Where have all the albino crayfish gone?

[Kelly Jessop]

The fauna counts at Peacock started with the thesis statement,"there doesn't seem to be as many species as there used to be." Since there was no previous documented information to support this,that was the goal. Where I have been cave diving 20 years,and did my share of exploration,doing long dives,with long decos it became more than a burden to an aging physiology. Doing fauna counts has opened a world of exploration in realms not imagined,and this has unlocked secrets of these systems. Observing these species for 10 years,has permenantly altered my perception of cave diving,such that people get excited by that big room,I get excited that I saw a crangonyx grandimanus somewhere.

Some notes to pass along
1) Observing species is great; observing species over a distance,documenting it,and then replicating it,is better
2) It is hard work,not a casual cave dive. You have to swim 100' counting and documenting.
3) Important to be the first one in the system,so set the alarm clock for early arrival
4) Don't get frustrated, it takes doing repetitively before you get usable data
5) Data is the most reliable if the same people do that system repetitively
6) Need to have great antisilting technique-can't count what you can't see
7) Don't need a light cannon. I used a 10w HID with 13 degree bulb. Less light is better because you keep a black background with species that are white. Your eyes dilate well to subdued lighting
8) Learn the species that you are counting,how to see them,and where they can be found.

The one suggestion I have is change how you look at the cave inorder to see the cave come to life. Where we tend to use focused beams of light and look at where the light contacts,try using very diffuse beam,and look into the water column in front of you,not the wall.

[MichaelAngelo]

The fauna counts at Peacock started with the thesis statement,"there doesn't seem to be as many species as there used to be." Since there was no previous documented information to support this,that was the goal. Where I have been cave diving 20 years,and did my share of exploration,doing long dives,with long decos it became more than a burden to an aging physiology. Doing fauna counts has opened a world of exploration in realms not imagined,and this has unlocked secrets of these systems. Observing these species for 10 years,has permenantly altered my perception of cave diving,such that people get excited by that big room,I get excited that I saw a crangonyx grandimanus somewhere.

Some notes to pass along
1) Observing species is great; observing species over a distance,documenting it,and then replicating it,is better
2) It is hard work,not a casual cave dive. You have to swim 100' counting and documenting.
3) Important to be the first one in the system,so set the alarm clock for early arrival
4) Don't get frustrated, it takes doing repetitively before you get usable data
5) Data is the most reliable if the same people do that system repetitively
6) Need to have great antisilting technique-can't count what you can't see
7) Don't need a light cannon. I used a 10w HID with 13 degree bulb. Less light is better because you keep a black background with species that are white. Your eyes dilate well to subdued lighting
8) Learn the species that you are counting,how to see them,and where they can be found.

The one suggestion I have is change how you look at the cave inorder to see the cave come to life. Where we tend to use focused beams of light and look at where the light contacts,try using very diffuse beam,and look into the water column in front of you,not the wall.

Thank you Kelly. Not only for this post. (Hope you don't mind if I steel it). And because you've opened new worlds for me every time I've helped you and as a mentor whether you knew it or not.

[scottj]

Kelly, I was just diving Peacock this past week and I saw 2 crayfish bodies (or possibly molt if they do that). Given how long they live is this normal or somehow due to the floods?

[Kelly Jessop]

Kelly, I was just diving Peacock this past week and I saw 2 crayfish bodies (or possibly molt if they do that). Given how long they live is this normal or somehow due to the floods?

Good question. When we did the fauna count the weekend the park opened,over the course of a 4800ft swim,I didn't see any dead crayfish. This is passing areas that showed dissolved oxygen as high as 22% and as low as 10%-which is within survival range of crayfish. I have done post flood swims in the past where there were large numbers of dead species,and that you'd suspect very low DO,or another contaminant. We were recently re-funded for our grant,and purchased another hydrolab. The goal is long term placement,which would help answer questions regarding the changes to water quality during a flood,or periods of time between fauna counts.

[T. Bix]

The fauna counts at Peacock started with the thesis statement,"there doesn't seem to be as many species as there used to be.".....,I get excited that I saw a crangonyx grandimanus somewhere......


The one suggestion I have is change how you look at the cave inorder to see the cave come to life. Where we tend to use focused beams of light and look at where the light contacts,try using very diffuse beam,and look into the water column in front of you,not the wall.

Okay Show of hands.... Who else looked that up? I'm pretty sure I've seen those but did not know they are on the endangered species list. I attended Michael Angelo's training and intend to participate in the fauna counts up north at some point. I will be down next month and maybe I can tag along with someone if there's anything going on with Fauna counts and stuff just to see how it works in real actual practice.

[TracyN]

Do our caves have freshwater shrimp as well? When I was doing my trimix training in Eagle's Nest I saw a crustacean that looked very much like a shrimp. It was semi transparent and looked like something you would see in the ocean. It didn't have any claws and had big eyes that shine when light hits them. Also when I was doing a dive in meeting house I saw this albino fish. It looked like the regular fish but it was white and transparent as if it were starting to adapt to the dark environment. The first one I've ever seen.

[Kelly Jessop]

Okay Show of hands.... Who else looked that up? I'm pretty sure I've seen those but did not know they are on the endangered species list. I attended Michael Angelo's training and intend to participate in the fauna counts up north at some point. I will be down next month and maybe I can tag along with someone if there's anything going on with Fauna counts and stuff just to see how it works in real actual practice.

Crangonyx grandimanus, also known as "really big ass amphipod"