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EDITORIAL EDITORIAL Sixty-Five and Still Going Strong Journal of Cave and Karst Studies MALCOLM S. FIELD It is with great pleasure and satisfaction for me that sulfidic karst habitats (A. Engel); the latter two crossing the with this Special Issue of the Journal of Cave and Karst earth science and biological divisions of cave karst studies. Studies we mark the 65th Anniversary of the National Other significant areas of coverage in the Journal in the Speleological Society (NSS) which occurred in 2006. The past, but now more rarely submitted for publication are last such special issue marked the 25th Anniversary of the archaeology, exploration, and social sciences. Cave archae- NSS. ology and the NSS (G. Crothers, P. Willey, and P. Watson) This particular special issue is especially gratifying documents directions the field has taken over the years. because it also represents a major change in the way the The importance of cave exploration and scientific research, Journal is now put together. Authors, associate editors a subject area that may be regarded as the legacy of the (AEs), reviewers, and numerous others will find what I NSS but that has been sorely lacking over the past several believe are major improvements to the Journal publishing years, is covered in this issue (P. Kambesis). Even more process. rarely, a social science paper on the creation of a karst database (L. Florea and B. Fratesi) has been included. ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE Lastly, a paper on the human health aspects of exploring and working in caves with elevated levels of radon has been First, I want to point out that for this Anniversary Issue included (M. Field). several individuals consented to writing special articles marking the progress in cave and karst studies since the PUBLISHING CHANGES WITH THIS ISSUE inception of the NSS. Back in 1966, which marked the 25th Anniversary of the NSS, a special issue of the old Bulletin As of May 2007 the Journal is now accepting all of the National Speleological Society (vol. 28, no. 1) manuscripts via AllenTrack, a web-based system for on- included manuscripts on earth sciences and speleology, line submission. The AllenTrack web site, http://jcks. evolution of cave biology in the United States, cave allentrack2.net, will be accessible directly from the NSS exploration techniques, and an early history of the NSS. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies web site, http://www.ca- Manuscripts accepted for this special Anniversary issue ves.org/pub/journal/. AllenTrack is the same organization follow the original concept applied in the 25th Anniversary that handles publishing of such respected journals as issue by addressing the major areas of cave and karst American Mineralogist, Geology, Geological Society of studies covered by the Journal and some currently less America Bulletin, Ground Water, Journal of Paleontology, prominent areas, all by some of the most recognized and Journal of Sedimentary Research so it is likely that many researchers in caves and karst. authors will already be familiar with the on-line submission For example, earth science and biology papers make up process. This change in our publishing pro- the bulk of papers submitted for publication in the Journal. cess represents a major accomplishment and should greatly Earth science papers in this issue include manuscripts on enhance the Journal while reducing overall publishing costs. the historical aspects of speleogenesis and cave geology (A. The AllenTrack system is fully integrated so that the Palmer), island cave and karst formation (J. Mylroie and J. editorial staff can fully monitor the review process and more Mylroie), cave mineraology and the NSS (C. Hill and P. effectively keep the process moving forward. Manuscripts Forti), hydrology (W. White), cave sediments and paleo- will no longer need to be mailed in triplicate; nor will authors climates (W. White), groundwater tracing (S. Worthing- be responsible for determining which AE should receive ton), and pseudokarst (W. Halliday). Life sciences papers a particular manuscript. By including selected keywords on include manuscripts on zoogeography and biodiversity in the web site when submitting a manuscript, the appropriate Missouri caves (W. Elliott), and biology and ecology of AE will automatically be determined, but which may be cave crickets (K. Lavoie, K. Helf, and T. Poulson). overridden, as appropriate, by me. All AEs and reviewers Microbiological papers include manuscripts on molecular will have access to the system whenever and wherever they techniques used in subterranean biogeography (M. Porter), are as long as they have access to the internet, so reviews and historical perspectives and future research on geomicro- decisions can be made while traveling. Overall, everyone biology in cave environments (H. Barton), biodiversity of should find the process remarkably easy. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, April 2007 N 1 EDITORIAL MANUSCRIPT AUTHORS ASSOCIATE EDITORS AND REVIEWERS Manuscript submission is quite easy. After accessing the Associate editors and reviewers will be able to access site for the first time, authors create a login and password submitted manuscripts on-line and will be able to conduct and then will enter necessary preliminary manuscript reviews on-line as well. Alternatively, if a hardcopy of the information (authors, addresses, manuscript title, etc.). submitted manuscript is desired, then a copy may be Then an author will upload their manuscript, figure files, downloaded and printed as well. Reviewer’s summary and table files preferably in the original format in which opinions, comments, and recommendations for editors, as they were created (e.g., DOC, WPD, RTF, TXT, or LaTeX well as any detailed comments for authors, will all be for manuscripts and tables; Excel for tables; and TIFF, submitted via the AllenTrack system. Annotated comments EPS, or PDF for figures). Alternatively, manuscripts can on hardcopies can still be returned to AEs if desired, but be submitted as PDF or HTML files for review purposes are no longer necessary. only; if accepted the manuscript will need to be resubmitted Associate Editor recommendations and the Editor’s in one of the listed accepted formats. Tables and figures decision regarding each manuscript will be sent out to the may be appended to the main document when submitted or corresponding author via e-mail. Author-required revisions tables and figures may be uploaded separately from the will also use the AllenTrack web site as will final edits. main document. Because this is such a significant change in the way Once uploaded, the system will convert all uploaded manuscripts will be handled in the Journal, it will likely files to a single PDF in approximately 10 minutes and require some patience by everyone concerned as we work a confirmation will be sent to authors via e-mail. Manu- through the new procedures. However, it is expected that scripts already in the system will be uploaded by the editor, this new Journal process will result in monetary savings and but effective June 2007 it is expected that all authors will speed up the publication process. Overall, it should be submit manuscripts using the new internet-based system. a benefit to all concerned. 2 N Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, April 2007 Arthur N. Palmer – Cave geology and speleogenesis over the past 65 years: role of the National Speleological Society in advancing the science. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 69, no. 1, p. 3–12. CAVE GEOLOGY AND SPELEOGENESIS OVER THE PAST 65 YEARS: ROLE OF THE NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY IN ADVANCING THE SCIENCE ARTHUR N. PALMER Department of Earth Sciences, State University of New York, Oneonta, NY 13820-4015, [email protected] Abstract: The National Speleological Society was founded in 1941, near the end of a remarkable period in the history of speleogenesis. Many well-known geologists had published on the topic during the previous decade. For various reasons the NSS did not benefit from this wave of interest, and its members were faced with reconstructing the subject from a fresh beginning. The topic was developed mainly by individuals who started as cave explorers and extended that interest into science. Some of the advances over the past 65 years include new field and laboratory techniques, models of cave origin, introduction of sulfuric acid speleogenesis, coastal cave studies, recognition of microbial mediation of cave processes, geochronology and paleoclimatology, digital modeling, and growing attention toward lava caves. INTRODUCTION Bretz, 1942), but he had made his reputation long before. Clyde Malott, who was among Indiana’s foremost Since its founding in 1941, the National Speleological stratigraphers and geomorphologists, devoted much of Society (NSS) has grown from a small regional group into his attention for several decades to caves and karst (e.g., one of the world’s largest and most influential organiza- Malott, 1937). Allyn Swinnerton was a well-known pro- tions in cave science. Over the past 65 years it has helped to fessor of geology at Stanford, Harvard, and Antioch foster some of the most notable advances in cave geology College (Swinnerton, 1932). and speleogenesis. This paper concerns the history of this There was considerable disparity of opinion among field and the role that the NSS has played in its these early authors. Davis and Bretz championed deep- development. There is no need for a rigorous historical phreatic cave origin. Swinnerton favored cave origin at or record or a detailed description of ideas, as these are just below the water table. Malott described caves in terms provided in recent books edited by Klimchouk et al. (2000), of invasion by surface streams. This brief outline does no Gunn (2004), and Culver and White (2005). Instead, the justice to any of the authors and omits many others, but it aim is to look behind the scenes at the interaction among is enough to set the stage.