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Symposia
The 15th ICS will offer fifteen symposia, listed below. All will
include specially invited presentations and will welcome volunteer submissions. If you are interested
in participating in any of the symposia, see
Submission of Papers and
Posters for deadlines and information on submitting abstracts and papers. Also, please check
the symposium's description below to be certain your paper is appropriate to the topic. The Scientific Review
Committee will notify successful authors that their abstracts have been accepted.
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Archaeology and Paleontology in Caves Symposium
The UIS Commission on Archaeology and Paleontology in Caves has organized this Symposium
to enable researchers studying archaeological and paleontological resources in caves to communicate
their findings in a forum of cavers and cave scientists. Practitioners of both disciplines feel that
communication across the disciplines is as important as is communication within the international
caving community in recognizing the nature and sensitivity of these significant fragile and
irreplaceable cave resources. Organizers and Co-Chairmen: David Hubbard and Roman Hapka.
Presentations will consist of a mix of invited and submitted papers. The symposium theme is Past,
Present and Future Horizons in Archaeology and Paleontology in caves of the Americas. For further
details, contact David Hubbard
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| Educating Citizens about Living in Karst
This symposium presents information on programs to teach citizens, landowners and government officials about karst and the conservation of these areas. The impacts of human development on karst waters and karst habitats need to be understood by those who live in karst. Organizers and Co-Chairmen: Carol Zokaites and Jay Anderson. Presentations include a mix of invited and submitted papers. For further details, contact Carol Zokaites at carol.zokaites@dcr.virginia.gov.
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| Evolution and Ecology of Salamanders in Karst
Salamanders are a conspicuous component of many karst and subterranean ecosystems, both terrestrial and aquatic. Bizarre traits are common
among these organisms, and striking examples of selection, adaptation, and convergence add to their intrigue. In addition, conservation of subterranean
salamanders is intimately tied to the health of karst ecosystems. This symposium will cover the evolutionary history, diversity, natural history, and
other biological aspects of salamanders inhabiting karst, cave, and aquifer environments. A preliminary list of topics includes conservation, population
genetics and population studies using M-RC methods, morphological variation, phylogeography of central Texas Eurcyea; diversity of cave-dwelling
members of the genus Chiropterotriton; a historical overview of salamander studies in Texas; the biology and conservation status of subterranean
Gyrinophilus; the ecology of Eurycea ( Haideotriton) wallacei; the ecology and popula
tion dynamics of Eurycea spelaea; and a genetic evaluation of the Eurycea spelaea complex. Organizers and Co-Chairmen: Dr. Andrew
Gluesenkamp, Dante Fenolio, and Dr. Boris Sket. This symposium is open to scholarly submissions on any aspect of the biology of salamanders in karst
environments. For further details, contact Dr. Andrew Gluesenkamp at andy@gluesenkamp.com.
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| Frontiers in Cave Mineralogy Studies
Approximately 280 minerals are known to form under various caves settings. Recent studies of crystallography and mineralogy of cave
minerals provide invaluable insight into the chemical and physical conditions existing within various cave environments. This symposium focuses on
the processes producing cave minerals, and on their meaning in the geological/speleological framework. We welcome insights provided by recent
investigations and data obtained by novel analytical techniques. Presentations will include a mix of invited and submitted papers. For further
details, contact Bogdan Onac at bonac@cas.usf.edu.
Organizing Committee:
Co-Chairs: Dr. Bogdan P. Onac and Carol A. Hill
Members: Dr. William B. White; Dr. Tudor Tamas; Dr. Paolo Forti
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| Geomicrobiology of Cave and Karst Environments
The role that microorganisms play in processes within cave and karst environments is becoming increasingly recognized and appreciated.
The activities of these microorganisms are as varied as playing an important role in speleogenesis and secondary deposits and serving as the basis
of an aquatic food chain. This symposium brings together an international and comprehensive group of microbiologists studying microbial activities
and interactions within cave and karst environments, with the aim of sharing their understanding of the important geochemical, metabolic and ecological
interactions of these species with their environment. In doing so, it is hoped that through presentations and collectively we can determine the future
directions of cave and karst geomicrobiology and forge international collaborations between interested researchers, cavers and land owners. Organizers
and Co-Chairmen: Dr. Hazel Barton and Dr. Juan Miguel Gonzalez. Presentations will include a mix of invited and submitted paper
s. For further details, contact Hazel Barton at bartonh@nku.edu.
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| Inventory of Cave and Karst Resources
Karst inventories on a macro scale (i.e. individual caves and features within a political boundary, such as a state or province) are varied
throughout the world, yet have many similarities. The organizations involved with such inventories are as diverse as the cave and karst resources they
categorize and describe. This symposium explores the institutions that map and inventory caves and karst, how they capture, store, and disseminate data,
and the nature of the cave and karst resources documented. Data sensitivity and release will be common themes. Practitioners are invited to describe
established methods, new perspectives, and frontiers in cave and karst resource inventory, documentation, and presentation. Organizers and Co-Chairmen:
Jim Kennedy and Peter Matthews. Presentations include a mix of invited and submitted papers. For further details, contact
Jim Kennedy at jkennedy@batcon.org.
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| Island Karst Symposium
This Symposium is designed to explore the unique style of caves and karst that occur on carbonate (limestone) islands and coasts. While
the focus is on carbonate islands, presentations on continental carbonate coasts are also eligible for participation. The session is not designed
to examine caves and karst that develop in island interiors in a manner analogous to that of continental interiors. The focus is to look at caves
and karst in coastal environments where changing sea level and the mixing of fresh and sea water influence the type, magnitude and duration of carbonate
dissolution. Cave deposits related to these caves are also of interest. The session will consist of a core of invited speakers supplemented by
submitted papers.
Co-Chairs: Dr. John Mylroie and Dr. Angel Gines
Committee members: PJ Moore, Dr. Lee Florea, Dr. Bogdan Onac
The symposium, in part, elaborates on features and processes examined on Field Trip 82, a pre-Congress excursion to the Bahamas. For further details,
contact John Mylroie at islands@ics2009.us.
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| Latest Advances in Karst Geophysics
Karst is one of the more dynamic terrains on Earth. Many of the important features and processes of karst occur in the subsurface. This
symposium examines geophysical methods and practices used in karst to map subsurface features as well as karst hydrology. An overview of
state-of-the-art geophysical methods and case studies using geophysical methods to define subsurface karst features, karst hazards, and
groundwater flow paths will be discussed in a mix of invited and submitted papers. Relevant methods include: seismic refraction,
ground penetrating radar, microgravity, resistivity and conductivity, self potential, electromagnetic, and magnetics. Organizers
and Co-Chairmen: Bruce Smith and Olivar Lima. For further details, contact Bruce Smith at bsmith@usgs.gov.
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| Lava Caves
This symposium invites papers on all aspects of lava cave research solar-system-wide: their genesis, age, petrology, geological aging,
mineralogy, biology, regional distribution, and history of exploration. Organizers and Co-Chairmen: Dr. Stephan Kempe and Dr. William R. Halliday.
Presentations will include a mix of invited and submitted papers. For further details, contact
Dr. Stephan Kempe at kempe@geo.tu-darmstadt.de.
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| Protection and Management of Rare and Endangered Subterranean Fauna
Cave and karst fauna are under continuous pressure from threats that include urbanization, tourism, landscape alteration, and invasion of
exotic species. Presentations will focus on the importance of these fauna and methods used to ensure their continued protection. Topics will include
management strategies, the role of karst landscape in speciation, management concerns with show caves, and more. Organizers and Co-chairmen:
Cyndee Watson and Dr. Oana Moldovan. Presentations will include a mix of invited and submitted papers and posters. For further details, contact
Cyndee Watson at cyndee_watson@fws.gov.
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| Speleogenesis in Regional Geological Evolution and its Role in Karst Hydrogeology and Geomorphology
The UIS Commission on Karst Hydrogeology and Speleogenesis is organizing this Symposium to examine case studies and conceptual,
numerical and/or physical models of speleogenesis by various geochemical processes in a variety of continental settings: deep-seated through
exposed, hypogenic through epigenic, basinal through folded/tectonically disturbed. Papers that link regional speleogenesis with regional
geological evolution and changing settings are especially welcome. The Commission feels that a worldwide forum of cavers and cave scientists
is a proper scene to further elucidate and highlight the central role of speleogenesis in karst hydrogeology and geomorphology, as well as its
important role in the formation of economic deposits. Presentations include a mix of invited and submitted papers. For further details,
contact Dr. Alexander Klimchouk at klimchouck@speleogenesis.info.
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| Unearthing Secrets of the Past from Speleothem Studies
Speleothems, or carbonates formed in caves, are becoming increasingly important as paleoenvironmental archives, primarily because they
can be accurately and precisely dated from ca. 500 kyr to present using U-series techniques. This symposium welcomes papers that address the questions
of how climate events such as cold spells, rapid warmings, or droughts are recorded in speleothems, or how speleothems are used to support paleontological
, cultural, or incision history studies. Presentations will include a mix of invited and submitted papers. For further details,
contact Dr. Victor Polyak at polyak@unm.edu.
Organizing Committee:
Co-Chairmen: Dr. Victor Polyak and Dr. Bogdan P. Onac
Members: Dr. Derek Ford; Dr. Dominik Fleitmann; Dr. Jeff Dorale
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| 2009 International Cave and Karst Management Symposium: Worldwide Horizons In Cave and Karst Management
The U.S. National Cave and Karst Management Symposium is an important forum for promoting, advancing, and sharing concepts in
effective management of cave and karst resources. This symposium combines the U.S. and International symposia to provide an opportunity for
synergy among people from diverse backgrounds, professions, and interests. New techniques will be discussed, issues addressed, solutions developed,
and effective working relationships formed to help protect and conserve caves, cave ecosystems, karst water resources and lands. Presentations will consist of a mix of invited and submitted papers. The Texas Cave Management Association will host a cave management field trip on 22 July 2009 as an extension of this symposium. For further details contact Mike Warner at mike@speleobooks.com.
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| The following two symposia are part of the International Cave and Karst Management Symposium:
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| Budgets, Resource Protection, and Competing Human Interests: The Challenging Work of the Government
Cave Manager
This symposium is a forum for managers and key participants in projects at government-owned caves. The government could be national,
provincial, state, municipal, and/or tribal. Managing a government cave is a delicate balance among competing needs: budgets, science, exploration,
aesthetics, recreation, ecology, culture, education, conservation. How can managers satisfy all of these expectations and make choices when goals
conflict or funds are inadequate? Invited speakers will share their experiences in building partnerships and developing innovative ways to meet
these challenges. Submitted papers are also welcome. The purpose of this symposium is to exchange information on how each country's cave management
goals, methods, and obstacles are similar and different, and to generate ideas of how successes in one location can be applied internationally.
Organizers and Co-Chairmen: Hester Mallonee and Elery Hamilton-Smith. Presentations will include a mix of invited and submitted papers. For further
details, contact Hester Mallonee at hestermallonee@yahoo.com.
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| Establishing Cave and Karst Protected Areas
This symposium will focus on efforts and methods used to establish cave and karst protected areas and the complementary and contrasting
methods of protecting the diverse array of cave and karst resources. Presentations are welcome that describe successes, failures, works in progress,
and threats to successful outcomes, as well as philosophical discussions on the justification for and the establishment of protective measures.
Presentations will include a mix of invited and submitted papers. For further details, contact Organizer and
Chairman Dr. Patricia Seiser at pseiser@nckri.org.
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