Cave & Karst Science (ISSN 1356-191X)

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Contents of Cave & Karst Science 41(2)

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Cave and Karst Science (iv + 48pp) (PDF 7.5MB)        Individual articles may be available below

GUNN, John and David LOWE (eds.). (2014). Cave and Karst Science 41(2). Buxton: British Cave Research Association. ISSN 1356-191X. iv + 48pp, A4, with photos, maps and diagrams.
This issue has a cover date of 2014 (August) and was published in August 2014.

The Transactions of the British Cave Research Association

Layman's Summaries

Some of the articles in this issue are explained in a layman's summary. Look for the 'Summary' icons below, or download the article from here: HTML 9KB  

Front cover photo (page i) (PDF 352KB)     

by Joyce HARRISON.
Two British cavers descending by rope into Dashiwei Tiankeng, viewed from the mouth of Mafeng Dong, a short cave that breaks out into the wall of the tiankeng. See contents page further information (Photo: Joyce Harrison).

 

Notes for Contributors (page ii) (PDF 248KB)     

 

Contents (p49) (PDF 363KB)     

 

Editorial Advisory Board (p50) (PDF 154KB)     

 

Editorial (p51) (PDF 200KB)     

by David LOWE and John GUNN.

 

History of biological investigations at Batu caves, Malaysia, and consequences for the progress of tropical speleobiology: Part 1 - the 19th century (pp52-56) (PDF 867KB)     

by Max MOSELEY.
Until the 1970s speleobiologists mistakenly believed that troglobionts - highly adapted obligate subterranean animals - were rare or absent in tropical regions. This error probably held back the development of tropical cave biology for several decades. It is argued here that the mistake originated in the late 1890s during an investigation of Batu caves by the prestigious British Association for the Advancement of Science. Part 1 of this paper describes these events in the context of the development of speleobiology during the 19th century.
Summary: For layman's summary see HTML 9KB  
Classification: Paper.
Date: Received: 30 January 2014; Accepted: 06 April 2014.
Keywords: Malaysia, Selangor, Batu Caves, Dark Cave, British Association, Ridley.

Bibliograph: MOSELEY, Max. (2014). History of biological investigations at Batu caves, Malaysia, and consequences for the progress of tropical speleobiology: Part 1 - the 19th century. Cave and Karst Science 41(2), pp52-56.

 

A short history of the China Caves Project (pp57-75) (PDF 3.5MB)     

by Ged CAMPION and Tony HARRISON.
The China Caves Project was initiated in 1985 by British cavers Andy Eavis and Tony Waltham in co-operation with scientists from the Institute of Karst Geology in Guilin and the Guizhou Normal University. The object was to explore and record the geomorphology and bio-diversity of the vast karst regions of China, in particular by the exploration of its caves, most of which were virtually untouched by man at the start of the Project. Since the first expedition to Guizhou and Guangxi provinces and excluding reconnaissance trips, around 27 expeditions have been held over 28 years (together with several other spin-off expeditions during the same period), most focussing on Guangxi and Guizhou and other nearby provinces in southern China. The multi-national teams on these expeditions have discovered at least 117 caves of over 3000m in length and surveyed over 420km of previously unexplored underground passages and shafts (high quality surveys being one of the hallmarks of the Project). They have also discovered a number of previously unknown cave-dwelling species of fauna. The geomorphological studies of the teams have contributed significantly to the development of current theories of speleogenesis relating to China karst, including Professor Zhu Xuewen's classic work on tiankeng development, and have also stimulated a robust and extensive geomorphological literature. In recent years the expeditions have often focussed on providing data on underground and surface karst features to allow designation of given areas as national parks or geo-parks, thus supporting the responsible conservation of these areas. Prominent among the successes of this enduring Project has been the development of strong, lasting, personal and professional links between cavers and scientists from China and from not only the UK but also Ireland, Australia, Hungary, France, Japan, Poland, USA, Italy, New Zealand, Slovenia, Switzerland, Croatia and elsewhere.
Summary: For layman's summary see HTML 9KB  
Classification: Paper.
Date: Received: 05 June 2014; Accepted: 04 July 2014.
Keywords: China, expedition, history, exploration, caves, geo-park, geology, geomorphology, survey, biospeleology.

Bibliograph: CAMPION, Ged and Tony HARRISON. (2014). A short history of the China Caves Project. Cave and Karst Science 41(2), pp57-75.

 

Scallop measurement in a 10m-high vadose canyon in Pool Sink, Ease Gill Cave System, Yorkshire Dales, UK, and a hypothetical post-deglacial canyon entrenchment timescale (pp76-83) (PDF 1.5MB)     

by David CHECKLEY and Trevor FAULKNER.
Understanding the vadose entrenchment of cave passages and relating this to the evolution of the external environment and climate has been little studied in the past. This report proposes a new technique to combine measurements of the lengths of wall scallops and their adjacent passage widths to determine the history of palaeo peak water velocity and volumetric flow rate in a vadose canyon. The study site is at an active 10mhigh canyon in the Pool Sink section of the Ease Gill Cave System in the Yorkshire Dales, UK. This exhibits wall scallops continuously from its roof to its floor. The Sauter mean scallop lengths vary from 0.85 to 4.81cm and the canyon widths vary from 35 to 132cm. These enable water velocities at scallop dominant discharge to be calculated as varying from 76 to 548cm/sec. Peak flow rates are estimated to vary from 104 to 3581 litres/sec. Assuming a continuous entrenchment after the local Devensian deglaciation 18,000 years ago, this gives a mean floor lowering rate of 0.55mm per year. This seems reasonable, if both chemical and mechanical erosion applied. Based on this initiation hypothesis and assuming a constant entrenchment rate through time, the peak flow rates can be correlated roughly with known climatic changes during the Lateglacial and the Holocene. Studies of more sites in the Yorkshire Dales are required to ascertain whether such estimates of peak recharges could provide reliable proxies for major climatic events.
Summary: For layman's summary see HTML 9KB  
Classification: Paper.
Date: Received: 03 April 2014; Accepted: 06 June 2014.

Bibliograph: CHECKLEY, David and Trevor FAULKNER. (2014). Scallop measurement in a 10m-high vadose canyon in Pool Sink, Ease Gill Cave System, Yorkshire Dales, UK, and a hypothetical post-deglacial canyon entrenchment timescale. Cave and Karst Science 41(2), pp76-83.

 

Post-glacial speleogenesis: verification of a hypothetical model, and the origins of maze caves in glaciated terrains (pp84-95) (PDF 1.7MB)     

by Max P COOPER and John E MYLROIE.
Models proposed by Ollier and Tratman (1969), Mylroie and Carew (1987) and Faulkner (2009a) variously hypothesize that a cave is post-glacial if it is controlled by glacially deranged drainage and contains no pre-Holocene signatures. Results of tests on these models have rarely appeared in subsequent literature. Epigenetic maze caves are a type of cave that forms at applicable maximum rates, allowing them to form post-glacially; however maze caves that form in the shallow subsurface are prone to removal by glaciation. These two constraints indicate that many maze caves in glaciated regions might have formed since the last glaciation. Floodwater maze caves were used in this study to verify the post-glacial cave model of Mylroie and Carew (1987) by use of flow analysis in the karst of Joralemon Park, Albany County, New York. This study verifies the model with active caves being controlled by deranged drainage. Also tested was the hypothesis that many maze caves in other glaciated terrains are post-glacial; testing was by evaluation of criteria for post-glacial origin, and by calculating formation time for maze caves for selected sites in New York that provided a variety of geological settings (Barber Cave, Big Loop Cave, Glen Park Labyrinth). The criteria are: cave cross-sectional area; connection to deranged drainage; base level position; and presence of glacigenic sediment that was brought in only after glaciation. This study demonstrates that in typical continental glaciated terrains many maze caves are post-glacial.
Summary: For layman's summary see HTML 9KB  
Classification: Paper.
Date: Received: 11 April 2014; Accepted: 29 May 2014.
Keywords: Post-glacial caves, maze caves, glaciated karst, speleogenesis, New York.

Bibliograph: COOPER, Max P and John E MYLROIE. (2014). Post-glacial speleogenesis: verification of a hypothetical model, and the origins of maze caves in glaciated terrains. Cave and Karst Science 41(2), pp84-95.

 

Correspondence (p96) (PDF 283KB)     

Classification: Forum.

 

Research Fund and Grants (page iii) (PDF 593KB)     

 

Back cover photos (page iv) (PDF 324KB)     

A selection of images from the China Caves Project expeditions. See contents page for list of photos and credits.