Cave and Karst Inventory in Carter Caves State Resort Park, Kentucky


Formerly headed by Alex Silvis

Ongoing efforts by WUSS cavers using professional grade geographic positioning systems (GPS) equipment (Trimble GeoXT and GeoExplorer III units) and mapping software (ESRI ArcMap) have created a growing map of cave and karst resources within Carter Caves State Resort Park. The map currently includes more than 200 cave and karst features, all accurate to within 2 meters, as well as other information on the park and surrounding lands, including streams, roads, geology, soil, hazardous waste handlers, fossil fuel resource wells/mines, etc. Integrated within this map are WUSS cave surveys created in the cave mapping program Compass, which can be displayed in a 3D format for positioning of caves relative to the surface and other cave passages. This is an ongoing project associated with the overall databasing of resources within the park.



Life Cycle of Hadenoecus cumberlandicus, Carter Caves State Resort, Kentucky


Headed by Danielle Carey

I am observing the yearly life cycle of a parthenogenic species of cave crickets, Hadenoecus cumberlandicus. Particular attention is paid towards their reproductive strategies being its an almost entirely female population. This will better enable a future study regarding migratory patterns in epigean undergrowth.



Cave Surveys


Headed by survey team leaders

Please see our survey section for more information on WUSS's open survey projects.