WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.286 --> 00:00:03.509 This is it. 2 00:00:03.509 --> 00:00:07.317 Right here, see this little drip drip drip? 3 00:00:07.317 --> 00:00:08.336 Okay. 4 00:00:08.336 --> 00:00:09.377 And listen for just a second. 5 00:00:09.377 --> 00:00:10.521 (water dripping) 6 00:00:10.521 --> 00:00:13.782 This, is what has created this. 7 00:00:13.782 --> 00:00:16.615 (inspiring music) 8 00:00:37.825 --> 00:00:39.825 This little bit of water is the key ingredient 9 00:00:39.825 --> 00:00:41.505 for creating some amazing places 10 00:00:41.505 --> 00:00:43.195 that are right beneath our feet. 11 00:00:43.195 --> 00:00:45.035 We know about the paths so that water makes grow 12 00:00:45.035 --> 00:00:46.858 our landscapes with rivers and streams, 13 00:00:46.858 --> 00:00:50.279 but how about the pathways that water carves underground? 14 00:00:50.279 --> 00:00:52.644 We don't often see those hidden places. 15 00:00:52.644 --> 00:00:55.234 I'm John and I'm a big fan of caves. 16 00:00:55.234 --> 00:00:56.737 And I'm Amtchat Edwards. 17 00:00:56.737 --> 00:00:59.940 I can talk shop about freshwater and trails and trees, 18 00:00:59.940 --> 00:01:01.833 but I'm learning about caves. 19 00:01:01.833 --> 00:01:03.608 I work for the US Forest Service 20 00:01:03.608 --> 00:01:06.887 which stewards 193 million acres of National Forest 21 00:01:06.887 --> 00:01:08.807 and Grasslands throughout the nation. 22 00:01:08.807 --> 00:01:11.447 Including thousands of caves and springs. 23 00:01:11.447 --> 00:01:14.109 These are all public land so if you think about it, 24 00:01:14.109 --> 00:01:15.396 I work for you. 25 00:01:15.396 --> 00:01:17.569 During this program we'll be exploring some caves 26 00:01:17.569 --> 00:01:19.972 in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest 27 00:01:19.972 --> 00:01:21.534 in northern Arkansas. 28 00:01:21.534 --> 00:01:24.158 And taking a look at some other caves around the country. 29 00:01:24.158 --> 00:01:26.306 We're going to learn about how caves and karst 30 00:01:26.306 --> 00:01:27.796 are pathways that connect us 31 00:01:27.796 --> 00:01:32.287 as well as plants, animals, and water to the world below. 32 00:01:32.287 --> 00:01:35.326 Wait a minute, caves and karst? 33 00:01:35.326 --> 00:01:38.916 I know what a cave is but what about karst? 34 00:01:38.916 --> 00:01:42.519 It's a landscape defined by caves, springs, sinkholes, 35 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:45.290 and disappearing streams just like that one. 36 00:01:45.290 --> 00:01:47.774 You see how these tiny trickle goes into these rocks 37 00:01:47.774 --> 00:01:49.082 and just disappears? 38 00:01:49.082 --> 00:01:51.242 Like many places in the United States, 39 00:01:51.242 --> 00:01:53.546 this area is formed at limestone rock. 40 00:01:53.546 --> 00:01:56.035 Here's a map showing where to find caves and karst 41 00:01:56.035 --> 00:01:57.283 across the country. 42 00:01:57.283 --> 00:01:59.059 If you're interested in caves like me, 43 00:01:59.059 --> 00:02:02.022 then there's probably one not too far from where you live 44 00:02:02.022 --> 00:02:03.091 that you can visit. 45 00:02:03.091 --> 00:02:06.327 The Nation Cave Association also has many great maps 46 00:02:06.327 --> 00:02:08.260 of where to find caves near you. 47 00:02:08.260 --> 00:02:11.166 Hey, here are some folks going by right now! 48 00:02:11.166 --> 00:02:13.713 Well, they're going on a wild cave tour which means 49 00:02:13.713 --> 00:02:14.654 they'll get to crawl around 50 00:02:14.654 --> 00:02:16.520 to get close look at the caverns. 51 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:19.180 Caves are so much fun to explore! 52 00:02:19.180 --> 00:02:21.417 Yes, so they're gonna go underground, 53 00:02:21.417 --> 00:02:24.084 like, under all these big rocks. 54 00:02:25.122 --> 00:02:26.566 Yeah, I'm gonna have to take your word 55 00:02:26.566 --> 00:02:28.236 on that about being fun. 56 00:02:28.236 --> 00:02:29.190 But how about you tell me about 57 00:02:29.190 --> 00:02:31.138 why we should care about caves? 58 00:02:31.138 --> 00:02:32.639 Well, knowing about caves and karst 59 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:34.223 is important for many reasons. 60 00:02:34.223 --> 00:02:36.539 Ground water connects springs, wells, 61 00:02:36.539 --> 00:02:39.468 and other drinking water sources for people and wildlife, 62 00:02:39.468 --> 00:02:41.913 so we need to know about the geology of cave systems. 63 00:02:41.913 --> 00:02:44.813 Caves support a unique biological communities. 64 00:02:44.813 --> 00:02:46.935 They provide information about human history 65 00:02:46.935 --> 00:02:51.016 and many people find that caving is really interesting. 66 00:02:51.016 --> 00:02:52.019 Yeah. 67 00:02:52.019 --> 00:02:54.125 I'm getting excited, 68 00:02:54.125 --> 00:02:55.792 about learning more. 69 00:02:57.306 --> 00:03:00.892 Alright, so, let's go check in with a couple of scientists. 70 00:03:00.892 --> 00:03:03.856 'Cause they're gonna talk to us a little bit more about 71 00:03:03.856 --> 00:03:07.798 why caves are such an important resource. 72 00:03:07.798 --> 00:03:09.479 Let's go meet Fernando Hernandez. 73 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:11.198 He's one of our rockstar scientists. 74 00:03:11.198 --> 00:03:14.691 See, 'cause he's a geologist, and rock, rockstar. 75 00:03:14.691 --> 00:03:16.361 Alright, pardon the dad joke. 76 00:03:16.361 --> 00:03:18.291 Can you just tell us a little bit 77 00:03:18.291 --> 00:03:19.981 about the geology of this area? 78 00:03:19.981 --> 00:03:20.814 Yeah, of course. 79 00:03:20.814 --> 00:03:23.651 Story about this area and many areas with limestone rock 80 00:03:23.651 --> 00:03:25.920 started millions and millions of years ago. 81 00:03:25.920 --> 00:03:27.910 Shallow seas once covered this area, 82 00:03:27.910 --> 00:03:30.633 and the shells from critters in the shallow seas 83 00:03:30.633 --> 00:03:32.073 drifted to the bottom, 84 00:03:32.073 --> 00:03:34.175 they mixed with mud and organic matter 85 00:03:34.175 --> 00:03:37.090 that gradually compressed into layers of limestone. 86 00:03:37.090 --> 00:03:39.058 Then over more millions of years, 87 00:03:39.058 --> 00:03:42.130 water flowed to the limestone to carve out caves. 88 00:03:42.130 --> 00:03:44.975 We got a team of geologists and hydrologists here today 89 00:03:44.975 --> 00:03:48.453 studying how the water and air that we see, feel, and use 90 00:03:48.453 --> 00:03:51.868 on the surface created this fascinating places down below. 91 00:03:51.868 --> 00:03:54.063 As you mentioned water is the critical ingredient 92 00:03:54.063 --> 00:03:56.787 that creates its features and connects with everything. 93 00:03:56.787 --> 00:03:58.780 You should go and talk to Johanna Kovarik. 94 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:01.779 She's the cave and karst coordinator of US Forest Service. 95 00:04:01.779 --> 00:04:04.425 See you guys inside the cave! 96 00:04:04.425 --> 00:04:06.988 Hey Johanna! Hey Amtchat! 97 00:04:06.988 --> 00:04:09.094 Please tell me what's going on because you're dressed 98 00:04:09.094 --> 00:04:10.509 like a canary in a mineshaft. 99 00:04:10.509 --> 00:04:11.904 Should I be concerned? 100 00:04:11.904 --> 00:04:13.565 No, you should not be concerned. 101 00:04:13.565 --> 00:04:15.895 So, what do you have there? 102 00:04:15.895 --> 00:04:16.923 This is the dye. 103 00:04:16.923 --> 00:04:18.237 We're going to put it in the water. 104 00:04:18.237 --> 00:04:19.309 Go ahead Lima. 105 00:04:19.309 --> 00:04:23.313 One way to study where the water goes underground 106 00:04:23.313 --> 00:04:26.026 is to put non-harmful dye into the water. 107 00:04:26.026 --> 00:04:27.766 This shows us where the water goes 108 00:04:27.766 --> 00:04:29.580 and where it flows underground. 109 00:04:29.580 --> 00:04:32.975 So, why do we need to know exactly where the water goes? 110 00:04:32.975 --> 00:04:35.254 By understanding where the groundwater flows, 111 00:04:35.254 --> 00:04:37.258 we can help to protect its cleanliness, 112 00:04:37.258 --> 00:04:40.006 not only for ourselves but also for the environment. 113 00:04:40.006 --> 00:04:42.540 We can understand how karst features on the surface 114 00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:44.606 are connected with the world beneath our feet. 115 00:04:44.606 --> 00:04:46.825 Oh, I can't wait to see where that dye shows up! 116 00:04:46.825 --> 00:04:47.891 Yeah, me too. 117 00:04:47.891 --> 00:04:49.078 Thanks Johanna! 118 00:04:49.078 --> 00:04:50.495 You're welcome! 119 00:04:53.441 --> 00:04:55.617 Also with us today is Gretchen Baker, 120 00:04:55.617 --> 00:04:57.309 and she's a cave ecologist. 121 00:04:57.309 --> 00:04:58.443 Now, before you get started, 122 00:04:58.443 --> 00:04:59.826 I have to let you know before this, 123 00:04:59.826 --> 00:05:01.301 I didn't know the difference a cave 124 00:05:01.301 --> 00:05:02.395 and a hole in the ground. 125 00:05:02.395 --> 00:05:04.213 So, tell me what it is that you study. 126 00:05:04.213 --> 00:05:05.054 What do you do? 127 00:05:05.054 --> 00:05:08.076 I and other biologists and ecologists are really 128 00:05:08.076 --> 00:05:10.558 interested in bats, salamanders, 129 00:05:10.558 --> 00:05:12.862 and other creatures that live in caves. 130 00:05:12.862 --> 00:05:14.625 They bring nutrients into caves 131 00:05:14.625 --> 00:05:16.379 and that's a really important process. 132 00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:18.513 Water is a big deal as well. 133 00:05:18.513 --> 00:05:21.982 We'll be checking out how water connects the biota 134 00:05:21.982 --> 00:05:24.382 from the surface to the subsurface. 135 00:05:24.382 --> 00:05:27.295 We also study what lives in different zones of the cave. 136 00:05:27.295 --> 00:05:28.545 Cave have zones? 137 00:05:28.545 --> 00:05:30.757 They sure do, should we take a look? 138 00:05:30.757 --> 00:05:32.040 Yeah! Let's go exploring. 139 00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:32.884 Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait, 140 00:05:32.884 --> 00:05:34.932 if you're getting me in that thing, 141 00:05:34.932 --> 00:05:36.544 we're gonna talk safety first. 142 00:05:36.544 --> 00:05:39.482 So, what are some ways we can stay safe inside the cave? 143 00:05:39.482 --> 00:05:41.066 Caves are fun to explore, 144 00:05:41.066 --> 00:05:42.879 but it's important to stay safe. 145 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:44.799 So, never go underground alone. 146 00:05:44.799 --> 00:05:46.875 Make sure you have the appropriate training 147 00:05:46.875 --> 00:05:48.549 and gear to explore a cave. 148 00:05:48.549 --> 00:05:51.272 Always go in a group with experienced cavers. 149 00:05:51.272 --> 00:05:53.157 If you are interested in caves, 150 00:05:53.157 --> 00:05:55.049 and many place in the country, 151 00:05:55.049 --> 00:05:58.202 you can go visit right now with an experienced guide. 152 00:05:58.202 --> 00:06:01.238 Here's our gear, let's suit up! 153 00:06:01.238 --> 00:06:04.238 (adventurous music) 154 00:06:12.884 --> 00:06:15.230 There are three zones in a cave. 155 00:06:15.230 --> 00:06:18.062 This opening, where we are standing, 156 00:06:18.062 --> 00:06:20.043 is called the entrance zone. 157 00:06:20.043 --> 00:06:21.928 When a person pictures a cave, 158 00:06:21.928 --> 00:06:24.773 they usually imagine this area and the animals, 159 00:06:24.773 --> 00:06:27.024 and plants that are associated with it. 160 00:06:27.024 --> 00:06:28.684 Notice the change in temperature. 161 00:06:28.684 --> 00:06:32.009 Yeah, it's way cooler down here than it was up there. 162 00:06:32.009 --> 00:06:34.202 When air moves in and out of the cave, 163 00:06:34.202 --> 00:06:36.335 it causes changes in temperature. 164 00:06:36.335 --> 00:06:38.988 And these changes create a special environment. 165 00:06:38.988 --> 00:06:42.383 This is where life enters and leaves the cave. 166 00:06:42.383 --> 00:06:44.460 This area around cave entrances 167 00:06:44.460 --> 00:06:46.300 and sinkholes is very important. 168 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:49.258 Let's walk a little further into the cave. 169 00:06:49.258 --> 00:06:51.841 Alright, after you. 170 00:06:53.833 --> 00:06:55.952 This area is known as the twilight zone. 171 00:06:55.952 --> 00:06:59.937 Many rare plants and animals like to hang out in this zone 172 00:06:59.937 --> 00:07:02.359 which is a little further underground. 173 00:07:02.359 --> 00:07:06.831 If you look further back you can see the dark zone. 174 00:07:06.831 --> 00:07:08.164 The dark zone. 175 00:07:09.209 --> 00:07:10.561 Believe or not, 176 00:07:10.561 --> 00:07:11.844 there are different kinds of life 177 00:07:11.844 --> 00:07:13.627 that live in the dark zone as well. 178 00:07:13.627 --> 00:07:16.607 Let's head on back and see what's there. 179 00:07:16.607 --> 00:07:19.607 (adventurous music) 180 00:07:34.509 --> 00:07:37.787 Brr, it's crazy cold in here. 181 00:07:37.787 --> 00:07:41.183 It is, the cave is a constant 58 degrees Fahrenheit 182 00:07:41.183 --> 00:07:43.993 and almost 100% humidity year-round. 183 00:07:43.993 --> 00:07:45.733 The cave temperature reflects 184 00:07:45.733 --> 00:07:48.503 the average outside temperature of the area. 185 00:07:48.503 --> 00:07:51.718 If you go to a colder climate or higher elevation, 186 00:07:51.718 --> 00:07:53.183 the cave will be colder. 187 00:07:53.183 --> 00:07:57.332 If you go someplace warmer, then that cave would be warmer. 188 00:07:57.332 --> 00:07:58.165 Hey, look! 189 00:07:58.165 --> 00:07:59.927 There's some light up there! 190 00:07:59.927 --> 00:08:01.468 And a caver's coming down. 191 00:08:01.468 --> 00:08:03.865 Is this another entrance into the cave? 192 00:08:03.865 --> 00:08:07.750 Yes, there can be many entrances into one cave system. 193 00:08:07.750 --> 00:08:11.183 This means there are many places where nutrients and energy 194 00:08:11.183 --> 00:08:14.219 can enter the system and also many different habitats 195 00:08:14.219 --> 00:08:16.219 for different creatures. 196 00:08:17.461 --> 00:08:18.628 All through! 197 00:08:19.854 --> 00:08:22.369 Hey, what are you doing in the cave? 198 00:08:22.369 --> 00:08:25.886 I'm part of a team mapping the cave with Fernando. 199 00:08:25.886 --> 00:08:27.729 Do you want to come with me to find the team, 200 00:08:27.729 --> 00:08:29.537 and learn more about the cave? 201 00:08:29.537 --> 00:08:31.659 Actually, that sounds awesome. 202 00:08:31.659 --> 00:08:34.450 And I'm gonna go join up with my group of researchers. 203 00:08:34.450 --> 00:08:36.468 Well, I hope we can find you down here, 204 00:08:36.468 --> 00:08:40.435 because I can't wait to see what it is you all discover. 205 00:08:40.435 --> 00:08:43.435 (adventurous music) 206 00:09:03.793 --> 00:09:05.740 Oh, hey Fernando! 207 00:09:05.740 --> 00:09:06.781 Where are we? 208 00:09:06.781 --> 00:09:09.106 Well, John, this large area here, 209 00:09:09.106 --> 00:09:12.641 at Blanchard Springs Caverns, it's called the Grand Canyon. 210 00:09:12.641 --> 00:09:15.321 Remember the little trickle of water we saw earlier? 211 00:09:15.321 --> 00:09:18.777 Well, it's been joined by more and more trickles of water 212 00:09:18.777 --> 00:09:20.948 moving to the rock to create this large 213 00:09:20.948 --> 00:09:22.899 and beautiful underground river. 214 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:23.967 Like we said, 215 00:09:23.967 --> 00:09:26.009 caves form over millions of years. 216 00:09:26.009 --> 00:09:29.309 Here in Arkansas, caves form in limestone rock. 217 00:09:29.309 --> 00:09:32.129 Water moves from the surface, as we saw, 218 00:09:32.129 --> 00:09:34.689 through cracks and pore spaces in the rock. 219 00:09:34.689 --> 00:09:37.199 Surface water starts up slightly acidic, 220 00:09:37.199 --> 00:09:39.827 and can pick up acids from microbes in the soil, 221 00:09:39.827 --> 00:09:41.827 as it moves down into the subsurface, 222 00:09:41.827 --> 00:09:45.273 creating caves and larger pathways for water to flow. 223 00:09:45.273 --> 00:09:46.639 As you see above ground, 224 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.759 these areas are known as karst. 225 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:51.103 A word from a beautiful area in Slovenia 226 00:09:51.103 --> 00:09:52.759 where this was first described. 227 00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:56.078 As ground water dissolves limestone and picks up calcite, 228 00:09:56.078 --> 00:10:00.402 the building block of most cave formations like these. 229 00:10:00.402 --> 00:10:04.384 How water moves determines what shape these formations take. 230 00:10:04.384 --> 00:10:06.972 But one thing for sure is that they take 231 00:10:06.972 --> 00:10:08.907 millions of years to form. 232 00:10:08.907 --> 00:10:11.638 Here at Blanchard, it takes about 150 years 233 00:10:11.638 --> 00:10:15.174 for one cubic centimeter of calcite to deposit. 234 00:10:15.174 --> 00:10:17.739 Which is about the size of an almond. 235 00:10:17.739 --> 00:10:20.493 150 years to grow the size of an almond? 236 00:10:20.493 --> 00:10:22.535 That's gonna make this taste even better. 237 00:10:22.535 --> 00:10:25.836 Wait, you didn't want one did you? 238 00:10:25.836 --> 00:10:29.611 So, cave formations, stalactites and stalagmites, right? 239 00:10:29.611 --> 00:10:32.396 Actually I have a good way to remember these formations. 240 00:10:32.396 --> 00:10:35.903 Stalactites are the one that hang tight to the ceiling 241 00:10:35.903 --> 00:10:39.702 and the stalagmites, might grow big and tall one day. 242 00:10:39.702 --> 00:10:40.948 That's right Amtchat. 243 00:10:40.948 --> 00:10:43.229 They give us some clues about how this cave 244 00:10:43.229 --> 00:10:46.880 and the world around it might have looped on the past. 245 00:10:46.880 --> 00:10:48.035 As you've learned, 246 00:10:48.035 --> 00:10:50.285 caves have relatively stable microclimates, 247 00:10:50.285 --> 00:10:54.241 make them ideal to record the local climate of the caves. 248 00:10:54.241 --> 00:10:55.339 As I've mentioned, 249 00:10:55.339 --> 00:10:58.490 this cave formed from water coming down from up above. 250 00:10:58.490 --> 00:11:00.852 But some caves form to water 251 00:11:00.852 --> 00:11:03.356 moving up from below or a combination. 252 00:11:03.356 --> 00:11:05.595 Some caves form completely differently 253 00:11:05.595 --> 00:11:07.119 in other types of rock. 254 00:11:07.119 --> 00:11:09.162 Like lava tubes and places like Oregon, 255 00:11:09.162 --> 00:11:10.971 Washington, or Hawaii. 256 00:11:10.971 --> 00:11:13.963 Caves can form along coastlines, at sea caves, 257 00:11:13.963 --> 00:11:17.088 to the mechanical erosion caused by wind and waves, 258 00:11:17.088 --> 00:11:19.429 where they even form in glaciers. 259 00:11:19.429 --> 00:11:22.223 These type of areas are called pseudopods 260 00:11:22.223 --> 00:11:25.017 because they don't form to dissolution like caves 261 00:11:25.017 --> 00:11:27.253 and limestone, marble, or dolomite. 262 00:11:27.253 --> 00:11:30.943 So, why and how exactly do you map caves? 263 00:11:30.943 --> 00:11:33.259 I work with the cave research foundation 264 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:36.015 and we map caves so we can understand how they form 265 00:11:36.015 --> 00:11:37.991 and where the water flows. 266 00:11:37.991 --> 00:11:41.698 This team here is working on mapping the cave right now. 267 00:11:41.698 --> 00:11:45.895 They use a laser called a disto to measure distances. 268 00:11:45.895 --> 00:11:47.539 9.3 meters! 269 00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:51.247 An inclinometer to measure vertical extent of the cave. 270 00:11:51.247 --> 00:11:53.355 You can hear them calling out measurements 271 00:11:53.355 --> 00:11:56.123 and Fernando is the sketcher. 272 00:11:56.123 --> 00:12:00.083 He is making an actual 3D sketch of the cave on paper. 273 00:12:00.083 --> 00:12:02.766 Let's check out this video. 274 00:12:02.766 --> 00:12:04.559 Hi, I'm Malcolm Williamson. 275 00:12:04.559 --> 00:12:05.950 I'm a senior research scientist 276 00:12:05.950 --> 00:12:08.720 at the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, 277 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:12.078 better known as CAST here at the University of Arkansas. 278 00:12:12.078 --> 00:12:14.902 We have these systems that are known as LIDAR. 279 00:12:14.902 --> 00:12:17.920 That's light distance and ranging that uses a laser beam 280 00:12:17.920 --> 00:12:21.533 to measure distances and angles and records those 281 00:12:21.533 --> 00:12:24.772 as measurements that can then become a 3D model. 282 00:12:24.772 --> 00:12:27.996 The machine behind me here can actually record 283 00:12:27.996 --> 00:12:30.948 up to one million measurements per second. 284 00:12:30.948 --> 00:12:33.809 It rotates around and looks every direction 285 00:12:33.809 --> 00:12:38.809 and it's really to scan a cave very accurately with this. 286 00:12:39.103 --> 00:12:42.779 Our job was to go in and document everything that's been 287 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:44.651 added by people into that cave, 288 00:12:44.651 --> 00:12:46.354 so the walkways, and the elevator, 289 00:12:46.354 --> 00:12:48.593 and the railings and lights and things like that, 290 00:12:48.593 --> 00:12:50.925 because they hope to be doing some improvements to the cave 291 00:12:50.925 --> 00:12:53.106 to make it more friendly to visitors. 292 00:12:53.106 --> 00:12:55.758 We will take literally hundreds of these 293 00:12:55.758 --> 00:12:58.577 at Blanchard Springs from different locations 294 00:12:58.577 --> 00:13:01.180 because you can't see everywhere from one location 295 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:04.525 and you can't see behind the stalactite over here, 296 00:13:04.525 --> 00:13:08.135 around rock over here so we have to move the scanner around. 297 00:13:08.135 --> 00:13:09.810 Then in our software, 298 00:13:09.810 --> 00:13:11.834 we will automatically stitch these together 299 00:13:11.834 --> 00:13:14.851 to become a very very large 300 00:13:14.851 --> 00:13:17.244 file in the big model of the cave. 301 00:13:17.244 --> 00:13:20.283 Today, this instrument that we've got right here, 302 00:13:20.283 --> 00:13:23.401 is about the most accurately way that we can map a cave. 303 00:13:23.401 --> 00:13:25.339 Back to you Amtchat. 304 00:13:25.339 --> 00:13:27.184 Now, let's watch another video. 305 00:13:27.184 --> 00:13:29.159 So we can see how and why some 306 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:31.322 other types of caves are mapped. 307 00:13:31.322 --> 00:13:34.796 I'm Matt Covington from the University of Arkansas. 308 00:13:34.796 --> 00:13:36.721 I also study in map caves. 309 00:13:36.721 --> 00:13:39.878 One of the types of caves I've gotten interested in recently 310 00:13:39.878 --> 00:13:42.057 is a cave in glaciers. 311 00:13:42.057 --> 00:13:44.679 We went to the Arctic up to Svalbard, 312 00:13:44.679 --> 00:13:46.997 and went inside of caves that form in the ice. 313 00:13:46.997 --> 00:13:50.609 There we were using some new mapping techniques 314 00:13:50.609 --> 00:13:52.287 that we're developing. 315 00:13:52.287 --> 00:13:55.260 Actually creating a full 3D scan of the caving 316 00:13:55.260 --> 00:13:59.360 instead of just making measurements and surveying 317 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:01.822 a line in sketching the features, 318 00:14:01.822 --> 00:14:04.068 we create a full model. 319 00:14:04.068 --> 00:14:06.234 We've been doing that initially 320 00:14:06.234 --> 00:14:10.404 with a video game controller the Xbox Kinect, 321 00:14:10.404 --> 00:14:12.444 which is not very expensive 322 00:14:12.444 --> 00:14:14.428 compared to most science equipment. 323 00:14:14.428 --> 00:14:16.904 But basically it's a really cheap 3D scanner 324 00:14:16.904 --> 00:14:19.704 that we don't have to worry about destroying in the cave 325 00:14:19.704 --> 00:14:21.112 in all the mud and the water. 326 00:14:21.112 --> 00:14:23.545 So there's still a lot of things that we don't understand 327 00:14:23.545 --> 00:14:25.216 about how caves form. 328 00:14:25.216 --> 00:14:28.047 Creating these 3D models, 329 00:14:28.047 --> 00:14:30.911 allows us to make really precise measurements 330 00:14:30.911 --> 00:14:32.681 of the shapes of the caves. 331 00:14:32.681 --> 00:14:35.416 And as a cave scientist we actually use those shapes 332 00:14:35.416 --> 00:14:38.595 to read the story of the formation of the cave. 333 00:14:38.595 --> 00:14:41.672 There are certain types of cave features, 334 00:14:41.672 --> 00:14:42.918 their size for example, 335 00:14:42.918 --> 00:14:45.145 relates to how fast the water was flowing 336 00:14:45.145 --> 00:14:46.531 when the cave formed. 337 00:14:46.531 --> 00:14:48.835 So we can read those stories off the walls 338 00:14:48.835 --> 00:14:52.485 and start to learn more about some of the mysteries 339 00:14:52.485 --> 00:14:56.035 of cave formation that scientists haven't yet figured out. 340 00:14:56.035 --> 00:14:58.911 Wow, mapping caves is really interesting! 341 00:14:58.911 --> 00:15:02.600 Hey, does the water look kinda green to you from there? 342 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.761 That means the water from above the ground 343 00:15:04.761 --> 00:15:06.275 where we started this morning, 344 00:15:06.275 --> 00:15:08.185 flows right through here! 345 00:15:08.185 --> 00:15:09.398 That's right! 346 00:15:09.398 --> 00:15:11.071 So where does all of this water go 347 00:15:11.071 --> 00:15:13.032 as it continues on its journey? 348 00:15:13.032 --> 00:15:16.098 Well, it continues to the underground cavern, 349 00:15:16.098 --> 00:15:18.111 and resurface at springs and wells. 350 00:15:18.111 --> 00:15:21.466 Like we said, that's the water that people use to drink 351 00:15:21.466 --> 00:15:23.780 and for agriculture and recreation. 352 00:15:23.780 --> 00:15:26.666 It's important to know where this water flows. 353 00:15:26.666 --> 00:15:28.685 Wow, that is pretty interesting. 354 00:15:28.685 --> 00:15:32.135 This whole geologic tour you took us on totally rocked. 355 00:15:32.135 --> 00:15:35.099 Alright, hey John, let's get back and see what Gretchen 356 00:15:35.099 --> 00:15:37.599 and the rest of the research team have been doing, yeah? 357 00:15:37.599 --> 00:15:39.485 Alright, bye! Bye guys! 358 00:15:39.485 --> 00:15:41.818 See you later! Thank you! 359 00:15:47.417 --> 00:15:49.132 Hi Gretchen, we're back! 360 00:15:49.132 --> 00:15:50.672 Hey John and Amtchat! 361 00:15:50.672 --> 00:15:53.962 Hey, we're really deep into the dark zone right now. 362 00:15:53.962 --> 00:15:56.314 The cave ecosystem is really different 363 00:15:56.314 --> 00:15:57.950 from the surface ecosystem. 364 00:15:57.950 --> 00:16:00.548 Where the sun helps plants grow and form 365 00:16:00.548 --> 00:16:02.087 the basis of our food web. 366 00:16:02.087 --> 00:16:03.854 In cave ecosystems, 367 00:16:03.854 --> 00:16:06.267 the light of the sun doesn't reach very far. 368 00:16:06.267 --> 00:16:10.003 However, air, people, animals, and water all bring nutrients 369 00:16:10.003 --> 00:16:11.494 into the cave environment. 370 00:16:11.494 --> 00:16:13.123 From underground aquifers, 371 00:16:13.123 --> 00:16:15.433 which are areas that are completely filled with water 372 00:16:15.433 --> 00:16:18.678 beneath the water table, to partially dry passages, 373 00:16:18.678 --> 00:16:20.577 they're all full of life. 374 00:16:20.577 --> 00:16:22.837 My team and I are surveying this area 375 00:16:22.837 --> 00:16:24.754 to see what lives here. 376 00:16:25.624 --> 00:16:27.625 Let's watch a video from The Bug Chicks 377 00:16:27.625 --> 00:16:29.118 and they'll tell us a little bit more 378 00:16:29.118 --> 00:16:31.285 about what lives in caves. 379 00:16:32.158 --> 00:16:34.741 (upbeat music) 380 00:16:39.909 --> 00:16:41.921 Jess, we have got to get out of town this weekend. 381 00:16:41.921 --> 00:16:42.906 I'm getting antsy! 382 00:16:42.906 --> 00:16:44.017 Yeah, I feel you on that. 383 00:16:44.017 --> 00:16:44.977 Where do you wanna go? 384 00:16:44.977 --> 00:16:46.731 Beach? We were just there teaching. 385 00:16:46.731 --> 00:16:48.783 Mountains? I feel like we should go somewhere 386 00:16:48.783 --> 00:16:50.112 we don't normally go, you know? 387 00:16:50.112 --> 00:16:54.020 Okay, desert, rainforest, they sound cool, but oh! 388 00:16:54.020 --> 00:16:55.108 I have an idea! I have an idea! 389 00:16:55.108 --> 00:16:56.391 Let's say it at the same time! Let's say it at the same time 390 00:16:56.391 --> 00:16:57.767 One, two, three! 391 00:16:57.767 --> 00:16:58.916 The Poster Museum! The caves! 392 00:16:58.916 --> 00:17:00.767 Yours is better, let's do yours. 393 00:17:00.767 --> 00:17:02.732 I just think we haven't been to a cave in a long time. 394 00:17:02.732 --> 00:17:05.120 They have troglofauna, cool ecosystems-- 395 00:17:05.120 --> 00:17:06.239 Whoa! 396 00:17:06.239 --> 00:17:09.156 Jessica, you had me an troglofauna. 397 00:17:10.071 --> 00:17:13.676 Troglofauna is the fancy word for cave-dwelling animals. 398 00:17:13.676 --> 00:17:16.076 They have special adaptations that allow them to survive 399 00:17:16.076 --> 00:17:17.509 in extreme environments. 400 00:17:17.509 --> 00:17:19.727 Now, we're gonna have to do a Bug Chick's vocabulary 401 00:17:19.727 --> 00:17:22.197 breakdown because saying cave-dwelling animals 402 00:17:22.197 --> 00:17:24.042 doesn't really give you the whole picture. 403 00:17:24.042 --> 00:17:24.884 Here we go. 404 00:17:24.884 --> 00:17:26.781 Troglo, means caves. 405 00:17:26.781 --> 00:17:28.501 And fauna, means animals. 406 00:17:28.501 --> 00:17:30.366 But not all cave dwellers are the same. 407 00:17:30.366 --> 00:17:32.543 There are troglo-- Xenes. 408 00:17:32.543 --> 00:17:34.041 Xene means visitor. 409 00:17:34.041 --> 00:17:36.922 And these are animals that can visit a cave ecosystem. 410 00:17:36.922 --> 00:17:39.003 They can come and go freely but they can't spend 411 00:17:39.003 --> 00:17:40.791 their entire lifecycle in the cave. 412 00:17:40.791 --> 00:17:42.658 Some famous examples of trogloxenes, 413 00:17:42.658 --> 00:17:46.747 are bats, pack rats, moths, and some species of beetle. 414 00:17:46.747 --> 00:17:48.930 Then, there are troglophiles. 415 00:17:48.930 --> 00:17:51.330 These are animals that can live outside of caves 416 00:17:51.330 --> 00:17:53.248 but they prefer to be inside them. 417 00:17:53.248 --> 00:17:55.765 Yeah, that's right, 'cause they love caves. 418 00:17:55.765 --> 00:17:57.532 Phile means one that loves. 419 00:17:57.532 --> 00:17:59.630 Examples of troglophiles include, 420 00:17:59.630 --> 00:18:02.991 certain species of arachnid, crayfish, and salamander. 421 00:18:02.991 --> 00:18:05.814 And finally, there are the very cool troglo-- 422 00:18:05.814 --> 00:18:06.832 Bites. 423 00:18:06.832 --> 00:18:08.504 These are true cave dwellers. 424 00:18:08.504 --> 00:18:11.499 These animals spend their entire lives inside of a cave 425 00:18:11.499 --> 00:18:13.046 and can't survive outside them. 426 00:18:13.046 --> 00:18:14.072 They're usually pale. 427 00:18:14.072 --> 00:18:15.666 'Cause who needs color in absolute dark? 428 00:18:15.666 --> 00:18:16.733 And blind. 429 00:18:16.733 --> 00:18:19.381 In fact, many species have what's called vestigial eyes. 430 00:18:19.381 --> 00:18:21.755 These are mere remnants of the eyes their ancestors 431 00:18:21.755 --> 00:18:24.530 used to have and they're shrunken and the animals can't see. 432 00:18:24.530 --> 00:18:26.230 Arthropod troglobites include 433 00:18:26.230 --> 00:18:29.205 these millipedes, shrimp, and isopods. 434 00:18:29.205 --> 00:18:32.692 Lots of cave arthropods have these incredible body parts 435 00:18:32.692 --> 00:18:34.628 that have evolved over millions of years, 436 00:18:34.628 --> 00:18:38.291 to help them thrive, eat, and not get eaten. 437 00:18:38.291 --> 00:18:39.833 Speaking of millions of years, 438 00:18:39.833 --> 00:18:44.053 time travel segment! Time travel segment! 439 00:18:44.053 --> 00:18:44.886 A few years ago, 440 00:18:44.886 --> 00:18:47.044 Kristie and I wanted to see some local troglofauna. 441 00:18:47.044 --> 00:18:48.900 So, we traveled to the Oregon caves 442 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:50.702 in Rogue Siskiyou National Forest 443 00:18:50.702 --> 00:18:53.452 in search of giant cave crickets. 444 00:18:55.335 --> 00:18:57.239 Oh, what's in here? 445 00:18:57.239 --> 00:18:59.126 So cute that I wanna kiss! 446 00:18:59.126 --> 00:19:02.277 Look at those long tarsal segments. 447 00:19:02.277 --> 00:19:04.057 Everything about them is adapted 448 00:19:04.057 --> 00:19:06.849 to live in this environment. 449 00:19:06.849 --> 00:19:09.332 These cave crickets are a great example 450 00:19:09.332 --> 00:19:11.306 of morphological adaptation. 451 00:19:11.306 --> 00:19:13.066 Check out those long antennae. 452 00:19:13.066 --> 00:19:15.071 The extended palps and cerci, 453 00:19:15.071 --> 00:19:17.654 and those incredibly back legs. 454 00:19:18.788 --> 00:19:20.453 These adaptations help the cricket 455 00:19:20.453 --> 00:19:23.056 sense potential predators that might be nearby. 456 00:19:23.056 --> 00:19:27.047 And help them feel around in the dark. 457 00:19:27.047 --> 00:19:29.339 Our day in the caves did not disappoint. 458 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:31.813 We went deep underground and got to see animals 459 00:19:31.813 --> 00:19:33.444 you don't normally get to see. 460 00:19:33.444 --> 00:19:34.697 Scientists don't really know much 461 00:19:34.697 --> 00:19:36.323 about this species of cave cricket. 462 00:19:36.323 --> 00:19:39.262 So, being in a cave is like visiting an alien planet. 463 00:19:39.262 --> 00:19:41.345 But it's in our backyard! 464 00:19:47.230 --> 00:19:49.052 Oh, I miss those caves! 465 00:19:49.052 --> 00:19:49.900 I wanna go back! 466 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.961 I thought you might. 467 00:19:50.961 --> 00:19:52.637 So, while that segment was playing, 468 00:19:52.637 --> 00:19:54.321 I whipped up some special costumes 469 00:19:54.321 --> 00:19:56.552 so that we can dress up like troglofauna. 470 00:19:56.552 --> 00:19:58.524 Complete with morphological details 471 00:19:58.524 --> 00:20:01.107 that are gonna help us survive. 472 00:20:03.792 --> 00:20:04.994 Cosplay! 473 00:20:04.994 --> 00:20:06.514 Can we go to a nearby cave? 474 00:20:06.514 --> 00:20:07.400 Can we try them out? 475 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:08.233 Yes! 476 00:20:08.233 --> 00:20:10.867 Now, using the measurements of the cave crickets 477 00:20:10.867 --> 00:20:11.713 in the last segment, 478 00:20:11.713 --> 00:20:14.186 I extrapolated using our body length, 479 00:20:14.186 --> 00:20:17.919 and figured out that our antennae should be about 480 00:20:17.919 --> 00:20:19.807 eight feet long. 481 00:20:19.807 --> 00:20:22.549 (gasping) 482 00:20:22.549 --> 00:20:24.248 Alright, now! 483 00:20:24.248 --> 00:20:25.696 Ooh, vestigial eyes? 484 00:20:25.696 --> 00:20:26.895 Yup! Yeah, these are mine. 485 00:20:26.895 --> 00:20:28.992 Okay, and then I'll take these that are super big 486 00:20:28.992 --> 00:20:32.459 to capture as much light in the dark cave as possible. 487 00:20:32.459 --> 00:20:33.747 Whoa! (laughs) 488 00:20:33.747 --> 00:20:36.187 Oh, I almost forgot! 489 00:20:36.187 --> 00:20:39.520 Okay, our legs! (grunts) 490 00:20:40.695 --> 00:20:42.870 (laughs) 491 00:20:42.870 --> 00:20:45.703 (straps snapping) 492 00:20:46.581 --> 00:20:48.581 Now let's drive. Ooh! 493 00:20:49.947 --> 00:20:52.010 (engine starts) 494 00:20:52.010 --> 00:20:54.593 (upbeat music) 495 00:20:57.132 --> 00:20:57.965 Whew! Whew! 496 00:20:57.965 --> 00:20:59.475 I forgot how chilly it can be in a cave! 497 00:20:59.475 --> 00:21:00.712 Ooh! I brought tea! 498 00:21:00.712 --> 00:21:01.545 You did? Yup! 499 00:21:01.545 --> 00:21:02.855 Awesome, I brought a joke! 500 00:21:02.855 --> 00:21:03.688 Okay. 501 00:21:03.688 --> 00:21:05.145 What's a bug's favorite sport? 502 00:21:05.145 --> 00:21:07.315 I don't know, what? 503 00:21:07.315 --> 00:21:08.186 Cricket! 504 00:21:08.186 --> 00:21:10.533 (laughs) 505 00:21:10.533 --> 00:21:12.553 Wait, so I would be a trogloxene? 506 00:21:12.553 --> 00:21:14.675 (laughs) Yeah, that's right! 507 00:21:14.675 --> 00:21:16.264 We could be considered trogloxenes. 508 00:21:16.264 --> 00:21:18.802 So, Gretchen, what else lives in caves? 509 00:21:18.802 --> 00:21:21.235 Perhaps the organisms that are most 510 00:21:21.235 --> 00:21:22.885 home in caves are microbes. 511 00:21:22.885 --> 00:21:24.848 Which are microscopic organisms 512 00:21:24.848 --> 00:21:26.533 that are part of our everyday lives. 513 00:21:26.533 --> 00:21:28.677 The microbes that live in caves could help us 514 00:21:28.677 --> 00:21:31.171 develop new medicines such as antibiotics. 515 00:21:31.171 --> 00:21:34.968 Scientists are also really interested in microbes 516 00:21:34.968 --> 00:21:37.668 that live in caves called extremophiles. 517 00:21:37.668 --> 00:21:40.325 Because they have adapted to extreme environments 518 00:21:40.325 --> 00:21:43.695 similar to what we might find on other planets. 519 00:21:43.695 --> 00:21:45.392 Doctor Boston from NASA 520 00:21:45.392 --> 00:21:48.944 is going to tell us more about microbes. 521 00:21:48.944 --> 00:21:51.032 My name is Penny Boston. 522 00:21:51.032 --> 00:21:54.191 I'm an astrobiologist and cave scientist 523 00:21:54.191 --> 00:21:57.290 who focuses on geomicrobiology. 524 00:21:57.290 --> 00:22:01.183 I work in the United States in the State of New Mexico 525 00:22:01.183 --> 00:22:03.070 and I visit caves all over the world 526 00:22:03.070 --> 00:22:06.133 and look at the microorganisms that live there. 527 00:22:06.133 --> 00:22:09.301 I study what they do to the rocks and minerals, 528 00:22:09.301 --> 00:22:12.904 and unique biosignatures that they may be producing 529 00:22:12.904 --> 00:22:16.561 because of those interactions with the minerals. 530 00:22:16.561 --> 00:22:20.478 So, that's the setting that brings me to caves. 531 00:22:23.127 --> 00:22:25.771 Part of the reason that we are tremendously interested 532 00:22:25.771 --> 00:22:29.677 in the kinds of life forms that we find in the subsurface, 533 00:22:29.677 --> 00:22:31.960 is for a number of different reasons. 534 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:35.192 One is because they're very poorly studied here on Earth. 535 00:22:35.192 --> 00:22:36.025 There's very little work 536 00:22:36.025 --> 00:22:37.865 that has been done on these organisms. 537 00:22:37.865 --> 00:22:42.865 So, it's an entire area of Earth biology that has only 538 00:22:42.966 --> 00:22:45.845 been studied a very little bit. 539 00:22:45.845 --> 00:22:48.470 That's one major aspect of it. 540 00:22:48.470 --> 00:22:52.352 The second aspect of it is looking for environments 541 00:22:52.352 --> 00:22:57.269 that have different aspects of them that might be important 542 00:22:58.753 --> 00:23:01.658 models for life on other planets. 543 00:23:01.658 --> 00:23:04.202 For example, on Earth we have hot caves, 544 00:23:04.202 --> 00:23:07.828 we have cold caves, we have acid caves, 545 00:23:07.828 --> 00:23:11.285 we have caves with poisonous gases in them, 546 00:23:11.285 --> 00:23:14.902 all of these different kinds of examples 547 00:23:14.902 --> 00:23:19.902 can inform us about how microbial life rises to the occasion 548 00:23:20.074 --> 00:23:25.074 and learns to adapt and live in these kind of environments. 549 00:23:25.096 --> 00:23:28.884 One of the other important aspects of caves, 550 00:23:28.884 --> 00:23:31.034 and space exploration, 551 00:23:31.034 --> 00:23:33.888 is that we now know that there are many caves 552 00:23:33.888 --> 00:23:36.062 on other bodies in the solar system. 553 00:23:36.062 --> 00:23:38.784 Particularly Mars and Earth's moon. 554 00:23:38.784 --> 00:23:43.381 We have detected and mapped many of these features. 555 00:23:43.381 --> 00:23:47.434 So, the potential exists for future human use 556 00:23:47.434 --> 00:23:51.746 for human exploration in these kinds of structures. 557 00:23:51.746 --> 00:23:56.246 The ability of the rock that is the overlying material 558 00:23:57.129 --> 00:24:01.289 over a cave is very good in helping to screen out 559 00:24:01.289 --> 00:24:04.289 very high energy ionizing radiation. 560 00:24:05.494 --> 00:24:07.926 And this is a major hazard in space flight, 561 00:24:07.926 --> 00:24:11.638 and space habitation on other planets. 562 00:24:11.638 --> 00:24:15.542 These natural features because they already exist 563 00:24:15.542 --> 00:24:16.854 in these environments, 564 00:24:16.854 --> 00:24:19.585 provide us with an ability to actually 565 00:24:19.585 --> 00:24:24.585 modify those for human use with much less payload penalty 566 00:24:24.993 --> 00:24:27.760 than if we had to take all of that structure 567 00:24:27.760 --> 00:24:30.980 and all of that radiation protection with us. 568 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:35.147 A very important aspect of being in the subsurface 569 00:24:36.185 --> 00:24:41.033 and using caves as an analog for extreme environments 570 00:24:41.033 --> 00:24:44.457 like other planetary surfaces is because it really 571 00:24:44.457 --> 00:24:47.898 is psychologically a transforming experience. 572 00:24:47.898 --> 00:24:51.178 When you go into the subsurface for a short trip 573 00:24:51.178 --> 00:24:53.159 into a show cave for example, 574 00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:55.996 you don't really feel the full extent of it. 575 00:24:55.996 --> 00:25:00.663 But when you explore caves and you are in for many days, 576 00:25:01.790 --> 00:25:05.729 your whole sensory abilities are different. 577 00:25:05.729 --> 00:25:08.513 You don't hear the same things that you hear on the surface. 578 00:25:08.513 --> 00:25:10.316 You don't smell the same smells, 579 00:25:10.316 --> 00:25:13.973 you don't feel the wind on your skin in the same way. 580 00:25:13.973 --> 00:25:17.802 So, you don't see the same way because you're restricted 581 00:25:17.802 --> 00:25:19.845 to the light that you have with you. 582 00:25:19.845 --> 00:25:24.238 This really is like entering an alien world. 583 00:25:24.238 --> 00:25:27.464 It's like going on an expedition to another planet. 584 00:25:27.464 --> 00:25:29.913 And so, for training people 585 00:25:29.913 --> 00:25:34.079 to experience that as a preparation for operations 586 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:37.798 in extreme environments and outer space environments, 587 00:25:37.798 --> 00:25:40.097 it's an invaluable analog. 588 00:25:40.097 --> 00:25:43.753 We have used that in many different contexts. 589 00:25:43.753 --> 00:25:47.012 I recommend it as an experience that all people 590 00:25:47.012 --> 00:25:49.762 who are aspiring to go into space 591 00:25:50.921 --> 00:25:55.254 or do other very difficult tasks would benefit from. 592 00:25:57.921 --> 00:25:59.887 I wanna visit caves from other planets! 593 00:25:59.887 --> 00:26:01.007 That would be amazing. 594 00:26:01.007 --> 00:26:03.974 But for now, there's a lot for us still to learn 595 00:26:03.974 --> 00:26:06.643 and discover in caves right here on Earth. 596 00:26:06.643 --> 00:26:08.876 So, are you ever finding like animal bones 597 00:26:08.876 --> 00:26:10.394 and things down here? 598 00:26:10.394 --> 00:26:11.755 Absolutely. 599 00:26:11.755 --> 00:26:15.175 Barb Beasley, a paleontologist with the US Forest Service 600 00:26:15.175 --> 00:26:18.286 is going to tell us more about studying fossils. 601 00:26:18.286 --> 00:26:20.042 You all can watch this while I head back 602 00:26:20.042 --> 00:26:22.850 to work with my team and I hear there's a wild caving group 603 00:26:22.850 --> 00:26:25.050 coming through if you'd like to join up with them. 604 00:26:25.050 --> 00:26:25.973 Thanks a bunch Gretchen. 605 00:26:25.973 --> 00:26:28.608 I feel like I know so much more about cave ecology now. 606 00:26:28.608 --> 00:26:30.744 What a great job you have! 607 00:26:30.744 --> 00:26:34.057 I'm here today to show you about one of the very important 608 00:26:34.057 --> 00:26:38.246 things that are about animals that used to live in caves. 609 00:26:38.246 --> 00:26:39.931 They become preserved. 610 00:26:39.931 --> 00:26:42.711 Unlike all of the situations with typically 611 00:26:42.711 --> 00:26:47.024 when fossils are fossilized outside of a cave, 612 00:26:47.024 --> 00:26:52.024 here, caves have such a constant temperature and humidity. 613 00:26:52.517 --> 00:26:57.229 Then they're preserved over a long period of time. 614 00:26:57.229 --> 00:26:59.509 Some of the other animals that have been preserved 615 00:26:59.509 --> 00:27:02.385 for over hundreds of thousands of years have been 616 00:27:02.385 --> 00:27:06.577 mammoths and mastodons, those are elephants. 617 00:27:06.577 --> 00:27:10.351 What I have here is a mastodon tooth. 618 00:27:10.351 --> 00:27:13.661 Of course elephants didn't live in caves 619 00:27:13.661 --> 00:27:15.317 'cause they're too tall. 620 00:27:15.317 --> 00:27:17.899 So they're dragged into the caves by predators 621 00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:20.041 after they were killed. 622 00:27:20.041 --> 00:27:22.374 Then I have a mammoth tooth, 623 00:27:23.208 --> 00:27:25.407 which is another elephant. 624 00:27:25.407 --> 00:27:28.240 And then something that's unusual, 625 00:27:29.958 --> 00:27:32.458 would be a giant ground sloth. 626 00:27:33.600 --> 00:27:35.530 This is just its claw. 627 00:27:35.530 --> 00:27:39.974 And these ground sloths lived within these caves 628 00:27:39.974 --> 00:27:41.974 over thousands of years. 629 00:27:44.676 --> 00:27:47.146 Why are fossils important? 630 00:27:47.146 --> 00:27:51.384 They tell us about what the climatic changes are going on. 631 00:27:51.384 --> 00:27:55.048 The small mammals and small animals in particular 632 00:27:55.048 --> 00:27:58.514 are very persnickety about the kind of environment. 633 00:27:58.514 --> 00:28:01.324 They like their home to be very comfortable. 634 00:28:01.324 --> 00:28:04.743 If things change, if the climate changes, 635 00:28:04.743 --> 00:28:08.081 if the temperature changes, or the food disappears, 636 00:28:08.081 --> 00:28:09.970 they will actually move. 637 00:28:09.970 --> 00:28:13.868 So their presence or absence within these cave layers 638 00:28:13.868 --> 00:28:18.230 have been the settlements that are depositing these caves 639 00:28:18.230 --> 00:28:21.846 change that helps scientists know when the fossils 640 00:28:21.846 --> 00:28:25.427 are there and when the animals were there or when they left. 641 00:28:25.427 --> 00:28:28.863 Wow, it's exciting to think of all the interesting 642 00:28:28.863 --> 00:28:32.420 discoveries and things that we can learn about life 643 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:35.752 long time ago right here in caves. 644 00:28:35.752 --> 00:28:39.088 Hey, there's the group of cavers! 645 00:28:39.088 --> 00:28:41.296 Dude, let's do it. 646 00:28:41.296 --> 00:28:43.764 I'm Amtchat Edwards with the US Forest Service. 647 00:28:43.764 --> 00:28:45.785 My good friend John, John the phenomena. 648 00:28:45.785 --> 00:28:46.972 Pow! 649 00:28:46.972 --> 00:28:48.755 We've learned a ton today. 650 00:28:48.755 --> 00:28:51.172 With the cave ecologist, and a geologist, 651 00:28:51.172 --> 00:28:53.135 and now we kinda wanna hang out with you guys. 652 00:28:53.135 --> 00:28:54.314 Is that cool? Sure! 653 00:28:54.314 --> 00:28:55.447 I'm taking this group of people 654 00:28:55.447 --> 00:28:57.019 on the adventure of their life. 655 00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:59.219 It looks like you guys have all the proper safety equipment, 656 00:28:59.219 --> 00:29:00.743 so follow me! 657 00:29:00.743 --> 00:29:02.454 Sweet! 658 00:29:02.454 --> 00:29:04.873 I've been a guide here for around five years. 659 00:29:04.873 --> 00:29:07.590 People love coming underground to crawl, climb, 660 00:29:07.590 --> 00:29:10.127 and see a world that is so different from the surface. 661 00:29:10.127 --> 00:29:12.076 Our cave here at Blanchard Springs, 662 00:29:12.076 --> 00:29:13.737 as well as many caves around the world, 663 00:29:13.737 --> 00:29:15.977 offer a fun way to get out and explore. 664 00:29:15.977 --> 00:29:17.959 There are even clubs called grottos, 665 00:29:17.959 --> 00:29:20.619 where you can learn more about how to explore cave safely 666 00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:23.119 and with conservation in mind. 667 00:29:25.413 --> 00:29:28.511 Alright guys, let's go explore some more passage this way! 668 00:29:28.511 --> 00:29:32.022 Actually, I think I see Fernando and Gretchen over there. 669 00:29:32.022 --> 00:29:33.990 We really gotta catch back up with our group. 670 00:29:33.990 --> 00:29:35.150 Alright, thanks for coming! 671 00:29:35.150 --> 00:29:36.189 Yo, this has been a ton of fun. 672 00:29:36.189 --> 00:29:37.980 Thank you Zowey! See ya! 673 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.414 Bye! 674 00:29:39.414 --> 00:29:41.997 (upbeat music) 675 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.950 Hi guys! 676 00:29:55.950 --> 00:29:57.172 Hey! 677 00:29:57.172 --> 00:29:58.005 That was fun. 678 00:29:58.005 --> 00:29:59.024 It was so cool! 679 00:29:59.024 --> 00:30:00.739 I wanted to go up every passage! 680 00:30:00.739 --> 00:30:03.147 Well, that's why we enjoy mapping. 681 00:30:03.147 --> 00:30:06.190 We document every little passage to see where it goes. 682 00:30:06.190 --> 00:30:08.109 You never know where it might take ya! 683 00:30:08.109 --> 00:30:09.083 And who knows? 684 00:30:09.083 --> 00:30:12.224 We might be in the longest cave in the world! 685 00:30:12.224 --> 00:30:14.337 We learned that caves exist in many places 686 00:30:14.337 --> 00:30:16.295 around the world and people have 687 00:30:16.295 --> 00:30:18.227 always been interested in them. 688 00:30:18.227 --> 00:30:21.598 The record of human activity in caves goes back centuries. 689 00:30:21.598 --> 00:30:24.378 People have always used caves as pathways, 690 00:30:24.378 --> 00:30:27.493 protection from the elements and places to live. 691 00:30:27.493 --> 00:30:29.439 So, let's watch this video 692 00:30:29.439 --> 00:30:31.588 and see how other people view 'em. 693 00:30:31.588 --> 00:30:35.028 This is the Unica river located in Slovenia. 694 00:30:35.028 --> 00:30:37.317 A tiny country in the center of Europe. 695 00:30:37.317 --> 00:30:40.395 We will visit the mysterious origins of this river, 696 00:30:40.395 --> 00:30:44.252 in a place hidden away where most people have never seen. 697 00:30:44.252 --> 00:30:46.788 Today is a special day for these children. 698 00:30:46.788 --> 00:30:48.242 They are visiting a place 699 00:30:48.242 --> 00:30:51.583 deep under the surface of the Earth, Planinska jama. 700 00:30:51.583 --> 00:30:54.071 Jama means cave in Slovenian. 701 00:30:54.071 --> 00:30:57.252 (speaking Slovenian) 702 00:30:57.252 --> 00:31:00.002 (camera flashes) 703 00:31:02.429 --> 00:31:04.156 At the entrance of the cave, 704 00:31:04.156 --> 00:31:07.456 we see the Unica river rushing to the surface over a dam, 705 00:31:07.456 --> 00:31:09.452 which was once used to power a sawmill 706 00:31:09.452 --> 00:31:12.734 but now is used by hydroelectric power plant. 707 00:31:12.734 --> 00:31:15.317 (upbeat music) 708 00:31:18.950 --> 00:31:22.912 Before going inside the visitors must first unlock the gate. 709 00:31:22.912 --> 00:31:25.153 Which ensures that only people that have permission 710 00:31:25.153 --> 00:31:28.416 to visit the cave can go inside. 711 00:31:28.416 --> 00:31:30.964 This cave is part of an extensive cave system 712 00:31:30.964 --> 00:31:34.227 where the science of cave biology was born. 713 00:31:34.227 --> 00:31:35.661 And it is here that the children 714 00:31:35.661 --> 00:31:38.089 search for cave animals begins. 715 00:31:38.089 --> 00:31:41.193 The first stop is at a giant funnel used in the past 716 00:31:41.193 --> 00:31:43.193 to study cave formation. 717 00:31:45.060 --> 00:31:47.643 Next, the children notice bats. 718 00:31:50.420 --> 00:31:53.705 Bats leave their droppings or guano behind. 719 00:31:53.705 --> 00:31:56.489 Which is an important food source for cave critters 720 00:31:56.489 --> 00:31:58.600 such as these millipedes. 721 00:31:58.600 --> 00:32:01.183 (upbeat music) 722 00:32:06.235 --> 00:32:11.235 Cave animals are tiny and need to be searched for carefully. 723 00:32:13.808 --> 00:32:15.643 The children are observing the remains 724 00:32:15.643 --> 00:32:17.346 of a slender-necked beetle. 725 00:32:17.346 --> 00:32:19.322 The first cave animal in the world 726 00:32:19.322 --> 00:32:21.905 to be scientifically described. 727 00:32:22.921 --> 00:32:26.004 (speaking Slovenian) 728 00:32:32.444 --> 00:32:35.326 Cave animals have special characteristics. 729 00:32:35.326 --> 00:32:37.739 They lack body pigmentation and eyes 730 00:32:37.739 --> 00:32:40.693 but instead have elongated legs and antennae 731 00:32:40.693 --> 00:32:42.943 to sense their environment. 732 00:32:45.161 --> 00:32:48.850 The Postojna Planina Cave system holds the world record 733 00:32:48.850 --> 00:32:50.690 for the highest number of different 734 00:32:50.690 --> 00:32:52.975 cave species found in it. 735 00:32:52.975 --> 00:32:56.810 In the waters the children found cave crustaceans. 736 00:32:56.810 --> 00:32:59.203 But the most famous animal in the cave river, 737 00:32:59.203 --> 00:33:00.709 is the proteus. 738 00:33:00.709 --> 00:33:03.506 An amphibian which can only be found 739 00:33:03.506 --> 00:33:05.755 in this part of the world. 740 00:33:05.755 --> 00:33:08.577 The cave also shows signs of human presence. 741 00:33:08.577 --> 00:33:10.242 In the first part of the 20th century, 742 00:33:10.242 --> 00:33:13.101 the military built many pathways through the cave, 743 00:33:13.101 --> 00:33:15.568 including this tunnel through solid rock. 744 00:33:15.568 --> 00:33:19.349 Before we end our visit of Planinska jama, 745 00:33:19.349 --> 00:33:21.494 we can see where the Unica river begins 746 00:33:21.494 --> 00:33:23.423 at the unique underground confluence 747 00:33:23.423 --> 00:33:25.804 of the Rak and Pivka rivers. 748 00:33:25.804 --> 00:33:27.230 We will leave you with one last 749 00:33:27.230 --> 00:33:31.589 extraordinary cave experience, true darkness. 750 00:33:31.589 --> 00:33:33.398 That was a great tour through the cave. 751 00:33:33.398 --> 00:33:34.433 What'd you think? 752 00:33:34.433 --> 00:33:36.043 You know what, actually, 753 00:33:36.043 --> 00:33:38.347 it wasn't so scary at all. 754 00:33:38.347 --> 00:33:40.472 Once I got underground it was pretty cool. 755 00:33:40.472 --> 00:33:44.085 Plus I learned a ton so that's a win-win situation. 756 00:33:44.085 --> 00:33:46.178 It's important to understand how caves are formed 757 00:33:46.178 --> 00:33:48.545 and how water goes to the cave passengers. 758 00:33:48.545 --> 00:33:49.890 And who knew about all the life 759 00:33:49.890 --> 00:33:51.261 that's actually found in there! 760 00:33:51.261 --> 00:33:53.588 Remember that little trickle of water? 761 00:33:53.588 --> 00:33:56.160 That water has followed us in our journey today. 762 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:58.582 It has joined us here at the surface of this spring. 763 00:33:58.582 --> 00:34:00.523 The water just shoots through the rocks, 764 00:34:00.523 --> 00:34:03.048 from the underground at a rate of 10 millions 765 00:34:03.048 --> 00:34:04.383 of gallons of water a day! 766 00:34:04.383 --> 00:34:05.481 That's pretty awesome! 767 00:34:05.481 --> 00:34:06.895 See the dye on the water? 768 00:34:06.895 --> 00:34:08.925 I collected this sample on the way out. 769 00:34:08.925 --> 00:34:11.648 That means that the water that is on the surface, 770 00:34:11.648 --> 00:34:13.478 and trickle down to the underground, 771 00:34:13.478 --> 00:34:18.337 it's connected to this huge amount of pouring water! 772 00:34:18.337 --> 00:34:20.283 Sure enough, the water is green. 773 00:34:20.283 --> 00:34:22.330 If there were any contamination upstream 774 00:34:22.330 --> 00:34:23.682 where we started this morning, 775 00:34:23.682 --> 00:34:25.312 it would've ended up right here. 776 00:34:25.312 --> 00:34:27.481 It's also important to know that people are drinking 777 00:34:27.481 --> 00:34:30.692 out of this water and swimming downstream. 778 00:34:30.692 --> 00:34:32.997 And since I'm the ecologist and biologist, 779 00:34:32.997 --> 00:34:34.732 I'll just add that this water 780 00:34:34.732 --> 00:34:37.257 is also home to unique creatures. 781 00:34:37.257 --> 00:34:40.518 Protecting this groundwater protects them as well. 782 00:34:40.518 --> 00:34:43.381 Springs are groundwater dependent ecosystems 783 00:34:43.381 --> 00:34:46.793 with unique types of life forms all their own. 784 00:34:46.793 --> 00:34:50.714 While caves aren't everywhere, groundwater is. 785 00:34:50.714 --> 00:34:53.601 Around the world we depend on it for drinking, 786 00:34:53.601 --> 00:34:57.309 agriculture, and recreation life, fishing, and swimming. 787 00:34:57.309 --> 00:35:01.697 So, let's kind of throw out some things that we can all do 788 00:35:01.697 --> 00:35:04.519 to help protect our groundwater and caves. 789 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:08.126 Conserving water use is also important for many reasons 790 00:35:08.126 --> 00:35:10.384 especially in areas that are really dry. 791 00:35:10.384 --> 00:35:12.789 Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, 792 00:35:12.789 --> 00:35:14.959 or consider taking a shorter shower. 793 00:35:14.959 --> 00:35:18.588 And making sure that those leaky faucets get fixed. 794 00:35:18.588 --> 00:35:20.951 Invasive species are a problem in general 795 00:35:20.951 --> 00:35:22.543 but also in caves. 796 00:35:22.543 --> 00:35:23.511 For example, 797 00:35:23.511 --> 00:35:27.545 bat populations have been devastated by white-nose syndrome, 798 00:35:27.545 --> 00:35:29.678 an invasive fungus in caves. 799 00:35:29.678 --> 00:35:31.567 Let's hear more about how bats 800 00:35:31.567 --> 00:35:33.526 in the United States are threatened. 801 00:35:33.526 --> 00:35:35.485 Hello, my name is Jonathan Reichard 802 00:35:35.485 --> 00:35:37.674 and I work for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, 803 00:35:37.674 --> 00:35:41.071 where I help bats affected by white-nose syndrome. 804 00:35:41.071 --> 00:35:43.838 White-nose syndrome is a disease caused by the fungus, 805 00:35:43.838 --> 00:35:48.749 Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which we call Pd for short. 806 00:35:48.749 --> 00:35:52.182 Pd grows in cold dark damp places like caves and mines 807 00:35:52.182 --> 00:35:54.564 where bats go in the winter to hibernate. 808 00:35:54.564 --> 00:35:56.828 During hibernation they allow their body temperatures 809 00:35:56.828 --> 00:35:59.516 to drop to near freezing and by doing so they survive 810 00:35:59.516 --> 00:36:01.153 the winter months only on energy 811 00:36:01.153 --> 00:36:02.650 they have stored in their bodies. 812 00:36:02.650 --> 00:36:04.931 Because there are no insects around to eat. 813 00:36:04.931 --> 00:36:08.253 While bats are relatively inactive during hibernation, 814 00:36:08.253 --> 00:36:10.412 Pd attacks and grows on them. 815 00:36:10.412 --> 00:36:13.357 The fungus can look like a white powder on the bat's face, 816 00:36:13.357 --> 00:36:15.902 which is how white-nose syndrome got its name. 817 00:36:15.902 --> 00:36:18.015 It also grow on wings and other places 818 00:36:18.015 --> 00:36:21.918 where it can eat holes right through a bat's skin. 819 00:36:21.918 --> 00:36:23.818 In addition to damaging skin, 820 00:36:23.818 --> 00:36:26.786 these infections cause bats to warm up and become active 821 00:36:26.786 --> 00:36:28.733 wasting precious energy they need 822 00:36:28.733 --> 00:36:30.247 to make it through the winter. 823 00:36:30.247 --> 00:36:32.279 Sometimes they fly out of their shelters 824 00:36:32.279 --> 00:36:34.074 looking for food and water. 825 00:36:34.074 --> 00:36:35.447 But there are no insects, 826 00:36:35.447 --> 00:36:37.550 so the bats freeze or starve to death. 827 00:36:37.550 --> 00:36:40.156 Millions and millions of bats have been killed 828 00:36:40.156 --> 00:36:41.470 from white-nose syndrome, 829 00:36:41.470 --> 00:36:44.011 which as Gretchen said is caused by an invasive species 830 00:36:44.011 --> 00:36:48.178 that came from somewhere else and is causing harm. 831 00:36:50.341 --> 00:36:51.819 In the case of Pd, 832 00:36:51.819 --> 00:36:53.959 we really don't know how it got here. 833 00:36:53.959 --> 00:36:56.190 But the fungus can travel on bats as they move around 834 00:36:56.190 --> 00:36:58.761 and it is possible for people who come in contact 835 00:36:58.761 --> 00:37:01.612 with bats or their habitats to accidentally spread 836 00:37:01.612 --> 00:37:03.566 the fungus if it gets on their shoes or clothing 837 00:37:03.566 --> 00:37:06.810 and they travel to other places where bats hibernate. 838 00:37:06.810 --> 00:37:07.888 No matter how it got here, 839 00:37:07.888 --> 00:37:10.100 Pd spores took hold in that New York cave 840 00:37:10.100 --> 00:37:12.690 and the fungus quickly spread between bats. 841 00:37:12.690 --> 00:37:14.795 Now it's found in at least 33 states 842 00:37:14.795 --> 00:37:17.056 and five provinces in Canada, 843 00:37:17.056 --> 00:37:22.056 affecting at least nine species of bats in North America. 844 00:37:22.284 --> 00:37:24.461 Thankfully other mammals including you, 845 00:37:24.461 --> 00:37:26.407 do not get white-nose syndrome. 846 00:37:26.407 --> 00:37:28.579 However, because Pd spores can hitch a ride 847 00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:30.890 on your shoes, clothes, or even your backpack, 848 00:37:30.890 --> 00:37:33.606 to protect bats it's important to clean and disinfect 849 00:37:33.606 --> 00:37:35.414 your clothes and anything else with you 850 00:37:35.414 --> 00:37:39.909 after you go to a place that might have Pd in it. 851 00:37:39.909 --> 00:37:41.939 For more about how to reduce the risk 852 00:37:41.939 --> 00:37:43.585 of spreading white-nose syndrome, 853 00:37:43.585 --> 00:37:46.036 visit whitenosesyndrome.org which has more information 854 00:37:46.036 --> 00:37:49.151 about the disease and what you can do to help. 855 00:37:49.151 --> 00:37:51.209 Here at Blanchard Springs, 856 00:37:51.209 --> 00:37:53.635 visitors walk through disinfectants to make sure 857 00:37:53.635 --> 00:37:55.514 that they don't carry the white-nose fungus 858 00:37:55.514 --> 00:37:57.663 on their shoes into the cave. 859 00:37:57.663 --> 00:38:00.108 You see, one big thing is not to dump trash 860 00:38:00.108 --> 00:38:03.085 in the caves, waterways, or sinkholes. 861 00:38:03.085 --> 00:38:07.021 People sometimes use caves as places to put trash, 862 00:38:07.021 --> 00:38:08.917 thinking out of sight, out of mind. 863 00:38:08.917 --> 00:38:11.605 But now we all know it doesn't work that way. 864 00:38:11.605 --> 00:38:14.198 I think learning about caves and cave geology 865 00:38:14.198 --> 00:38:15.219 is really important. 866 00:38:15.219 --> 00:38:16.308 Just like we did today, 867 00:38:16.308 --> 00:38:18.542 if you don't know how things are connected, 868 00:38:18.542 --> 00:38:20.865 then you may not conserve these important areas. 869 00:38:20.865 --> 00:38:23.750 Hey, thank you all for all of those suggestions. 870 00:38:23.750 --> 00:38:24.619 And I gotta say, 871 00:38:24.619 --> 00:38:26.972 I really did enjoy my time underground today. 872 00:38:26.972 --> 00:38:30.094 Thank you to you and all of our experts. 873 00:38:30.094 --> 00:38:33.414 I hope you'll take some time to learn more about caves 874 00:38:33.414 --> 00:38:35.891 and our resources at caveslive.org. 875 00:38:35.891 --> 00:38:38.576 Remember, caves are unique and amazing places 876 00:38:38.576 --> 00:38:40.797 and are connected with our everyday lives. 877 00:38:40.797 --> 00:38:41.987 The more you know, 878 00:38:41.987 --> 00:38:44.506 the more you will value these extraordinary places 879 00:38:44.506 --> 00:38:46.342 and realize how we are all connected 880 00:38:46.342 --> 00:38:48.307 both above and below the surface. 881 00:38:48.307 --> 00:38:49.140 Bye. 882 00:38:50.364 --> 00:38:53.197 (inspiring music)