Shelta Cave: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Cave in Alabama}} |
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{{Infobox protected area |
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| name = Shelta Cave |
| name = Shelta Cave |
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| embedded = {{designation list |embed=yes |designation1=NNL |designation1_date=October 1972}} |
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'''Shelta Cave''' is a {{convert|2500|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} cave and lake located in [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]], [[Madison County, Alabama]], |
'''Shelta Cave''' is a {{convert|2500|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} cave and lake located in [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]], [[Madison County, Alabama]], United States. It is described as one of the most bio-diverse caves within the [[Appalachian Mountains]]. The cave is currently owned and managed as a [[nature preserve]] by the [[National Speleological Society]], with their main offices directly above the cave. It was declared a [[National Natural Landmark]] in October 1972.<ref>[http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/Registry/USA_Map/States/Alabama/NNL/SC/index.cfm NPS NNL Summary page]</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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This cave was an underground bar and dance hall in the early 1900s.<ref name=quirky>{{cite book|last=Duncan|first=Andy|title=Alabama Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff |
This cave was an underground bar and dance hall in the early 1900s.<ref name="quirky">{{cite book |last=Duncan |first=Andy |url=https://archive.org/details/alabamacuriositi0000dunc |title=Alabama Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff |date=2005 |publisher=Globe Pequot |isbn=978-0-7627-3088-9 |pages=147–148 |accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref> |
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==Speleology and wildlife== |
==Speleology and wildlife== |
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The cave is open to members of the NSS during certain times of the year to minimize the impact on the |
The cave is open to members of the NSS during certain times of the year to minimize the impact on the [[biome]]. There are now three sinkhole entrances. The lake can be as large as {{convert|7|acres|ha}} during the winter and early spring rainy season. Other times of the year, the lake bed is exposed.<ref name=quirky/> |
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There are nine species which were first discovered in this cave.<ref>[http://www.caves.org/preserves/scp/shelta.html NSS Shelta page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210143737/http://www.caves.org/preserves/scp/shelta.html |date=2007-02-10 }}</ref> The [[Orconectes|Shelta |
There are nine species which were first discovered in this cave.<ref>[http://www.caves.org/preserves/scp/shelta.html NSS Shelta page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210143737/http://www.caves.org/preserves/scp/shelta.html |date=2007-02-10 }}</ref> The [[Orconectes sheltae|Shelta Cave crayfish]] is [[endemism|endemic]] to the cave.<ref>{{cite iucn |author=Schuster, G.A.|author2= Taylor, C.A. |author3= Cordeiro, J. |name-list-style= amp |year= 2010 |title= ''Orconectes sheltae'' |page= e.T153962A4569540 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T153962A4569540.en|access-date=5 March 2013}}</ref> |
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== Rediscovery == |
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In May 2022, biologists led by Dr. Matthew L. Niemiller reported the rediscovery of the Shelta Cave crayfish (''Orconectes sheltae'') at Shelta Cave for the first time since 1988. They announced that 20 cave crayfish were discovered during 12 of 20 surveys between October 2018 and July 2021. Two of them were identified as ''Orconectes sheltae''. The study demonstrated that the species is not yet extinct as past authors had assumed.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dooley |first=Katherine E. |last2=Niemiller |first2=K. Denise Kendall |last3=Sturm |first3=Nathaniel |last4=Niemiller |first4=Matthew L. |date=2022-05-20 |title=Rediscovery and phylogenetic analysis of the Shelta Cave Crayfish (''Orconectes sheltae'' Cooper & Cooper, 1997), a decapod (Decapoda, Cambaridae) endemic to Shelta Cave in northern Alabama, USA |url=https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/79993/ |journal=Subterranean Biology |language=en |volume=43 |pages=11–31 |doi=10.3897/subtbiol.43.79993 |issn=1314-2615|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-04 |title=Cave creature thought extinct for 30 years is rediscovered |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2022/06/cave-creature-thought-extinct-for-30-years-is-rediscovered |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=For The Win |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070210143737/http://www.caves.org/preserves/scp/shelta.html Shelta Cave Nature Preserve] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070210143737/http://www.caves.org/preserves/scp/shelta.html Shelta Cave Nature Preserve] |
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[[Category:Caves of Alabama]] |
[[Category:Caves of Alabama]] |
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[[Category:Landforms of Madison County, Alabama]] |
[[Category:Landforms of Madison County, Alabama]] |
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{{MadisonCountyAL-geo-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 22:01, 1 October 2023
| Shelta Cave | |
|---|---|
 Shelta Cave | |
  Map of Alabama | |
| Location | Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 34°45′13″N 86°36′38″W / 34.75364°N 86.61043°W |
| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Established | 1967 |
| Governing body | National Speleological Society |
| www | |
| Designated | October 1972 |
Shelta Cave is a 2,500-foot-long (760 m) cave and lake located in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, United States. It is described as one of the most bio-diverse caves within the Appalachian Mountains. The cave is currently owned and managed as a nature preserve by the National Speleological Society, with their main offices directly above the cave. It was declared a National Natural Landmark in October 1972.[1]
History[edit]
This cave was an underground bar and dance hall in the early 1900s.[2]
Speleology and wildlife[edit]
The cave is open to members of the NSS during certain times of the year to minimize the impact on the biome. There are now three sinkhole entrances. The lake can be as large as 7 acres (2.8 ha) during the winter and early spring rainy season. Other times of the year, the lake bed is exposed.[2]
There are nine species which were first discovered in this cave.[3] The Shelta Cave crayfish is endemic to the cave.[4]
Rediscovery[edit]
In May 2022, biologists led by Dr. Matthew L. Niemiller reported the rediscovery of the Shelta Cave crayfish (Orconectes sheltae) at Shelta Cave for the first time since 1988. They announced that 20 cave crayfish were discovered during 12 of 20 surveys between October 2018 and July 2021. Two of them were identified as Orconectes sheltae. The study demonstrated that the species is not yet extinct as past authors had assumed.[5][6]
References[edit]
- ^ NPS NNL Summary page
- ^ a b Duncan, Andy (2005). Alabama Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff. Globe Pequot. pp. 147–148. ISBN 978-0-7627-3088-9. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- ^ NSS Shelta page Archived 2007-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Schuster, G.A.; Taylor, C.A. & Cordeiro, J. (2010). "Orconectes sheltae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T153962A4569540. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T153962A4569540.en. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ Dooley, Katherine E.; Niemiller, K. Denise Kendall; Sturm, Nathaniel; Niemiller, Matthew L. (2022-05-20). "Rediscovery and phylogenetic analysis of the Shelta Cave Crayfish (Orconectes sheltae Cooper & Cooper, 1997), a decapod (Decapoda, Cambaridae) endemic to Shelta Cave in northern Alabama, USA". Subterranean Biology. 43: 11–31. doi:10.3897/subtbiol.43.79993. ISSN 1314-2615.
- ^ "Cave creature thought extinct for 30 years is rediscovered". For The Win. 2022-06-04. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
External links[edit]
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