A new approach to the assessment of cave environmental changes (As exemplified by caves in the Muradimovskoe Uschelie Natural Park)

Trofimova, Elena V.

doi:0016-7282

- ris
- BibTeX
- EndNote
- Csv

A new approach to the assessment of cave environmental changes (As exemplified by caves in the Muradimovskoe Uschelie Natural Park) Trofimova, Elena V.

Object structure

A new approach to the assessment of cave environmental changes (As exemplified by caves in the Muradimovskoe Uschelie Natural Park)

Geographia Polonica Vol. 87 No. 3 (2014)

cave environmental changes ; assessment ; Cave Disturbance Index (CDI) ; Ural Mountains

The aim of the research detailed here has been to apply a new approach in assessing cave environmental changes – the so-called Cave Disturbance Index (CDI), relating to relief, water objects, air, vegetation and fauna (as the main geographical components of the cave environment) plus cultural aspects of recent cave use. Indicators coming under each of these categories are considered in detail and a quantitative estimation of total CDI then proposed. Practical application of the CDI method is then demonstrated by reference to caves situated in the Muradimovskoe Uschelie Natural Park (Southern Ural Mountains).

1. Anderson J., 2006. Damage to Crystal Cave. Yanchep National Park, Western Australia. http://www.ackma.org/journal/journals_pub.html [9 December 2013].
2. Bočić N., Buzjak N., 2011. Exploration and documentation of the caves with a view to their protection – examples from the Grabovača Cave Park and Cerovačke Caves, Croatia [in:] P. Gostinčar, P. Häuselmann, M. Prelovšek, N.Z. Hajna (eds.), Proceedings of the 19th International Karstological School on “Karst Underground Protection”. Postojna: Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, p. 26.
3. Cerkvernik R., 2011. The impacts of visitors on caves’ physical environment [in:] P. Gostinčar, P. Häuselmann, M. Prelovšek, N.Z. Hajna (eds.), Proceedings of the 19th International Karstological School on “Karst Underground Protection”. Postojna: Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, p. 32.
4. Kuznetsov V.S., Shakurov R.K., 1988. Karst and tectonics of the Muradim geological polygon [in:] I.K. Zinyakhina, M.A Kamaletdinov, A.P. Rozhdestvensky(eds.), Voprosy geologii i geomorfologii Yuzhnogo Urala i Priuralya. Ufa: Institute of Geology RAS, pp.76-80.
5. North L. A., Van Beynen P. E., Parise M., 2009. Interregional comparison of karst disturbance: West-central Florida and southeast Italy. Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 90, no. 5, pp. 1770-1781.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.11.018 -
6. Pulido-Bosch A., Martín-Rosa les W., López-Chicano M., Rodríguez-Nava rro C.M., Vallejos A., 1997. Human impact in a tourist karstic cave(Aracena, Spain). Environmental Geology, vol. 31, no. 3-4, pp. 142-149.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002540050173 -
7. Trofimova E.V., 1999. Karst caves in the Irkutsk amphitheatre, Russia: ecological condition and problems of conservation [in:] I. Bárány-Kevei, J. Gunn (eds.), Essays in the ecology and conservation of karst : International Symposium on Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development on Karst Terrains, Acta Geographica Szegediensis, special issue, 36, Szeged, pp. 153-159.