texascavers Digest 27 Jan 2012 06:42:12 -0000 Issue 1480
Topics (messages 19388 through 19409):
New Ascender
19388 by: Mark Minton
19391 by: Ron R
19394 by: Mixon Bill
19396 by: Diana Tomchick
19397 by: Stefan Creaser
19398 by: Mark.Alman.L-3com.com
19401 by: Mark Minton
19402 by: Tim Stich
Re: Grotto liability when loaning gear
19389 by: David Ochel
19395 by: Heather Tucek
book review--paleoecology in Hawaii
19390 by: Mixon Bill
NSS Questions USFWS on Bat Death Estimate
19392 by: Alex Sproul
Longhorn Project Weekend and Gov't Canyon - February 4th!
19393 by: Mark.Alman.L-3com.com
Stallone, Schwarzenegger under Fire for Waking Up Bulgarian Bats
19399 by: Lee H. Skinner
Thousands of fruit bats killed in a Lebanon cave
19400 by: Lee H. Skinner
March Work Trip to Deep & Punkin Caves Nature Preserve
19403 by: Don Arburn
19405 by: Joe & Evelynn
19406 by: Don Arburn
OT -- help needed this weekend
19404 by: Jim Kennedy
19407 by: Logan McNatt
[RUDUX][March Work Trip to Deep & Punkin Caves Nature Preserve]
19408 by: Don Arburn
Life Beyond Earth? Underwater Caves In Bahamas Could Give Clues :
19409 by: JerryAtkin.aol.com
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--- Begin Message ---
Here's an ascender I haven't seen
before: <http://www.climbtechgear.com/ascenders/>. It's made by a
reputable climbing gear manufacturer, so I presume it's safe and
effective. It is significantly less expensive than comparable
handled ascenders, which generally go for $60 - $70.
Mark
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
One of the founders and engineers is my neighbor here in Wimberley. I have
not talked to him lately, so I did not know they were making ascenders. I
will ask him about them next time I see him.
On Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 8:33 PM, Mark Minton <[email protected]> wrote:
> Here's an ascender I haven't seen before: <
> http://www.climbtechgear.com/**ascenders/<http://www.climbtechgear.com/ascenders/>>.
> It's made by a reputable climbing gear manufacturer, so I presume it's
> safe and effective. It is significantly less expensive than comparable
> handled ascenders, which generally go for $60 - $70.
>
> Mark
>
> Please reply to [email protected]
> Permanent email address is [email protected]
>
> ------------------------------**------------------------------**---------
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>
--
Ron Rutherford
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
What's this world coming to, when a handled ascender like that has an
"up" arrow on it?
--Mixon
----------------------------------------
Never play leadfrog with a unicorn.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: [email protected]
AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Even the Petzl Basic ascender (my favorite,
http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/multi-purpose-ascenders-0/basic) has an "up"
arrow on it.
This ClimbTech ascender appears to have been designed with rock climbers in
mind. No idea how well it would hold up to muddy, gritty caving conditions.
Diana
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: [email protected]
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)
On Jan 26, 2012, at 9:15 AM, Mixon Bill wrote:
> What's this world coming to, when a handled ascender like that has an "up"
> arrow on it?
> --Mixon
> ----------------------------------------
> Never play leadfrog with a unicorn.
> ----------------------------------------
> You may "reply" to the address this message
> came from, but for long-term use, save:
> Personal: [email protected]
> AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
>
________________________________
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Hi Bill,
May I refer you to a previous tag-line of yours:
----------------------------------------
May the last lawyer be strangled with the entrials of the last priest.
----------------------------------------
Cheers,
Stefan
-----Original Message-----
From: Mixon Bill [mailto:[email protected]]
What's this world coming to, when a handled ascender like that has an
"up" arrow on it?
--Mixon
----------------------------------------
Never play leadfrog with a unicorn.
----------------------------------------
-- IMPORTANT NOTICE: The contents of this email and any attachments are
confidential and may also be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient,
please notify the sender immediately and do not disclose the contents to any
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medium. Thank you.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Based on Bill's posts of late, we SERIOUSLY, need to get him
underground!
I'm afraid he's going through mud withdrawal. 8^)>
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Stefan Creaser [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 10:41 AM
To: Mixon Bill; Cavers Texas
Subject: RE: [Texascavers] new ascender
Hi Bill,
May I refer you to a previous tag-line of yours:
----------------------------------------
May the last lawyer be strangled with the entrials of the last priest.
----------------------------------------
Cheers,
Stefan
-----Original Message-----
From: Mixon Bill [mailto:[email protected]]
What's this world coming to, when a handled ascender like that has an
"up" arrow on it?
--Mixon
----------------------------------------
Never play leadfrog with a unicorn.
----------------------------------------
-- IMPORTANT NOTICE: The contents of this email and any attachments are
confidential and may also be privileged. If you are not the intended
recipient, please notify the sender immediately and do not disclose the
contents to any other person, use it for any purpose, or store or copy
the information in any medium. Thank you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Petzl gear has had an "up" arrow on their ascenders for many
years. On the Croll it is a small figure of a caver with one arm
pointing up in the direction of travel, rather than an obvious
arrow. Maybe it's part of the CE certification, because most all
brands have something similar, even those made in the USA. I do
remember thinking it was one of those "Duh!" things, though, like
telling you food will be hot after you microwave it. ;-)
Mark
At 10:58 AM 1/26/2012, Diana Tomchick wrote:
Even the Petzl Basic ascender (my favorite,
http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/multi-purpose-ascenders-0/basic) has
an "up" arrow on it.
This ClimbTech ascender appears to have been designed with rock
climbers in mind. No idea how well it would hold up to muddy, gritty
caving conditions.
Diana
On Jan 26, 2012, at 9:15 AM, Mixon Bill wrote:
> What's this world coming to, when a handled ascender like that
has an "up" arrow on it?
> --Mixon
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The UP arrow is a better graphic than the little guy with a helmet I think.
Glad they switched to that. The Gris Gris goes one better and shows the
rope path, your belaying hand, and the climber.
You'd be surprised how many experienced people get spaced out and mess up
things as well.
On Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 11:45 AM, Mark Minton <[email protected]> wrote:
> Petzl gear has had an "up" arrow on their ascenders for many years.
> On the Croll it is a small figure of a caver with one arm pointing up in
> the direction of travel, rather than an obvious arrow. Maybe it's part of
> the CE certification, because most all brands have something similar, even
> those made in the USA. I do remember thinking it was one of those "Duh!"
> things, though, like telling you food will be hot after you microwave it.
> ;-)
>
> Mark
>
>
> At 10:58 AM 1/26/2012, Diana Tomchick wrote:
>
>> Even the Petzl Basic ascender (my favorite, http://www.petzl.com/en/**
>> outdoor/multi-purpose-**ascenders-0/basic<http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/multi-purpose-ascenders-0/basic>)
>> has an "up" arrow on it.
>>
>> This ClimbTech ascender appears to have been designed with rock climbers
>> in mind. No idea how well it would hold up to muddy, gritty caving
>> conditions.
>>
>> Diana
>>
>> On Jan 26, 2012, at 9:15 AM, Mixon Bill wrote:
>>
>> > What's this world coming to, when a handled ascender like that has an
>> "up" arrow on it?
>> > --Mixon
>>
>
> Please reply to [email protected]
> Permanent email address is [email protected]
>
> ------------------------------**------------------------------**---------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail:
> texascavers-unsubscribe@**texascavers.com<[email protected]>
> For additional commands, e-mail:
> texascavers-help@texascavers.**com<[email protected]>
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Heya,
The UT Grotto, as far as I can speak for it, deals with this by not
owning (and therefore not loaning out) any vertical gear or ropes.
As for the long story, gear's loaned out on a personal basis only,
from folks who own it. Sort of. Is that better for the individual
loaning out the gear, in terms of liability? Doubt it. But at least it
makes clear who's responsible for maintaining it, rather than it all
being in a large pool and not being tracked and/or cared for.
Cheers,
David
Quoting Mallory Mayeux <[email protected]> at Tue, 24 Jan 2012
09:49:08 -0600 in :
Good morning Cavers!
The Houston grotto is in the process of revamping a very old constitution
and updating grotto policies, and 'loaner gear' is an issue we're currently
discussing.
Rather than embark on a ton of research and re-invent the wheel, I wanted
to reach out to the Texas caving community for input. What are the
liability issues around loaning grotto-owned cave gear to grotto members?
For example, if I as a grotto officer loaned a piece of grotto-owned
vertical equipment to member of my grotto, and that equipment failed and
the member injured themselves in some way, could our grotto be held
responsible? Would signed waivers absolve our grotto of all responsibility?
Does the NSS have some sort of insurance that covers grottos in worst-case
scenarios?
How do you other Texas grottos mitigate risk when/if you loan out gear? DO
you ever loan out seat harnesses, etc? Has your grotto ever been put in a
situation where you were potentially liable for any injury? If so, is there
any advice you would give another grotto when laying out equipment
guidelines?
Thanks for the input in advance!
Mallory Mayeux
Greater Houston Grotto Secretary
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The last time I loaned my vert gear, I was at the cave with the person, and
double checked their setup. I made sure they knew the descender, and
checked to make sure they loaded it properly before descending. I would
have to be very comfortable with the person's experience on rope before
loaning my gear to someone when I wouldn't be present..
-Heather
On 25 January 2012 21:27, David Ochel <[email protected]> wrote:
> Heya,
>
> The UT Grotto, as far as I can speak for it, deals with this by not owning
> (and therefore not loaning out) any vertical gear or ropes.
>
> As for the long story, gear's loaned out on a personal basis only, from
> folks who own it. Sort of. Is that better for the individual loaning out
> the gear, in terms of liability? Doubt it. But at least it makes clear
> who's responsible for maintaining it, rather than it all being in a large
> pool and not being tracked and/or cared for.
>
> Cheers,
> David
>
>
> Quoting Mallory Mayeux <[email protected]> at Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:49:08
> -0600 in :
>
> Good morning Cavers!
>>
>>
>> The Houston grotto is in the process of revamping a very old constitution
>> and updating grotto policies, and 'loaner gear' is an issue we're
>> currently
>> discussing.
>>
>> Rather than embark on a ton of research and re-invent the wheel, I wanted
>> to reach out to the Texas caving community for input. What are the
>> liability issues around loaning grotto-owned cave gear to grotto members?
>>
>>
>>
>> For example, if I as a grotto officer loaned a piece of grotto-owned
>> vertical equipment to member of my grotto, and that equipment failed and
>> the member injured themselves in some way, could our grotto be held
>> responsible? Would signed waivers absolve our grotto of all
>> responsibility?
>> Does the NSS have some sort of insurance that covers grottos in worst-case
>> scenarios?
>>
>>
>> How do you other Texas grottos mitigate risk when/if you loan out gear? DO
>> you ever loan out seat harnesses, etc? Has your grotto ever been put in a
>> situation where you were potentially liable for any injury? If so, is
>> there
>> any advice you would give another grotto when laying out equipment
>> guidelines?
>>
>> Thanks for the input in advance!
>>
>> Mallory Mayeux
>> Greater Houston Grotto Secretary
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------**------------------------------**---------
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>
--
*Go find out!*
-Heather Tuček
UT Grotto
TSA Membership Chair
NSS 59660
(512) 773-1348
[email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Back to the Future in the Caves of Kauaʻi: A Scientist's Adventures in
the Dark. David A. Burney. Yale University Press, New Haven; 2011. 6
by 9 inches, xv+198 pages. Hardbound ISBN 978-0-300-15094-0, $28;
softbound ISBN 978-0-300-17209-6, $18.
In pursuit of his interest in paleoecology, or the study of how the
arrival of humans has changed ecosystems worldwide, the author began
an investigation in Makauwahi Cave on the southeastern coast of the
Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. A solution cave in eolianite limestone that
also spent some time as a sea cave, it now consists mainly of a large,
open collapse sinkhole. Excavation and coring of the deposits on the
floor of the sink have disclosed a lot of information about the
changes in the island's flora and fauna since the arrival of
Polynesians about a thousand years ago and then Europeans in 1788.
Before it's discovery by man, the only mammal on the island was a bat.
A large fraction of the plants and animals on the Hawaiian islands
were unable to cope with the the Polynesian's rats, dogs, and pigs and
the European's goats, not to mention many invasive plants introduced
accidentally or on purpose. Many have gone extinct, and hundreds of
officially endangered species hang on only in remote and inaccessible
areas.
More recently, the author and his wife have spearheaded restoration of
the ancient ecology in the sinkhole and some of the surrounding area.
The Makauwahi Cave Reserve is now a popular attraction due to the
thriving native plants. The book is in a popular style, but has many
references to the scientific literature. Very readable, if not exactly
cavey in the usual sense.--Bill Mixon
----------------------------------------
Never play leadfrog with a unicorn.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: [email protected]
AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Posted on behalf of NSS WNS Liaison Peter Youngbaer:
Wed Jan 25, 2012 1:31 pm
The NSS sent a six-page letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director
Daniel Ashe requesting that USFWS publicly release its data and
methodology for arriving at it's recent estimate of "at least 5.7 - 6.7
million" bat deaths from WNS. The NSS also provided detailed
scientific data indicating why it feels the USFWS estimate is
significantly higher than available research would support.
The letter is posted on the NSS' WNS website, and linked here:
http://www.caves.org/WNS/Ashe_Bat_Estimate_Letter_1-24-12.pdf
A press release has been sent to various media outlets, is also
posted on the website, and linked here:
http://www.caves.org/WNS/Press_Release_on_Bat_Death_Estimate.
pdf
Peter Youngbaer
NSS 16161 CM FE
WNS Liaison
Cave Softly; Cave Cleanly
For the latest WNS info, check the NSS WNS website:
http://www.caves.org/WNS
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Hey, y'all!
Before 2012 ends in a Mayan-induced Armageddon, be sure to get some good ol'
caving camaraderie in!
Please mark your calendars on Saturday, February 4th, for either the Longhorn
Project weekend, or the Gov't Canyon monthly project (email Marvin Miller at
[email protected], if interested).
As far as the Longhorn Caverns SP Project goes, we will have a dual pronged
effort that weekend.
· We will continue work on the Lovers Lane area (bring wheelbarrows,
shovels, and buckets if you have 'em!).
· We will also have a crew digging down in Lumbago Alley on a promising
lead that may add more passageway to the existing cave.
Overnight camping will be available and Saturday supper will be at that
institution of fine down home dining, The Bluebonnet Café, in marvelous Marble
Falls.
Or you can rough it at the campground.
The weekend will culminate Saturday with a beautiful night of stargazing and
banter and repartee from atop the Observation Tower at the park, before we head
home Sunday.
If enough folks are interested, we can arrange for a thru trip to the Crownover
Entrance/Exit, after our tasks are completed. A guaranteed muddy time, for sure!
Please check the TSA calendar for more info or give me a shout if you're
interested or have any questions.
If you plan on helping out on the 4th , please let me know when you plan on
coming and what your interest and area of expertise is, so we can schedule
accordingly.
Thanks and hope to see you there or caving at Gov't Canyon!
Mark
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Hollywood superstars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone are
under fire from animal activists after they woke up one of Europe's
biggest colonies of hibernating bats to film their latest movie.
Now it is feared the confused bats may starve in their thousands because
the lights and cameras have disturbed their winter sleep, leaving them
dazed and confused.
Stallone, Arnie and a legion of aging Tinseltown hard-man actors
including Bruce Willis and Chuck Norris, together with their crew,
ventured into the batcave in Bulgaria to film 'The Expendables 2' - the
famous Devetashka system which wildlife experts say is a vital refuge
for hibernating bats.
They accuse the authorities responsible for it of gross negligence in
letting Hollywood loose in it during winter.
A team of biologists and wildlife conservationists who inspected the
batcave after filming found the bats seemed unsettled and awake when
they should have been asleep.
Only 10,000 bats were found in the cave; a fraction of the 35,000 who
spent the winter of 2010 there, leading to fears many died as a result
of their broken sleep or fled to try to find a more peaceful refuge.
The energy levels of the remaining bats are extremely low due to the
stress of the noise and commotion they had to put up with,' said a
conservationist.
'This was just so wrong.
Andreas Streit, spokesman for the Eurobats conservation agreement, said:
'The film company used heavy machinery to prepare the cave for filming.
It is one of the three biggest hibernation sites for bats in Europe.
'Bulgarian authorities should not have permitted filming in the cave in
winter when the animals need their rest.'
A team of delegates from the European Commission has arrived in Bulgaria
to assess the damage.
At present delegates from the European Commission are in the cave to
assess the damage.
The 'Expendables 2' also features Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph
Lundgren playing a team of mercenaries. It is due to be screened this
summer.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Another sad story of bat killings:
http://tinyurl.com/7j7sgbs
Lee Skinner
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
March 2-5 will be a work trip to D&PCNP. Welding on purlins to the back porch
rafters and possibly finishing the roof. May have folks route planning in the
caves. May have road clearing to Deep cave. Any help appreciated. Contact me
for questions & info.
Don Arburn, Preserve Manager
Deep & Punkin Caves Nature Preserve
Texas Cave Management Association
"Caves for Cavers"
[email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
NO. That is the survey project weekend!
Joe
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 26, 2012, at 3:18 PM, Don Arburn <[email protected]> wrote:
> March 2-5 will be a work trip to D&PCNP. Welding on purlins to the back porch
> rafters and possibly finishing the roof. May have folks route planning in the
> caves. May have road clearing to Deep cave. Any help appreciated. Contact me
> for questions & info.
>
> Don Arburn, Preserve Manager
> Deep & Punkin Caves Nature Preserve
> Texas Cave Management Association
> "Caves for Cavers"
> [email protected]
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
CORRECTION - March 9, 10, 11 will be a work trip to D&PCNP. Welding on purlins
to the back porch rafters and possibly finishing the roof. May have folks route
planning in the caves. May have road clearing to Deep cave. Any help
appreciated. Contact me for questions & info.
Don Arburn, Preserve Manager
Deep & Punkin Caves Nature Preserve
Texas Cave Management Association
"Caves for Cavers"
[email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I need 3-4 strong cavers in Austin to help me move a vending machine out
of the BCI office building this weekend. Don't worry, this is perfectly
legal. I was asked to make an abandoned (and apparently
non-functioning) machine "go away" in preparation for the delivery of a
new machine on Monday. It is pretty large, and I could really use one
of those industrial dollies (like you move refrigerators and so on
with). We have about 8 stairs to go down, and then need to get it into
a truck or trailer. Then I have to get it home and off the truck or
trailer again. Email me off-list if you have a dolly I can borrow or
are willing to come out and help for an hour or so.
Crash
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Jim, what are you going to do with it? Maybe haul it to TCR and other caver
parties and set it up next to Pete's hot tub?
On 1/26/2012 5:40 PM, Jim Kennedy wrote:
I need 3-4 strong caversin Austinto help me move a vending machine out of the BCI office building this weekend. Don't worry, this is
perfectly legal. Iwas asked to make an abandoned (and apparently non-functioning) machine"go away"in preparation for the delivery of a new
machine on Monday. It is pretty large, and I could really use one of those industrial dollies (like you move refrigerators and so on with).
We have about 8 stairs to go down, and then need to get it intoa truck or trailer. Then I have to get it home and off the truck or trailer
again. Email me off-list if youhavea dolly I can borrow or are willing to come out and help for an hour or so.
Crash
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Good Grief, sorry folks, dates have changed again, after some shuffling to
avoid conflicts and my own ineptness to set project dates. Apologies. March 16,
17, 18 will (hopefully, fingers crossed) be a work trip to D&PCNP. Welding on
purlins to the back porch rafters and possibly finishing the roof. May have
folks route planning in the caves. May have road clearing to Deep cave. Any
help appreciated. Contact me for questions & info.
Don Arburn, Preserve Manager
Deep & Punkin Caves Nature Preserve
Texas Cave Management Association
"Caves for Cavers"
[email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
January 26, 2012
_Life Beyond Earth? Underwater Caves In Bahamas Could Give Clues_
(http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/2012/01/26/life-beyond-earth-underwater-caves-in-bahamas-c
ould-give-clues/)
Discoveries made in some underwater _caves_
(http://www.tamug.edu/cavebiology/) by Texas A&M University at Galveston
researchers in the Bahamas could
provide clues about how ocean life formed on Earth millions of years ago,
and perhaps give hints of what types of marine life could be found on
distant planets and moons.
_Tom Iliffe_
(http://www.tamug.edu/marb/no-show_facultyProfiles/Iliffe.html) , professor of
marine biology at the Texas A&M-Galveston campus, and
graduate student Brett Gonzalez of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., examined three “
blue holes” in the Bahamas and found that layers of bacterial microbes exists
in all three, but each cave had specialized forms of such life and at
different depths, suggesting that microbial life in such caves is continually
adapting to changes in available light, water chemistry and food sources.
Their work, also done in conjunction with researchers from Penn State
University, has been published in Hydrobiologia.
(http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/files/2012/01/Mystery-Blue-Hole.jpg)
A typical Bahamian blue hole entrance pool. (Photo by Tamara Thomsen)
“Blue holes” are so named because from an aerial view, they appear
circular in shape with different shades of blue in and around their entrances.
There are estimated to be more than 1,000 such caves in the Bahamas, the
largest concentration of blue holes in the world.
‘We examined two caves on Abaco Island and one on Andros Island,” Iliffe
explains. “One on Abaco, at a depth of about 100 feet, had sheets of
bacteria that were attached to the walls of the caves, almost one inch thick.
Another cave on the same island had bacteria living within poisonous clouds of
hydrogen sulfide at the boundary between fresh and salt water. These caves
had different forms of bacteria, with the types and density changing as the
light source from above grew dimmer and dimmer.
“In the cave on Andros, we expected to find something similar, but the
hydrogen sulfide layer there contained different types of bacteria,” he adds. “
It shows that the caves tend to have life forms that adapt to that
particular habitat, and we found that some types of the bacteria could live in
environments where no other forms of life could survive. This research shows
how these bacteria have evolved over millions of years and have found a way
to live under these extreme conditions.”
(http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/files/2012/01/Iliffe-in-blue-hole.jpg)
Thomas Iliffe passing through poisonous sulfide layer in Abaco blue hole.
(Photo by Tamara Thomsen)
Iliffe says the microbes change where the salt water meets fresh water
within the caves and use chemical energy to produce their food. They can
survive in environments with very low amounts of oxygen and light.
There are tens of thousands of underwater caves scattered around the world,
but less than 5 percent of these have ever been explored and
scientifically investigated, Iliffe notes.
“These bacterial forms of life may be similar to microbes that existed on
early Earth and thus provide a glimpse of how life evolved on this planet,”
he adds. “These caves are natural laboratories where we can study life
existing under conditions analogous to what was present many millions of years
ago.
“We know more about the far side of the moon than we do about these caves
right here on Earth,” he adds. “There is no telling what remains to be
discovered in the many thousands of caves that no one has ever entered. If life
exists elsewhere in our solar system, it most likely would be found in
water-filled subterranean environments, perhaps equivalent to those we are
studying in the Bahamas.”
Over the past 30 years, Iliffe has discovered several hundred species of
marine life, and has probably explored more underwater caves – at least 1,500
– than anyone in the world, examining such caves in Australia, the
Caribbean, Mediterranean and North Atlantic regions of the world.
More can be learned from his website at _http://www.cavebiology.com_
(http://www.cavebiology.com) .
_http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/2012/01/26/life-beyond-earth-underwater-caves-in-
bahamas-could-give-clues/_
(http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/2012/01/26/life-beyond-earth-underwater-caves-in-bahamas-could-give-clues/)
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