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Mammoth Cave

A Human and Natural History

  • Book
  • © 2017

Overview

Editors:
  1. Horton H. Hobbs III

    1. Department of Biology, Wittenberg University, Springfield, USA

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  2. Rickard A Olson

    1. 1950 Roy Hunter Road, Cave Research Foundation, Cave City, USA

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  3. Elizabeth G Winkler

    1. Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, USA

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  4. David C. Culver

    1. American University, Washington, USA

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  • Provides the first comprehensive interdisciplinary book on Mammoth Cave, the world's longest cave
  • Includes anthropology, geology, biology, and human history, making it unique in its range of coverage
  • Is richly illustrated, with dozens of color and black and white photographs
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Cave and Karst Systems of the World (CAKASYWO)

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Table of contents (18 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
    Download chapter PDF

  2. An Orientation to Mammoth Cave and This Volume

    • Rickard S. Toomey III, Horton H. Hobbs III, Rickard A. Olson
    Pages 1-28

  3. The Prehistoric Archeology of Mammoth Cave

    • George M. Crothers
    Pages 29-38

  4. The History of Mammoth Cave

    • Colleen O’Connor Olson
    Pages 39-62

  5. History of Exploration at Mammoth Cave

    • Stanley D. Sides
    Pages 63-76

  6. A History of Map-Making at Mammoth Cave

    • Michael Sutton
    Pages 77-95

  7. Geology of Mammoth Cave

    • Arthur N. Palmer
    Pages 97-109

  8. Geologic History of Mammoth Cave

    • Arthur N. Palmer
    Pages 111-121

  9. Hydrology and Hydrogeology of Mammoth Cave

    • William B. White, Elizabeth L. White
    Pages 123-143

  10. Mineralogy of Mammoth Cave

    • William B. White
    Pages 145-162

  11. Mammoth Cave Meteorology

    • Rickard A Olson
    Pages 163-173

  12. Under Foot: The Paleontology of Mammoth Cave

    • Mona L. Colburn
    Pages 175-189

  13. Landscape Ecology of Mammoth Cave: How Surface and Cave Ecosystems Influence Each Other

    • Rickard A. Olson
    Pages 191-198

  14. Terrestrial Cave Ecology of the Mammoth Cave Region

    • Thomas L. Poulson
    Pages 199-207

  15. Subsurface Aquatic Ecology of Mammoth Cave

    • Kurt L. Helf, Rickard A. Olson
    Pages 209-226

  16. Biodiversity of Mammoth Cave

    • David C. Culver, Horton H. Hobbs III
    Pages 227-234

  17. Mammoth Cave Microbiology

    • Kathleen H. Lavoie
    Pages 235-250

  18. Bats of Mammoth Cave

    • Steven C. Thomas, Rickard S. Toomey III
    Pages 251-264

  19. Environmental Issues Relevant to the Mammoth Cave Area

    • Rickard A. Olson
    Pages 265-275
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Keywords

About this book

This book reveals the science and beauty of Mammoth Cave, the world's longest cave, which has played an important role in the natural sciences. It offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary treatment of the cave, combining insights from leading experts in fields ranging from archeology and cultural history to life science and geosciences. The first animals specialized for cave life in North America, including beetles, spiders, crayfish, and fish, were discovered in Mammoth Cave in the 1840s. It has also been used and explored by humans, including Native Americans, who mined its sulfate minerals and later African-American slaves, who made a map of the cave. More recent stories include 'wars' between commercial cave owners, epic exploration trips by modern cave explorers, and of course tourism.


The first section of the book is an extensive description including maps and photos of the cave, its basic structural pattern, and how it relates to the surface lan
dscape. The second section covers the human history of utilization and exploration of the cave, including mining, tourism, and medical experiments. Cave science is the topic of the third section, including geology, hydrology, mineralogy, climatology, paleontology, ecology, biodiversity, and microbiology. The fourth section looks to the future, with an overview of environmental issues facing Mammoth Cave managers.

The book is intended for anyone interested in caves in general and Mammoth Cave in particular, experts in one discipline seeking information about other areas, and researchers and students interested in the many avenues of pursuit possible in Mammoth Cave.


Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Biology, Wittenberg University, Springfield, USA

    Horton H. Hobbs III

  • 1950 Roy Hunter Road, Cave Research Foundation, Cave City, USA

    Rickard A Olson

  • Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, USA

    Elizabeth G Winkler

  • American University, Washington, USA

    David C. Culver

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