The Philip M. Smith Graduate Research
Grant for Cave and Karst Research
2018 Grants
Fernando Hernandez ($2,000)
M.S. Student
Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies
Department of Geography and Geology
Western Kentucky University
Using Groundwater Hydrogeochemical
Evolution and Tracing to Understand Speleogenesis in Sistema Huautla in
Oaxaca, Mexico
Abstract: Deep cave systems of
the world continue to be a focus of exploration, but have not yet
received as much scientific study. Sistema Huautla in Oaxaca, Mexico is
the deepest explored cave in the western hemisphere and contains
significant water resources, having been explored through diving and
vertical caving for decades. Despite the attention Huautla has
received, connections to the ultimate baselevel springs and nearby
passages that likely are part of the system have yet to be made and
almost no studies have been conducted on the recharge inputs,
geochemistry, or springs in the cave system. This study proposes to
conduct a thorough investigation of the hydrogeochemical evolution of
Sistema Huautla’s water as it flows through the cave to its ultimate
resurgence, including dye tracing to make the connection with the main
cave, delineation of the recharge to different portions of the system,
and geochemical sampling to characterize the evolution of the water as
speleogenesis continues to occur and carve deeper passages.
Collectively, these data will improve understanding of the groundwater
evolution in deep cave systems and how it influences cave formation,
including controls on passage level development in relation to
elevation, flow variability on dissolution, and how geochemical mixing
of undersaturated waters contribute to speleogenesis at depth. The
results of this study will contribute greatly to understanding of water
resources in the region, further exploration of the cave system and
potential connections, and geochemical behavior of karst water at depth
over seasonal variations in Sistema Huautla.
________________________________________
Rachel Kaiser ($2,000)
M.S. Student
Department of Geography and Geology
Western Kentucky University
Developing a Threat Assessment and
Monitoring Framework for Urban Karst Groundwater Management
Abstract: Every continent in
the world has karst landscape features, with nearly a quarter of the
human population living on or near karst regions and using karst
groundwater aquifers as drinking water sources. Karst is an underground
landscape consisting of caves and conduits that connects the surface
and subsurface; therefore, they are very sensitive to pollution,
because surface pollutants can be directly introduced to groundwater
sources. Rapid population growth globally is becoming an issue, but the
impacts on urban karst landscapes and their groundwater resources are
understudied. Research has been conducted on common urban pollutants,
but not with respect to urban karst aquifers. There is also little to
no research conducted on new threats to groundwater quality, such as
antibiotic resistant genes, pharmaceuticals, and emerging pathogens
(superbugs). Urban development not only threatens the quality of
groundwater supplies, but also their availability and management, due
to the challenges in studying and understanding urbanized karst areas.
The purpose of this study is to develop a holistic, data-driven threat
assessment and monitoring framework for urban karst groundwater
systems, using the City of Bowling Green as a case study, in order to
better determine the possible threats, data collection solutions, and
management approaches to ensure groundwater quality is maintained for
all uses. This research is necessary because there is a lack of
understanding of how urbanization impacts the quality of groundwater,
especially in karst landscapes.
________________________________________
Chelsey Kipper ($2,000)
M.S. Student
Department of Geography and Geology
Western Kentucky University
A geochemical comparison of two
telogenetic karst springs during reverse flow, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Abstract: Spring flow
reversals in Mammoth Cave National Park were first recorded over 100
years ago, but a high-resolution study has yet to be conducted. A
detailed investigation of the park’s spring flow reversal phenomenon is
necessary to capture seasonal and storm event variability. This study
aims to quantify geochemical changes that occur between two karst
springs in Mammoth Cave National Park. Data will be collected for one
year to capture seasonal changes in karst geochemistry, flow rates,
groundwater sources, and mixing ratios in the karst system associated
with the reversals. High-resolution data will be collected for pH, SpC,
temperature, and water depth at 15-minute intervals using data loggers.
Sampling for major ion concentrations, alkalinity, and carbon isotopes
will occur weekly and once per day during storm events. Data are
expected to show distinct changes in geochemical parameters as flow
reversals occur. Carbon isotopes will provide information about
seasonal and temporal changes in carbon flux and be used to create a
mixing model, which will be used to model changes in the source of
water along the reversal route. Results from this study will provide
Mammoth Cave National Park managers with information to help them
understand the affects that spring flow reversals have on the cave’s
ecosystem, development, and flow processes.A geochemical comparison of
two telogenetic karst springs during reverse flow, Mammoth Cave,
Kentucky
________________________________________
Amanda Vicente-Santos ($3,000)
PhD. Candidate
Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution
Emory University
Anthropogenic drivers of disease
dynamics in cave-dwelling bat communities
Abstract: Human disturbance
can impact threatened and endangered species directly or by modifying
interactions with other species. For example, disturbance can increase
disease spread in natural host communities by changing the densities or
traits of host and parasite species. However, the relative importance
of trait- versus density-mediated changes to infectious disease
dynamics remain poorly understood. I propose to address this critical
gap by integrating field surveys of host population sizes and
demography, laboratory-based physiological analyses, and mathematical
models focused on a multi-host, multi-parasite system: cave-dwelling
bat assemblages in Costa Rica and three dominant generalist pathogens.
My preliminary data indicate that human disturbance alters the
abundance of bat species. I hypothesize that the immune function (a
trait) related to infection outcomes will be more sensitive to human
disturbance than demographic rates/host densities; thus as disturbance
increases, I expect divergent responses by different pathogens
depending on their transmission route, target sites, and interactions
with the bat immune system. I will integrate these simultaneous changes
in demographic and epidemiological processes in epidemiological models
targeted to this host-parasite community. By developing a distinctive
framework using a multi-host, multi-parasite system, this
interdisciplinary project will tackle fundamental issues involving
anthropogenic disturbance, wildlife conservation and disease
transmission and risk. Data collected will directly inform conservation
and public health efforts.
Page
last updated or validated on January 24, 2019