International Journal of Speleology (IJS) | Vol 49

Volume 49, Issue 3 (2020)

Dedicated to the: International Year of Caves and Karst

Bubble trail and folia in cenote Zapote, Mexico: petrographic evidence for abiotic precipitation driven by CO₂ degassing below the water table
Rafael López-Martínez, Fernando Gázquez, José M. Calaforra, Philippe Audra, Jean Y. Bigot, Teresa Pi Puig, Rocío J. Alcántara-Hernández, Ángel Navarro, Philippe Crochet, Liliana Corona Martínez, and Raquel Daza Brunet

The role of stratigraphic discontinuities on chalk speleogenesis has been analyzed
The analyses combine cave geometry, karst geomorphology and stratigraphical sections
Chalk caves and karst springs are related to hardgrounds, sheet-flints and marl beds
Hardgrounds, sheet-flints and marl beds concentrated groundwater flow forming caves
The results reinforce the visualization of the Chalk as a karst aquifer

A “culturomics” cultivation study was performed in a cave for the first time
Cultivation strategies were assessed for their performance with cave microbes
Sample suspension buffer had no effect on culturability
Including antibiotics in culture media decreased apparent culturability, diversity
Antibiotics enriched rarer slow-growing species that are more difficult to isolate

Cricket occupancy in the caves is seasonal and zonal with detectability ≤1
Relative density and relative abundance does not vary between the caves zones
Morphology of the caves influence the abundance and density of crickets
Cave with plausible source population with no extinction probability is identified
Further studies recommended for the conservation of caves and cave fauna

Forward osmosis (FO) was tested as a strategy for urine mitigation during cave exploration
Urea rejection was determined for a novel aquaporin-based membrane (ABM) module
A light-weight and portable FO prototype was introduced and tested
Urine volume could be reduced by over 80% using the proposed system
Draw solution recovery without nitrogen loss could be achieved by evaporation

Radon concentration depends on downward penetration from soil and rocks above cave
Rn concentration depends on thermodynamic air exchange between cave and atmosphere
Air temperature and precipitation are main factors affecting cave Rn concentration
Statistical projections show that by 2070 cave Rn concentration will increase

Hydrometeorological factors determining the development of water table cave patterns in high alpine zones. The Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park, NE Spain
Antonio González-Ramón, Jorge Jódar, José M. Samsó, Sergio Martos-Rosillo, Javier Heredia, Ane Zabaleta, Iñaki Antigüedad, Emilio Custodio, and Luis J. Lambán

The recharge of karst aquifers in high mountain may be controlled by snowmelt
Water-table caves exist in permeable carbonates with irregular recharge and no developed epikarst
Diffuse recharge caused by snow in cold areas may explain the unusual water-table caves patterns
Repetition of structures by faults and thrusts can generate repetitive patterns in karst networks
Conduit set connects consecutive perched saturated zones in the inner part of syncline structures