DOCSLIB.ORG

Planet Earth – Caves Based on the BBC Planet Earth DVD

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Planet Earth – Caves Based on the BBC Planet Earth DVD Planet Earth – Caves Based on the BBC Planet Earth DVD 1. What is the single biggest limiting factor for life in caves? 2. List two adaptations the cave glow worm has for capturing prey in a cave. 3. What is the single biggest challenge for living organisms in caves? 4. What is limestone made of? How is it possible that limestone can be found in areas of dry land? 5. Water has the ability to dissolve and carve itself into limestone. What environmental process is this? Deer Cave, Borneo 6. Borneo is an island that is partly controlled by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. It is located at 1°N, 114°E. Mark it on your map on the last page. 7. Deer Cave cannot support photosynthesis, as not enough sunlight is present. In spite of this, it still has a complex food chain. What is the energy foundation of this food chain? 8. What would be the correct ecological classification for the cockroaches? a. Producers b. Primary consumers c. Secondary consumers d. Scavengers / Decomposers 9. Would the bats be considered a keystone species for this ecosystem? Explain. 10. What behavioral adaptation do the wrinkle-lipped bats possess that helps them evade the rufous-bellied eagles, peregrine falcons, and bat hawks? 11. Which bats do the falcons seem to target the most? Gomatong, Borneo 12. What physical adaptation do cave swiftlets have to navigate through the dark caves to their nests? a. How do they build nests without any materials in the cave to use? 13. What is the name for the calcite formations that hang from the ceilings? 14. What is the name for the calcite formations that grow from the floor? Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico 15. This is a large peninsula that reaches into the Gulf of Mexico from the southern part of Mexico. It can be found at 18º North, 89º West. Mark it on your map on the last page. 16. As this part of Mexico has no lakes or rivers, what did the Maya use as a source of fresh water? 17. What is the relationship between the cenotes and the lush forests at the surface? 18. The mixing saltwater and freshwater form layers because the saltwater is ( more / less ) dense. 19. Saltwater does not dissolve limestone like freshwater. How then, are sea caves formed? 20. How are the Big Eyes similar to bats? 21. Neither the bats nor the cave snakes are able to actually see in the cave. Explain what special sensory adaptation each has to allow it to navigate through the darkness. 22. What are troglobites? 23. For each of the troglobites shown, describe what unique adaptations they have evolved specifically for the cave environment. a. Cave angel fish – b. Texas cave salamander – 24. Evolution can result in the development of new adaptations, as well as the loss of vestigial structures that are no longer useful. What vestigial structures have been lost by the troglobites? Villa Luz Cave, Mexico 25. Why is the water flowing out of this cave colored white? 26. What is the poisonous gas that bubbles up from below the cave? 27. “Snottites” are colonies of bacteria. These bacteria are often classified as extremophiles. Why is this an appropriate term? Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico, United States 28. The exact location of Lechuguilla is not published. Only scientists and mappers are allowed in the cave, in order to maintain its pristine condition. It is part of the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, located in New Mexico. The park can be found at 32°N, 104°W. 29. Many of the crystal formations in Lechuguilla are made from a mineral called gypsum. What rock is the source of this mineral? 30. Lechuguilla is an unusual cave because its limestone was not carved away by water. What was responsible for creating its caverns and crystals? Map: When you are finished, you should have a total of 3 ecosystems labeled on this map. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • NCKRI: 2012-2013 Annual Report
    The National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) will be the world’s premier cave and karst research organization. NCKRI promotes and performs projects of national and international application, of the highest quality and integrity, through dedicated staff and partners. NCKRI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. It was created by the US Congress in 1998 in partnership with the National Park Service, State of New Mexico, and the City of Carlsbad. Federal and state funding for NCKRI is adminis- tered by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technolo- gy (aka New Mexico Tech or NMT). Funds not produced by agreements through NMT are accepted directly by NCKRI. NCKRI’s enabling legislation, the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998, 16 U.S.C. §4310, iden- tifies NCKRI’s mission as to: 1) further the science of speleology; 2) centralize and standardize speleological information; 3) foster interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research programs; 4) promote public education; 5) promote national and international cooperation in pro- tecting the environment for the benefit of cave and karst landforms; and 6) promote and develop environmentally sound and sus- tainable resource management practices. NCKRI produced this publication as part of its annual Our 2011-12 Annual Report cover showed a speleothem reporting of activities. The reporting period covers NCKRI’s reported as destroyed. It still exists; a similar nearby speleo- fiscal year, from 1 July to 30 June of the following year. them had been destroyed. For reasons like this, NCKRI ar- Digital copies of this and previous reports are available for chives cave photos as historical and scientific records.
    [Show full text]
  • Fundamentos Conceptuales Y Didácticos Iguzquiza2 1 Unidad Del IGME En Las Islas Baleares
    y El karst en cifras ¿cuáles son las mayores cavidades del mundo y por qué? Karst in figure: which are the major cavities of the world and why? Pedro Agustín Robledo Ardila1, Juan José Durán Valsero2 Y Eulogio Pardo Fundamentos Conceptuales Didácticos Iguzquiza2 1 Unidad del IGME en las Islas Baleares. C/Felicià Fuster 7, 07006, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares. E-mail: [email protected] 2 IGME. C/Ríos Rosas nº 23, 28003, Madrid. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Resumen Entre los terrenos kársticos superficiales y subterráneos, las cuevas son, actualmente para determinados colectivos, el producto más interesante del karst y, que de forma creciente, ha atraído la curiosidad humana desde que los seres humanos habitan el Planeta. Prueba de ello son los restos de arte rupestre y yacimientos paleontológicos descritos en muchas cuevas o el creciente número de visitantes anuales que tienen. Sin embargo, en las últimas décadas los equipos de científicos y espeleólogos se han ocupado especialmente del karst en términos de cifras, con especial énfasis en grandes cavidades. Bien, atendiendo al tamaño de las mismas en su desarrollo horizontal o vertical, o de forma parcial, midiendo volúmenes de galerías y conductos, cámaras o espeleotemas, entre otros elementos. Existen exhaustivos rankings de los sistemas de cavidades de mayor longitud total de galerías exploradas, de las salas más grandes, de las cuevas más profundadas o de los espeleotemas más grandes en su tipo. Esto ha condicionando que, por un lado, exista un auge en la investigación de los sistemas endokársticos más grandes del mundo, y por otro, que paisajes superficiales kársticos espectaculares del Planeta hayan pasado a un segundo orden en cuanto a el interés científico o turístico.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report Cover 2011 Spread 8/10/11 11:28 AM Page 1
    Annual Report Cover 2011_Spread 8/10/11 11:28 AM Page 1 National Cave and Karst Research Institute 2010-2011 400-1 Cascades Avenue Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6215, USA ANNUAL REPORT www.nckri.org www.nckri.org The National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) will be the world’s premier cave and karst research organization, facilitating and conducting programs in re- search, education, data management, and stewardship in all fields of speleology through its own efforts and by establish- ing an international consortium of partners whose individual efforts will be supported to promote cooperation, synergy, flexibility, and creativity. NCKRI was created by the U.S. Congress in 1998 in partnership with the State of New Mexico and the City of Carlsbad. Initially an institute within the National Park Ser- vice, NCKRI is now a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that retains its federal, state, and city partnerships. Federal and state funding for NCKRI is administered by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (aka New Mexico Tech or NMT). Funds not produced by agreements through NMT are accepted directly by NCKRI. NCKRI’s enabling legislation, the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998, 16 U.S.C. §4310, iden- tifies NCKRI’s mission as to: 1) further the science of speleology; 2) centralize and standardize speleological information; 3) foster interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research programs; 4) promote public education; 5) promote national and international cooperation in pro- tecting the environment for the benefit of cave and karst landforms; and 6) promote and develop environmentally sound and sus- tainable resource management practices.
    [Show full text]
  • 55Th Legislature - State of New Mexico - First Session, 2021
    1 HOUSE MEMORIAL 12 2 55TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2021 3 INTRODUCED BY 4 Cathrynn N. Brown and Gail Armstrong 5 6 7 8 9 10 A MEMORIAL 11 REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING 12 2021 AS THE "INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CAVES AND KARST". 13 14 WHEREAS, caves and related landforms like sinkholes, 15 springs and sinking streams, collectively known as karst, 16 present some of the world's most dramatic landscapes; and 17 WHEREAS, caves and karst have diverse economic, ecologic, 18 scientific and cultural impacts around New Mexico, the United ] = delete = ] 19 States and the world; and 20 WHEREAS, Carlsbad Caverns national park alone has an 21 economic benefit of about thirty-four million dollars 22 ($34,000,000) each year for New Mexico; and 23 WHEREAS, other New Mexico cave tourist destinations 24 include Bottomless Lakes state park, Santa Rosa blue hole, the underscored material = new = material underscored material [bracketed 25 ice cave and Bandera volcano and El Malpais national monument; .219712.1 1 and 2 WHEREAS, the country's first underground wilderness was 3 established in New Mexico to protect the spectacular 4 Lechuguilla cave; and 5 WHEREAS, the country's first underground national 6 conservation area was established in New Mexico to protect the 7 equally amazing Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave national 8 conservation area; and 9 WHEREAS, the primary water supplies for roughly fifteen 10 percent of New Mexico are karst aquifers, especially supporting 11 the communities in the southeast
    [Show full text]
  • Human Urine in Lechuguilla Cave: the Microbiological Impact and Potential for Bioremediation
    M.D. Johnston, B.A. Muench, E.D. Banks, and H.A. Barton – Human urine in Lechuguilla Cave: the microbiological impact and potential for bioremediation. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 74, no. 3, p. 278–291. DOI: 10.4311/2011MB0227 HUMAN URINE IN LECHUGUILLA CAVE: THE MICROBIOLOGICAL IMPACT AND POTENTIAL FOR BIOREMEDIATION MICHAEL D. JOHNSTON,BRITTANY A. MUENCH,ERIC D. BANKS, AND HAZEL A. BARTON* Department of Biology, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325 Abstract: During extended exploration trips in caves, it is sometimes not possible to remove all excreted urine due to its volume and weight. Excess urine can be particularly problematic in dry caves where, without dilution, urine introduces a significant source of nitrogen into these otherwise nitrogen-limited environments. It was the aim of this study to determine the impact that human urine could have on cave microbiota over an extended period of time. To do this, we examined the microbial community structure of a heavily impacted site in Lechuguilla Cave, USA. Using a molecular phylogenetic approach we generated a 136-member 16S rRNA clone library that demonstrated representatives of the Alpha- Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria, the Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Deinococcus-Thermus group at this site. The structure of the microbial community at the impacted site suggests that it is colonized by endemic cave species rather than human commensal organisms, while metabolic inference suggests that these organisms are taking advantage of both the nitrogenous and organic compounds in urine for growth. The intrinsic nature of such metabolic activity in the cave environment was confirmed by examining non-impacted sites using cultivation, which demonstrated that endemic species express both the capacity to degrade urine and to reduce urea to nitrogen gas.
    [Show full text]
  • Planet Earth Is a BBC Production with Five Episodes in the First Series, and a Second Series to Follow in 2007
    A STUDYGUIDE BY ANDREW FILDES 4 www.metromagazine.com.au www.theeducationshop.com.au Overview Planet Earth is a BBC production with five episodes in the first series, and a second series to follow in 2007. Each episode examines a range of environments, focussing on key species or relationships in each habitat, the challenges they face, the behaviours they exhibit and the adaptations that enable them to survive. Recent advances in photography are used to achieve some spectacular ‘first sights’ – in particular, stabilized aerial photography gives us remarkable views of migrating animals and the techniques used by their predators to hunt them. The series is suitable for middle secondary students studying Science and SOSE/HSIE, and for senior secondary students of Biology, Environmental Science and Geography. SCREEN EDUCATION 2 Episode Four: Caves selves in one of the most dangerous to protect the formations and the envi- sports around. Half flooded sea caves ronment of the cave, this is one of the The Caves episode begins dramatically in New Zealand provide haven for first detailed views we have had of this as a man hurls himself into the void of huge shoals of fish every night while amazing cave and possibly the last. the Cave of Swallows in Mexico. We nocturnal fish emerge from the cave soon realize that he is a base jumper each night in their turn. Web Resources and we watch as he and his friends parachute down into the largest cave Many cave dwellers have special Deer cave shaft in the world, 400 metres deep. abilities to make life in the dark pos- – http://www.ecologyasia.com/ Caves are one of the least explored sible, just as the bats and swiftlets use news-archives/2002/jul-02/ places on Earth and we rarely venture echolocation (sonar).
    [Show full text]
  • Caves in New Mexico and the Southwest Issue 34
    Lite fall 2013 Caves in New Mexico and the Southwest issue 34 The Doll’s Theater—Big Room route, Carlsbad Cavern. Photo by Peter Jones, courtesy of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In This Issue... Caves in New Mexico and the Southwest Cave Dwellers • Mapping Caves Earth Briefs: Suddenly Sinkholes • Crossword Puzzle New Mexico’s Most Wanted Minerals—Hydromagnesite New Mexico’s Enchanting Geology Classroom Activity: Sinkhole in a Cup Through the Hand Lens • Short Items of Interest NEW MEXICO BUREAU OF GEOLOGY & MINERAL RESOURCES A DIVISION OF NEW MEXICO TECH http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/periodicals/litegeology/current.html CAVES IN NEW MEXICO AND THE SOUTHWEST Lewis Land Cave Development flowing downward from the surface. Epigenic A cave is a naturally-formed underground cavity, usually caves can be very long. with a connection to the surface that humans can enter. The longest cave in the Caves, like sinkholes, are karst features. Karst is a type of world is the Mammoth landform that results when circulating groundwater causes Cave system in western voids to form due to dissolution of soluble bedrock. Karst Kentucky, with a surveyed terrain is characterized by sinkholes, caves, disappearing length of more than 400 streams, large springs, and underground drainage. miles (643 km). The largest and most common caves form by dissolution of In recent years, limestone or dolomite, and are referred to as solution caves. scientists have begun to Limestone and dolomite rock are composed of the minerals recognize that many caves calcite (CaCO ) and dolomite (CaMg(CO ) ), which are 3 3 2 are hypogenic in origin, soluble in weak acids such as carbonic acid (H CO ), and are 2 3 meaning that they were thus vulnerable to dissolution by groundwater.
    [Show full text]
  • Caves and Karst in New Mexico
    Volume 3, Number 1, Winter 2003 CAVES AND KARST IN NEW MEXICO The caves of New Mexico are among rejoining) passage patterns are charac- the most outstanding, beautiful, and teristic of carbonic acid karst, branch- geologically significant in the world. In work caves being by far the most the south-central part of the state near common type. Well-known carbonic the town of Capitan are Fort Stanton acid caves include Mammoth Cave in Cave and Torgac Cave. In the south- Kentucky, Jewel and Wind Caves in eastern part of the state, southwest of South Dakota, Kartchner Caverns in the town of Carlsbad, are Carlsbad Arizona, and Fort Stanton Cave in Cavern, visitor attraction for millions, New Mexico. and Lechuguilla Cave, the deepest cave Thirty years ago cave researchers in the United States and fifth longest noted with interest the fact that many cave in the world. Also in the Carlsbad of the spectacular caves of New Mexico area is Parks Ranch Cave, the longest and Texas bore little resemblance to the gypsum cave in the United States. better-known caves of Kentucky and These caves and the landscapes in Virginia. Other similar caves had been which they occur are important geolog- noted since the 1930s. The patterns ic resources of New Mexico. In the past created by the cave passages themselves twenty years or so, they have played an were remarkably different and bore lit- important part in geologists’ growing tle relation to the known hydrologic understanding of how caves form. features of the area. Thus began the unraveling of one of the more interest- What is Karst? ing stories in the growth of our knowl- Karst is the term geologists use to edge of speleogenesis and the origin of describe a topography characterized by sulfuric acid caves.
    [Show full text]
  • Boletín Geológico Y Minero
    Boletín Volumen 127 Número 1 Geológico y Año 2016 Minero Revista trimestral de Ciencias de la Tierra, fundada en 1874 - 5.ª serie Sumario / Contents Presentación . 3-4 Prólogo . 5-6 Advanced data processing of airborne electromagnetic data for imaging hidden conduit networks in the coastal karst plain of Tulum (Mexico) . Técnicas avanzadas de análisis de datos electromagnéticos aerotransportados para cartografía de redes de conductos kársticos de la planicie costera de Tulum (México). A . Schiller, I . Schattauer and D . Ottowitz . 7-20 Bullita cave system, Judbarra / Gregory Karst, tropical Australia . Sistemas de cue- vas de Bullita, Judbarra / Gregory Karst, Australia tropical . K .G . Grimes and J .E .J . Martini . 21-44 Main karst and caves of Switzerland . El karst y las cuevas más importantes de Suiza. P .-Y . Jeannin . 45-56 Condicionantes estructurales y litológicas de los grandes sistemas kársticos de la Sierra de los Órganos, Pinar del Rio, Cuba . Structural and lithological conditioning of the large karst systems of the Sierra de los Órganos, Pinar del Rio, Cuba . C . Díaz Guanche, R . Ramírez Hernández, H . Farfán Gonzalez, E . Estévez Cruz, A . Ordaz Hernández and C . Aldana Vilas . 57-66 Karst and Caves of the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA . Karst y cuevas de las Black Hills, Dakota del Sur, EE.UU. A . N . Palmer . 67-78 Karst in Slovenia . EL karst en Eslovenia . A . Mihevc, F . Gabrovšek, M . Knez, P . Kozel, J . Mulec, B . Otoničar, M . Petrič, T . Pipan, M . Prelovšek, T . Slabe, S . Šebela and N . Zupan Hajna . 79-98 An optical laser device for mapping 3D geometry of underwater karst structures: first tests in the Ox Bel’Ha system, Yucatan, Mexico .
    [Show full text]
  • Lechuguilla Cave Newsletter Issue 3, Winter 2007-2008
    Lechuguilla Cave Newsletter Issue 3, Winter 2007-2008 Introduction Paul Burger Thanks to all of those who have volunteered this year. We appreciate the work all of you do Welcome to the Winter, 2007-2008 edition of inside and outside of the park to make these the Lechuguilla Newsletter. The purpose of this expeditions a success. We know it takes a great publication is to keep cavers informed about deal of work to compile leads, identify survey what is going on at the park, particularly errors, and handle the logistics of running an Lechuguilla Cave. This year, the surveyed length expedition. All of the proposals were well- of the cave went from 120.2 to 123.4 miles and written and all of the expeditions produced surpassed the Hoelloch system as the world’s great results. fifth longest cave. A great deal of work was done to fix survey errors and improve sketches. Thanks to all of you again, and enjoy the issue. This issue, all of the articles were compiled Lechuguilla General News from submitted trip reports. If you would like to contribute material to this newsletter, please Cave and Karst Management Plan send it to Paul Burger at [email protected]. The new Carlsbad Caverns National Park Cave Since this is an electronic-only publication and Karst Management Plan has been approved (unless you print out your copy), there are no and is now available. printing costs, so I also welcome color photos, maps, or whatever you may need to enhance All Lechuguilla Cavers need to be familiar with your articles.
    [Show full text]
  • The Underground Conflict: Should Caves Be Designated As Wilderness?, 4 BYU J
    Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law Volume 4 | Issue 1 Article 8 3-1-1990 The ndeU rground Conflict: Should Caves Be Designated as Wilderness? Lorenzo Miller Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/jpl Part of the Land Use Law Commons, and the Natural Resources Law Commons Recommended Citation Lorenzo Miller, The Underground Conflict: Should Caves Be Designated as Wilderness?, 4 BYU J. Pub. L. 133 (1990). Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/jpl/vol4/iss1/8 This Comment is brought to you for free and open access by BYU Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law by an authorized editor of BYU Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Underground Conflict: Should Caves Be Designated as Wilderness? I. INTRODUCTION In the southern regions of New Mexico, miles from any interstate, lies Carlsbad Caverns National Park. On arrival at the park, visitors are informed by radio that the three-mile tours through the cavern are strenuous and difficult. But visitors can cut the distance and difficulty by using the park's elevators. These motorized vehicles bypass the first mile of winding pathways, allowing access to all those wishing to see the cavern's many vistas. Approaching the cave, one notices that the mouth of the cave is tremendous, spanning 100 feet in width and approximately 60 feet in height. The trail winds its way down the throat of this massive pit that rapidly envelopes visitors in stone. The outside world becomes lost as one descends underground.
    [Show full text]
  • Fall/Winter 2007-8
    Park News Carlsbad Caverns & National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Guadalupe Mountains National Parks Visitor Guide Fall/Winter 2007-8 DiscoveringDiscovering LechuguillaLechuguilla CaveCave by Stan Allison Selenite chandeliers in the Chandelier Ballroom (Lechuguilla Cave) Photo by Gavin Newman IN THIS MODERN AGE OF SATELLITE soon abandoned. All that the guano miners Lechuguilla Cave 120 miles of cave has been images, remote sensing and Google Earth it left was a guano hopper for filtering rocks surveyed making it the fifth longest cave in America the Beautiful— can be difficult to imagine discovering new out of the guano and a small test pit. The the world. Winds more than 60 miles per The National Parks & places on our planet earth. Yet here at Carls- extent of Lechuguilla Cave was known to be hour have been recorded near the entrance, Federal Recreational bad Caverns National Park, cave explorers about 500 feet long with a 50-foot deep en- indicating that much more cave remains to are still discovering unknown passages and trance pit. Those early guano miners surely be found. Lechuguilla Cave is 1,604 feet deep Lands Pass rooms that no satellite or other remote sens- must have noticed the strong winds issuing making it the deepest limestone cave in the ing technology can detect in a special place from between the rocks, guano and dirt that United States. Although Lechuguilla Cave called Lechuguilla Cave. Lechuguilla Cave filled the bottom of the entrance pit. Per- is longer and deeper than Carlsbad Cavern, is the longest of the 113 known caves in the haps as they took a break from their work the Big Room still remains the largest room park.
    [Show full text]