Part 2-Conservation, Management, Ethics: Toomey-Paleontology 83 Section A-Identifying and Protecting Cave Resonrces

Paleontology in Cave Conservation and Restoration Rickard S. Toomey, III

Caves often serve as natural archival vaults and can protect valuable scientific information through the ages. Because a cave may contain potentially significant paleontological remains. it is important to consider these resources when planning and executing restoration or conservation projects. Caves often serve as natural archival What Are Paleontological Resources? vaults and can protect valuable Remains or traces of once-living organisms are referred to as fossils or scientific paleontological remains (paleo-remains). In this chapter, the terms fossils information through and paleontological remains are used interchangeably. Any kind of biota- the ages. plants, protists, or animals-may be fossilized. When people think offossils, they often think of bones, but bones are only one category among many varieties of fossils. Any animal or plant parts can be fossilized-teeth, shells. carapaces. leaves. pollen, or stems. Traces of animal activities, such as footprints, scratch marks, nests, middens, feces, or bite marks, can also remain behind as fossils. Since a cave system may contain remains from several eras, paleonto- logical resources may range in age from hundreds to hundreds of millions of years. For example, shells on a cave wall from an ancient seabed may be found a few feet from mammal skeletons that arc thousands of years old or beside bat bones dating from a few hundred years. Paleo-remains do not include materials that are associated with human activity. Artifacts and traces left by humans are classified either as archaeo- logical remains or as contemporary trash. Archaeological materials some- times provide significant information for anthropological studies of prehistoric and historic human activities. Thus. both archaeological and paleontological materials should be treated with care and respect. Cavers often arc the first people to encounter paleontological and Fossils are the archaeological materials in caves. Thus, cavers frequently initiate the first primary sources of steps in protecting these sometimes irreplaceable, oftcn fragile resources. information on For more information on the conservation and restoration implications of archaeological remains in caves, consult the archaeology chapter of this biodiversity and volume (page 93). ecosystems of the past. Why Are Fossils Important? Fossils are important because they are the primary sourccs of information on biodiversity and ecosystems of the past. Scientists study fossils to learn how our planet has changed through time. Through fossils, we discover infornlation about past plants, animals, climates, vegetation, and environ- ments. In addition, paleo-remains can sometimes leI/lime geologically- for example. some fossils can be analyzed to determine the age of the rocks and sedimcnt in which they occur. In a speleological context, experienced researchers may study palco-remains to determine details about the 84 Cave Conservation and Restoration

Archived Antiquity developmental history ofa cave, such as the presence afpast entrances or James F. Baichtal patterns afpast cave temperatures. Paleo-remains are important considerations in cave conservation and A thought has come to restoration projects. The first reason may be obvious-the remains are me about the antiquity of nonrenewable cave resources and may be impacted by caving activities. the surfaces on which Any remains should be considered, assessed, and managed in plans for we cave. Excavating the cave restoration and conservation. The second reason is more subtle- bones of mammals that recent paleo-remains may be used to set important targets for cave restora- date from 8,000 to tion, especially environmental restoration. Also, the presence and signifi- beyond 50,000 years cance of paleo-remains may be a factor in determining whether a cave has has driven this home. significant resource value and in developing access policies and proce- Those surfaces that we decide to track across or dures. Cavers should become aware of the types of remains harbored in crawl through may be caves. Through education, cavers can avoid causing damage to remains, can thousands if not help identify paleontological and archaeological resources, and can provide hundreds of thousands important information to experts who evaluate and study the remains. of years old. We, as the first ones to go there, have an immense Types of Remains Found in Caves responsibility to carefully Some fossilized remains are found in the rocks in which caves form, while choose how we proceed (if at all) lest important other palco-remains consist of the fossils of organisms that entered after the data be lost. cave formed. Fossils from the rocks are often found in the \valls and I have found the places ceilings of caves. The fossils of organisms that entered after the cave dug out by denning formed are found along the passages or in the sediments of the cave. bears and the tracks of Cavers should learn to recognize the paleo-remains typically found in their bears deep within caves. caving regions. I have seen soda Fossils found in rocks are generally the same age as the rocks in which straws broken from tight the cave formed-thus, fossils in cave rocks are usually much older than passages where the the cave i[self. 12,000-year-old remains Most caves form in limestone, and since limestone originally formed on of a brown bear were later discovered; those the floors of ancient seas, fossils of sea creatures arc often harbored in formations he most likely caves. Cavers often find the fossilized remains of marine animals such as broke on his last quest coral, brachiopods, crinoids, clams, bryzoans, and other common sea- for a denning site. dwelling groups. I have seen the Less commonly, cavers may encounter rarer remains such as those of footprints of deer sharks or even dugongs in the walls of limestone caves. Typically these trapped in vertical pits fossils are exposed in cave walls where the limestone was dissolved away where they eventually during cave genesis. perished. What about Cavers also find fossil trees and other remains in lava flows where caves hair from these animals? have formed. An entire fossilized rhinoceros was found in a lava cave. Is ancient data archived in the DNA of a cell or a As well, cavers occasionally find plant and animal fossils in beds of microbe? gypsum_ What can be learned The other type of paleo-remains consists of organisms that entered from the charcoal torch sometime after the cave formed. These remains can be incorporated in the of a past explorer? sediments of the cave or can be found on the surfaces of cave walls, floors, What about the bones and ceilings, and in rocks that have spalled olr[he ceiling. Examples of small mammals? include bones, mummified remains, bat guano, ceiling stains from bat use, These all are easily feces of various animals, middens, nests, footprints, animal scratches, plant overlooked, broken, parts, snail shells, parts from insects and other invertebrates (including displaced, and cave-dwelling invertebrates like mites). Remains in this category are sometimes erased by our exploration efforts. almost always much, much younger than the cave in which they are found. We really need to Although both classes of remains should be treated as potentially thoughtfully consider significant, the first type is not unique to caves. Similar fossils can be what awaits us in these found in surface exposures of the same limestone outside of the caves. passages. We need to However, the fossils protected by caves may be better preserved than those find ways to explore in a found on the surface since cave-forming processes can expose the fossils to manner that ensures less damage than surface processes. The second class of remains is unique these resources are not to caves since their presence depends on the existence of the cave. lost. How Do Fossils End Up in Caves? Part 2-Conservation, Management, Ethics: Toomey-Paleontology 85

~ u; i 'f ! ji Figure 1. A shark tooth exposed in a cave wall. " Figure 2. Tiny limestone caps top miniature mud Fossils like this one can be impacted when clean- hoodoos found on the floor of La Cueva de las Bar- ing cave walls. rancas.

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" Figure 3. In the lab, scanning electron microscopy of this hoodoo capstone from Barrancas revealed the miniscule marine fossils in Figure 4. Figure 4. Three Permian-age Formaminifera fos- sils decorate the top of a small piece of limestone that caps a miniature hoodoo-like structure from the mud floor in La Cueva de las Barrancas. The width of the electron micrograph is 1.8 millimeters.

Figure 5. Gray fox skeleton on the floorofa cave alcove. Skeletal remains such as these can be found in many caves.

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~i Figure 6. Woodrat skull in a woodrat latrine. The nests and middens of woodrats often contain im- Figure 7. Raccoon skeleton on the floor ofa cave portant paleontological remains near cave entrances. passage. Unfortunately, this skeleton was stepped (See page 5 of color section.) on by a careless caver. 86 Cave Conservation and Restoration

Bones and other materials enter caves in a variety of ways. Some animals live in caves-bats, cave rats, a few carnivores, and various cave-dwelling invertebrates. When they die, their remains can become fossilized. While they arc alive, animals also do things that produce traces of their activities. They may leave behind nests and beds, guano and feces, or staining and scratches on walls and ceilings. Animals may accidentally wander into a cave and die. They often leave remains that are more commonly found near pits or other hazards. Carnivores might drag their prey into caves and leave the remains of their dinners behind. Some cave-dwelling rodents-for Understanding some example, wood cats, packrats, and porcupines-drag bones from outside of the factors that into the cave. Or, animal and plant remains may be washed into a cave contribute to the from the surface. These remains would be most common ncar an entrance, scientific importance sinkhole, or other water inlet. of fossils should Where are Fossils Found in Caves? help cavers As noted above, fossils of animals from the cave rock are most commonly determine what kind found exposed on the cave walls and ceilings. In addition, some may of infor-mation weather out of the rock and may be incorporated into the cave sediment. necds to be recorded The fossils of animals that enter the cave after it formed can be found in a or protected. somewhat wider variety of places. Bats and cave invertebrates are often found more widely ranging in caves than animals that are not cave adapted. However, following are some generalizations about where to find various animal remains. Remains of animals such as woodrats, raccoons, bears, surface snails, insects, and other cave accidentals, are often found in caves, as arc their nests and activity areas. Groups of bones or entire skeletons may remain, and sometimes mummified bodies are found in drier caves and passages. Rarely, a cave area will contain bones ofa large number of animals, either one species or several. Larger animal bones and nests are usually found near modern entrances in the twilight area, or into the dark zone, or in the vicinity of ancient entrances. Occasionally, isolated skeletons are found in passages far from any known entrance, and these may represent individual animals that got lost and died. Individual bones can be present anywhere in a cave, especially if moved by water. Footprints and other trace evidence- scratchings, claw marks, bear beds, feces-are fairly rare, but can be very important. Bats are among the most common of cave-dwelling animals; bats are also among the animals that range most widely through caves. For these reasons, it is not unusual to find bat bones and other bat-related materials in Fossils of animals many areas of caves. Bones from multiple species are often found in roost from the cave rock sites, which may be modern or ancient. are most commonly However, individual bat skeletons can occur anywhere in a cave. Skulls found exposed on from individual bats are frequently seen in caves, but the small wing and the cave walls and body bones are often overlooked or have deteriorated. Guano and roost staining are common in many caves, especially in ceilings. In addition, defined areas of large caverns. (Figure 14.) (Also see Figure I, page 150.) some may weather Bat scratches on ceilings may be encountered deep into caves. These out of the rock and scratches, which are caused by bats trying to roost on soft ceiling rock, are may be incorporated very fragile and can easily be rubbed away. into the cave A variety of cave invertebrates are found throughout many caves. These animals die in caves, and their bodies can be incorporated into cave sediment. sediments. These animals are so small and delicate they usually are not preserved as fossils, or if preserved, the remains are hard to find. However, several researchers have recently identified fossils of cave dwelling mites preserved in tlowstone (Davis 1999; Polyak and others 200 I). Overall, paleo-remains are found in a variety oflocations within caves. Some of the most common settings include the following list: • Talus cones or sediments associated with current or former entrances Part 2-Conservation, Management, Ethics: Toomey-Paleontology 87

~ ~ ;; ~ ;' ~ o Figure 9. Wearing tlowstone shoes with covers, Tom Madison carefully makes only two points of contact ofT trail to return a bat skull that was col- lected during a scientific study in Lechuguilla Cave. The research proposal called for returning the skulls to original locations after the study was complete.

Figure 8. This Pleistocene bat, discovered during a bat skull study, is well preserved in Land of Awes, Lechuguilla Cave. (See page 5 of color section.) •

Figure t 1. These bat bones arc clearly visible against the white calcite surface where they were found in Ogle Cave, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. (See page 5 of color section.)

Figure 12. Bat bones in small, dry, rimstone pools. Delicate bones such as these can be ea"iily destroyed by careless traffic. (See page 5 of color section.)

/Lf.:, ,;l\ii( . Ii' • ~.' '.~*.'_.'.y..~~~-,, Figure 13. Deposit of bat bones exposed in an old dig site in a Kentucky cave. The dig destroyed most of Figure 14. Bat stain is visible on a cave ceiling. the deposit, but small portions remained fnr study. (See page 5 of color section.) 88 Cave Conservation and Restoration The bottom of shafts and pits Beneath vertical cave entrances-at the bottom of sinks, pit entrances, and vertical drops Stream beds where sediments are deposited and in streams large enough to carry gravel Current or former bat roosts or animal dens Undisturbed passages with Ooors of fine-grained sand or finn mud where footprints are most commonly found Flowstone and dripstone deposits

How Can Cavers Protect Paleo-Resources? All paleontological remains are not equally significant. From scientific, educational, and cave management viewpoints, some remains are highly significant while others are not particularly vital. In general, it will take a paleontologist, or caver experienced in paleontology, to assess the signifi- cance ofaoy particular set of paleo-remains. It is prudent to treat any remains as potentially significant unless an expert informs you otherwise. Paleontologists evaluate a variety of factors to determine whether a It is prudent to treat particular set of paleo-remains is significant. Although the following list any remains as does not qualify the average person to determine the significance of fossils, potentially it is included so the reader can understand how significance is assessed. Recognizing the factors that contribute to the scientific importance of significant unless an fossils should help cavers determine what kind of information needs to be expert informs you recorded or protected. Listed here are evaluation points that contribute to otherwise. the significance of paleontological remains: Paleontologists The type of animal(s) or plant(s) represented evaluate a variety of The abundance of material factors to determine The state of preservation whether a particular The type of preservation set of paleo-remains The context (such as. in place or transported) Other deposits in the area is significant. Age of deposits Previous disturbance of the remains Whether the fossils address specific research questions

If paleo-remains are encountered in a cave, it is important to consider their protection in continuing cave exploration and in planning for cave conserva- tion or restoration projects. The preservation of paleo-remains in caves starts with proper handling of the situation by the cavers who recognize the remains. What should cavers do if they encounter potentially signiticant paleontologi- cal remains in a cave? The appropriate course of action is described here:

Leave the remains in place. Do not handle or touch. Handling may damage the resource or change the orientation of the material. Record as much information as possible about the remains and their context. Photograph the material in context. if possible. Remember to place an object in the photos for scale. Mark the area so that other cavers can avoid damaging the remains. Report the material to the individual or group responsible for manage- ment of the cave. Bring the material to the attention of a paleontologist. You can contact the Paleontology Section of the NSS to find information about paleon- tologists who may be able to help. Ifbones or other remains are encountered while digging in a cave. discontinue the dig until the material can be evaluated for significance Part 2-Conservation, Management, Ethics: Toomey-Paleontology 89

and a plan for recovery of the materia! call be prepared, if necessary.

The rationale for leaving remains in situ is clear.

First. In most states, it is illegal to remove paleo-remains without permission from the cave owner. If the cave is publicly owned in the United States (that is, managed by a federal, state, county, or local government agency), it is almost certainly illegal to collect the re- mains. Collecting paleontological materials from any cave is illegal in some countries. The more you are Second. The context in which remains occur is vital to assessing their able to record about significance. If the material is removed from its context, it can be the remains, the difficult or impossible to establish that context later. better chance a paleontologist will Third. Most caving parties are not adequately equipped to safely have to properly remove remains and transport them out of the cave. An additional assess the potential consideration is that removing bones and replacing them later may result in contamination of the bones (and the cave) by foreign mi- significance. crobes.

The following information should be documented in as much detail as is reasonably possible. The more you are able to record about the remains, the better chance a paleontologist will have to properly assess the potential significance:

Note the location of the remains. Place them on your sketch if you are surveying-otherwise, record their position with respect to nearby survey stations or landmarks. Describe the material-bone, guano, footprints, bat staining-in as much detail as you reasonably can. Note size and shape. Sketch material (if possible or useful). Photograph material (if possible or useful). Include an object for scale in the photos. Record quantity or extent of material. Document context of the find (in sediments, on surface, in niche on wall, in stream). State factors that might affect the survival of the material. (Is it in a stable location'!) Note difficulties or special skills needed to obtain the remains (vertical work, extraordinarily tight passages, sumps, and other situations). Remains vary in Planning for Paleontological Protection their sensitivity to When paleontological remains are encountered in a cave, it is important to damage, and include details for their protection when developing a conservation plan for different actions the cave. An expert should examine the remains to determine how they can pose varying risks to best be protected. Remains vary in their sensitivity to damage, and different remams. actions pose varying risks to remains. For example, bones contained within a sediment bank may be adequately protected from being damaged by normal caving activity, but they could be impacted by digging. The same bones lying on a surface could be much more easily damaged, possibly even by simple travel in the passage. Bat staining on a ceiling may be fairly stable, but animal scratches on the wall might be easily obscured by any activity that affects the wall. Other types of materials are often more easily damaged. For example, a single person walking carelessly can obliterate animal footprints on a smooth mud floor. Areas with remains that can be easily damaged should 90 Cave Conservation and Restoration

be marked so that people do not travel over those sections. Staying on a designated path minimizes potential damage to most cave resources, including paleo-remains. Protecting caves or cave passages with particu- larly significant paleo-remains may require restrictions on groups visiting the areas.

Significance of Paleo-Remains When Planning for Restoration Palco-remains are rarely a problem in planning cave restoration projects. Before restoration is initiated, the area should be investigated for remains. The floor should be examined to make sure bones, guano, or other remains arc not trampled during restoration. With caution, damage can be avoided. A more difficult situation involves subtle types of paleo-remains like staining and scratches that might occur on cave walls. Before removing graffiti, it is important to determine whether potentially significant animal scratchings are on the walls. This type of evidence can be easily obscured or eliminated by overzealous cleaning. In caves that have been heavily visited, paleontological remains in the main travel areas may have been eliminated. However, important remains can often still be found undisturbed on ledges, under overhangs, in small notches and anastomoses, and under large pieces of breakdown. In a recent paleontological inventory of Mammoth Cave (Mammoth Important remains Cave National Park, Kentucky), we found that, although many areas had can often still be becn visited for almost 200 years by millions of people. significant paleo- found undisturbed remains were still present along the edges of the passages and in areas that on ledges, under had becn sheltered from easy direct contact (Toomcy and others 2002). overhangs, in small Paleontological remains may also play another role in the restoration of cave habitats. Fossils help establish the historical conditions to which a notches and cave might be restored. If the paleontological materials are comparatively anastomoses, and young, less than about 1,000 years old, they can provide significant data on under large pieces of historical conditions that existed in the cave and, thus, information about breakdown. changes in the cave conditions. For example, recent remains might indicate that a large bat colony formerly inhabited the cave, and the remains can be studied to identi fy the type of bats and their season of use. Restoration of the colony might be defined as a target of the cave restoration project and human intrusion might be limited during the most likely season of occupation. In addition, paleontological remains may provide information on previous meteorological conditions in the cave, such as temperature and airflow. Because many cave animals, particularly bats. choose very specific habitat conditions within a cave, the presence of these animal remains provides strong evidence of former conditions. If, for example, a bat hibernaculum was found in an area that is no longer used, it may indicate that a significant change in the airflow has occurred. Perhaps an entrance or small opening has been closed that previously allowed cold air into the area, or, perhaps an enlarged opening has cooled or dried the area. Recent analysis of bat roosts near the historic entrance of Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, has provided this type of restoration informa- tion (Toomey and others 2002). A variety of information may be extremely useful in planning environmental restorations.

Summary

When caving or preparing for restoration, be aware that paleo-materials may be present in any cave. Take precautions not to disturb potential paleontological resources. Report significant finds to the cave management or owner, to the Paleontological Section of the National Speleological Society, and to other appropriate agencies or organizations. Any paleo- Part 2-Conservation, Management, Ethics: Toomey-Paleontology 9\ remains may be valuable in scientific research and should always be considered in the development of cave conservation plans.

Cited References Davis OK. 1999. Pollen and other microfossils in Pleistocene speleothems, Kartchner Caverns, Arizona. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 61(2): 89-92. Polyak YJ, Cokendolpher JC, Norton RA, Asmerom Y. 2001. Wetter and cooler latc Holocene climate in the Southwestern United States from mites preserved in stalagmites. Geology 29(7): 643-646. Any paleo-remains Toomey, RS Ill, Coburn ML, Olson RA. 2002. Paleontological evaluation may be valuable in afpast use of eaves by the Indiana bat: A significant tool for restoration scientific research of hibernacula. In: Kurta A, Kennedy J, editors. The Indiana Bat: Biology and Management of an Endangered Species. Austin (Texas): Bat and should always Conservation International. p 79-85. be considered in the development of cave conservation plans. Additional Reading Andrews P. 1990. Owls, Caves, and Fossils: Predation, preservation. and accumulation a/small mammal bones in caves, l,vith an analysis a/the Pleistocene eavefaunasfrom Westbwy-sub-Mendip, Somerset, UK. Chicago (lL): University of Chicago Press. 231 p. [This book, although somewhat technical, provides one of tile best introductions available to cave fossils and the process of fossilization in caves.] Brain, CK. 1980. The Hunters or the Hunted?: An Introduction to African Cave Taphonomy. Chicago (lL): University of Chicago Press. 365 p. [Another somewhat technical book that is a classic introduction to how bones get into caves.] Kurten B. \976. The Cave Bear Story: Life and Death of a Vanished Animal. New York: Columbia University Press. 163 p. [An easy to read account of the study of cave bears that shows both the importance of cave fossils and what can be learned from them.] 92 Cave Conservation and Restoration