Cave species die offs or unusual observations

[Kelly Jessop]

I hadn't made this posting in a few years,but since it looks like a potentially busy tropical season, if you notice any cave crayfish die offs in numbers , please send me a PM. We have a rapid response team that can help with water sampling and photography. Thanks

[ARY]

what is the common cause of them dying after hurticanes, contamination due to overflow from sewer?

[adam_Hughes]

what is the common cause of them dying after hurticanes, contamination due to overflow from sewer?

When there is a cold water flood (typical annual Dec-Jan rains in South GA) there is an increase in dissolved oxygen from the river water but the cold reduces the bacteria....in a warm water flood there is an increase in dissolved oxygen but it is thought with all the bacteria brought in there is a depletion of oxygen. The assumption is when there's is a warm water flood you will frequently see cray fish die off. There is a lot not really understood.

[Kelly Jessop]

When there is a cold water flood (typical annual Dec-Jan rains in South GA) there is an increase in dissolved oxygen from the river water but the cold reduces the bacteria....in a warm water flood there is an increase in dissolved oxygen but it is thought with all the bacteria brought in there is a depletion of oxygen. The assumption is when there's is a warm water flood you will frequently see cray fish die off. There is a lot not really understood.

Well said Adam. There are some other elements too that are hypothesized.

There was one incident of a die off noted in the literature,but it was more of a surprise by the author with some observations made.

With threats to these systems with anything like land being converted to row crops to pipe lines, being acutely aware is important, and using observations of the average cave diver is important. Frequently things are noted, I am saying we are willing to be the dumping ground for this information.

[jason]

When there is a cold water flood (typical annual Dec-Jan rains in South GA) there is an increase in dissolved oxygen from the river water but the cold reduces the bacteria....in a warm water flood there is an increase in dissolved oxygen but it is thought with all the bacteria brought in there is a depletion of oxygen. The assumption is when there's is a warm water flood you will frequently see cray fish die off. There is a lot not really understood.

Temperature of floodwaters during reversals is important (as noted by Adam). All floods have a lot of organic carbon in them. When water is cold (typically during 'normal' spring flooding), there is more dissolved oxygen and the rate that bacteria can consume organic matter and oxygen and convert it to CO2 is relatively slow. When floodwaters are warm (typically during tropical storms or hurricanes), there is less dissolved oxygen in the water and the warmer temperatures allow the bacteria to eat faster. As a result, the warmer water floods are more conducive to the caves becoming anaerobic (all dissolved oxygen in the cave is gone) during a flood event. These anaerobic events kill anything that can't get into areas of the aquifer that still have some dissolved oxygen.

[OFG-1]

Kelly, when you are at Ginnie on the weekend, how would you define "unusual observations"?

[Kelly Jessop]

Kelly, when you are at Ginnie on the weekend, how would you define "unusual observations"?

The Ginnie regulars drinking tea and eating scones, while reading an Elizbethan classic.

[OFG-1]

The Ginnie regulars drinking tea and eating scones, while reading an Elizbethan classic.

Well, if by tea, you mean long island ice tea, and scone, you mean pot brownie, and consider Game of Thrones a Elizbethan classic, then it could happen.