.
WE HAVE 5 DEDICATED CAVE DIGGERS ON THEIR WAY TO HELP! I CANT
BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW WONDERFUL YOUR CAVE DIGGING
COMMUNITY IS! YOU ALL ARE TRULY A BLESSING AND IF THEIR WERE
MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU THE WORLD WOULD DEFINATELY BE A BETTER
PLACE. I WILL KEEP ALL OF YOU POSTED ON THE OUTCOME! PLEASE KEEP
"THREAT" IN YOUR PRAYERS FOR A SAFE AND HEALTHY HOME
COMING!!!!!!!!!!!
3.
DOG TRAPPED IN CAVE - HELP WITH MEDICAL CARE
Posted by: "Bobbie" bobbierh...@yahoo.com bobbierhine
Wed Aug 11, 2010 4:55 pm (PDT)
THE GUYS ARE ON THEIR WAY, WISH US LUCK!!! ANYBODY HAVE ANY
IDEAS OR ANYONE THAT CAN POSSIBLY HELP WITH MEDICAL ATTENTION
ASSUMING HE COMES OUT ALIVE??? ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULD DO??
MY HUSBAND BROUGHT AN ELECTRIC BLANKET, EXTRA BLANKETS, FOOD
AND WATER. THE SITE IS ABOUT 10 MILES OR SO OUTSIDE OF
JERSEYVILLE ILLINOIS.
4a.
DOG IN CAVE - UPDATE
Posted by: "Bobbie" bobbierh...@yahoo.com bobbierhine
Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:46 pm (PDT)
HE'S OUT!!!!!!!! Threat has been given a second chance at life thanks to
everyone in
the caving community!!!! We have truly been blessed to have had the opportunity
to have
been brought into your world by chance due to such an unfortunate mishap!!!! My
husband is currenty giving him the biggest hugs and kisses no matter how dirty
he may
be. Tt merely took an hour and a half to get him out!! I sure wish I would have
gotten
onto your group discussion sooner!!! The phone calls and emails have been very
helpful
and supportive. They have given us a lot of hope and it ended with a beautiful
outcome!!!
We will be eternally grateful for all that you have done. I will be sure to
post
the names
of the heroes that were there for us so that you may give them the thumbs up
and
thanks
that we could never express enough!!! Im truly brought to tears on all the help
that we
have been given and somehow and somewhere I will be sure to inform whoever need
be
so that the community cave diggers can be shown the importance of what you can
do and
all that you are capable of! I will send out an update in a couple days to let
all of you
know of his health!!!!! THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS AND
SOULS!!!!
BOBBIE
4b.
Re: DOG IN CAVE - UPDATE
Posted by: "bill copeland" boogercave...@yahoo.com boogercaver71
Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:08 pm (PDT)
That's great news Bobbie, I wish I had lived closer
________________________________
4c.
Re: DOG IN CAVE - UPDATE
Posted by: "fatpossu...@yahoo.com" fatpossu...@yahoo.com fatpossum01
Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:21 pm (PDT)
Most awesome story,... ever.
4d.
DOG IN CAVE - UPDATE
Posted by: "Antonio Aguirre Alvarez" nelfas...@gmail.com nelfastla
Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:21 pm (PDT)
Great job!!
Congratulationes to the rescuers
:-)
www.espeleorescatemexico.org
Mexico
4e.
Re: DOG IN CAVE - UPDATE
Posted by: "Bobbie Poncar Gamboe" bobbierh...@yahoo.com bobbierhine
Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:46 pm (PDT)
Thank you kindly!!!! Everyone's help and support saved our baby's life. He
is
slightly dehydrated and running a fever but will be at the vet first thing
in
the am! Thanks again for everything to everyone!!!!!!!!
4f.
Re: DOG IN CAVE - UPDATE
Posted by: "Don Bittle" donbit...@gmail.com shawneeklr
Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:51 pm (PDT)
Wow. My wife just cried from happiness.
don of cavediggers
4h.
Re: DOG IN CAVE - UPDATE
Posted by: "Bobbie Poncar Gamboe" bobbierh...@yahoo.com bobbierhine
Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:04 pm (PDT)
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I CANT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW GRATEFUL I
AM TO THE VOLUNTEERS IN THE CAVING COMMUNITY, THEY ARE TRULY A GOD
SEND!!! IF THERE WERE ONLY MORE PEOPLE LIKE ALL OF YOU, THE WORLD WOULD BEÂ
MUCH
BETTER PLACE!!!!
THANKS AGAIN!
4i.
Re: DOG IN CAVE - UPDATE
Posted by: "Bobbie Poncar Gamboe" bobbierh...@yahoo.com bobbierhine
Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:09 pm (PDT)
THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR WIFE DON!!! I'M GLAD THERE ARE SO MANY
COMPASSIONATE ANIMAL LOVES OUT THERE!!_______________________________________________
NMCAVER mailing list
nmca...@caver.net
http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/nmcaver_caver.net
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Linda,
What a great story. Those Missouri "cave diggers" deserve a medal. As an animal
lover myself and slave to 5 cats, I can certainly appreciate the owners'
anxiety when their furry baby disappeared into that abyss. Good-o for Missouri
cavers.
Louise
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For those of you who do not yet have a internet-capable cell-phone
with internet access.
You can access Cavetex via G-mail on the new Motorola Rambler. This
phone is on the Boostmobile network. Their $ 53 a month plan includes
unlimited G-mail access.
While not the solution for everybody, I thought it was worth mentioning.
For further info, e-mail me privately.
David Locklear
Ref:
http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim//2010/07/28/rambler.png
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Cave miners close to connecting three British counties underground
Around 100 miles of limestone tunnels navigated through by enthusiasts
would connect Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria
_Martin Wainwright_ (http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/martinwainwright)
_guardian.co.uk_ (http://www.guardian.co.uk/) , Thursday 12 August 2010
11.47 BST
Potholers are 20 metres away from connecting 100 miles of limestone tunnels
that would link three counties underground for the first time.
Only a couple of months of burrowing remains before a passage below the
Pennine fells near Ingleton, in North _Yorkshire_
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/yorkshire) , connects the huge local system
with _Lancashire_
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/lancashire) and Cumbria.
A "dry" circuit of the north of England has been an ambition for some 40
years, following previous landmarks such as the opening of a way between
Gaping Gill, a cavern large enough to contain St Paul's cathedral, and
Ingleborough cave in the Three Peaks area of North Yorkshire.
The county was linked underground with Cumbria in the 1970s when cavers
found their way through sediment-blocked passages connecting shafts at
Casterton, near Kirkby Lonsdale. Since then, work has continued on a maze of
small
tunnels and weaknesses.
The current exploration is being led by a caving group known as the Misty
Mountain Mud Miners, whose name describes their painstaking attempts to worm
through boulder chokes without risking rock falls. The breakthrough is
expected to come between Notts Pott and Lost John cave, above the levels where
cave-diving becomes necessary to make further progress.
The prospect, which would attract international cavers for a "three-county
experience" in Britain's increasingly popular underworld, follows
"fantastic work", according to Ian Lawtonl, a member of the survey team. He
said:
"When all the links are finally established there could be up to 100 miles of
tunnels."
Dye in underground streams has long confirmed the inter-county connection
and in January a smoke test showed the existence of a dry way through.
Another miner, Andy Walsh, said that the joint system would have some 30
different entrances in the three counties.
"Every new place is different, so when you break through to somewhere no
one has stepped in or seen before it is unbeatable. You just don't know what
is going to be round each corner," he said.
"It's a very exciting time to be a caver in this area. The new areas
haven't been uncovered since before the ice age."
_http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/aug/12/cavers-tunnels-yorkshire-counties_
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/aug/12/cavers-tunnels-yorkshire-counties)
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Bankrobbers now using LED headlamps:
http://media.philly.com/images/300*320/100813_in_pbank.jpg
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