Volume 31(1), 2004

BCRA > Publications > Cave & Karst Science> Contents

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Trickle midges in Peak Cavern, Derbyshire, UK Low-cost telemetry, Sorbas karst, Spain Ingleborough Cave, Yorkshire, UK Gypsum karst, Sivas, Turkey Caves in Myanmar Forum Cover photo by John Cordingly, assisted by Adrian Hall and Gerald Benn Adrian Hall straddles the joint-guided fissure at the head of Lake Avernus in Ingleborough Cave, North Yorkshire. This spot, which provides a somewhat aqueous dive base for the submerged connection with Beck Head Stream Cave, is reached by crawling in the stream (Fell Beck) in a dangerously flood-liable area below Giant's Hall. The first explorers arrived here almost 167 years ago with little better equipment than old clothes and a few candles: a remarkable achievement [see also the paper by Stephen Craven in this Issue].

Papers

(Waltham, A.C. & A. Eavis)
Caves in Myanmar.
Vol 31 (1) pp 3 - 6

Introduction: Due to long-standing travel restrictions, the karst and caves have not been widely investigated in Myanmar (the country once known as Burma). Access is now easier to some parts of the country, though others remain virtually closed to foreigners. A useful overview of Myanmar caves was presented by Dunkley et al. (1989). More has been revealed since the Harrison Institute (based in England) has pursued its biodiversity research into the bats that occupy a critical site between the Indian sub-continent and the peninsulas of Southeast Asia.

(Dogan, U. & S. Yesilyurt)
Gypsum karst south of Imranli, Sivas, Turkey.
Vol 31 (1) pp 7 - 14

Abstract: Sivas and its surroundings represent an important gypsum karst terrain, where gypsum occurs as massifs displaying many well-developed karst landforms. The area south of Imranli forms the eastern part of this region. There are normally-outcropping gypsum formations as well as anticlinal and diapiric structures and gypsum ridges uplifted by gypsum tectonics cutting the cover formations south of Imranli. Karstic features such as karren, dolines, swallow holes, blind valleys and caves are observed in this karstic terrain. South of Imranli are some of the finest examples of polygonal karst, with a thickness of 500m normally exposed on a plateau developed on gypsum formations. In this region there are 80 to 100 dolines per km2. The karst is generally most youthful in the area south of Imranli, and there are no poljes or collapse dolines characteristic of more mature karst. Water sinking underground from dolines or blind valleys has formed gypsum caves, and major parts of the caves in the area are of swallow hole or spring type. The Inhas Cave System, which features in this study, comprises relict/semi-active (180m) and active (75m) levels, and is a multi-storey, multi-staged, swallow hole to spring cave, with a total length of 225m.

(Craven, S.A.)
Ingleborough Cave, Clapham, North Yorkshire, England.
Vol 31 (1) pp 15 - 34

Abstract: This paper gives a detailed account of the 1837 discovery, and subsequent exploration, survey, scientific significance and tourist development of Ingleborough Cave in the light of an early manuscript scrapbook that has recently been rediscovered.

Reports

(Wood, P.J. & M.T. Greenwood)
Trickle midge larvae (Diptera: Thaumaleidae)
in the Peak Cavern threshold zone, Derbyshire, UK.
Vol 31 (1) pp 35 - 36

Abstract: Records of larvae of the trickle midge, Thaumalea verralli (Diptera: Thaumaleidae) are reported for a three-year period from the threshold zone of Peak Cavern, Derbyshire, UK. Larvae inhabit thin films of water that flow over limestone and flowstone surfaces where algae occur. The temporal occurrence of trickle midge larvae and the potential to confuse this organism with other more common taxa are discussed.

(Calaforra, J.M., A. Fernández-Cortés & J. Gázquez-Parra)
Low-cost telemetry monitoring of the cave environment:
Sorbas gypsum karst, Spain.
Vol 31 (1) pp 37 - 41

Abstract: A cave environment monitoring system installed in the Sorbas gypsum caves (Almeria, Spain) is described. The system was initially designed to study the anthropogenic changes within a cave, brought about by the beginning of tourism activities. Data of carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, relative humidity and the presence of visitors are sent by radio, in real time, to the University of Almería base station. The microclimatic information is published on the Internet (karst-yeso.ual.es), so that anybody can check the microclimatic conditions of the cave and recognize the influence and environmental recovery after an actual visit in real time. The combination of a remote location and the need to alter dynamically how readings are taken led to the development of custom hardware and software for a cave monitoring system. The system could be a very interesting tool for the management of a show cave.

Forum

Correspondence
(Moseley, M.) The Hazelton database of CRG Biological Records.
Vol 31 (1) p 43
(Faulkner, T.) Scallops and dissolution rate.
Vol 31 (1) pp 43 - 44

Scientific Note
(Hunt, B.M.) A hypogenic cave formed by "connate" water from the Craven Basin?
Vol 31 (1) pp 44 - 45

Book Reviews
(Ford, T.D.) Gunn, J. (ed.) 2003, Encyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science, ISBN 1 57958 399 7, Fitzroy Dearborn, London & New York
Vol 31 (1) p 46

(Bednar, D.M. Jr) Gunn, J. (ed.) 2003, Encyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science, ISBN 1 57958 399 7, Fitzroy Dearborn, London & New York
Vol 31 (1) pp 46 - 47

Thesis Abstract
(Weber, A., 2003)
Taxonomy and species status of cave-dwelling and epigean catfishes of the genus Rhamdia (Pimelodidae, Teleostei) from Mexico.
PhD thesis, Faculty of Biology, University of Hamburg, Germany
Vol 31 (1) p 47

Dissertation Abstracts
(Heneghan, J.)
Passage wall coatings in Joint Hall, a flooded cave system in Chapel-le-Dale, North Yorkshire.
BSc (Hons) Environmental Geology dissertation, School of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, UK
Vol 31 (1) p 48

(Allshorn, S.)
A sedimentological study to ascertain the anthropogenic influence on the hydrology of the Gaping Gill Cave System, North Yorkshire.
BSc (Hons) Geological Sciences dissertation, University of Leeds, UK
Vol 31 (1) p 48

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