Post by LadyViper on Oct 26, 2006 23:29:30 GMT -6
ETHS General Meeting
"Ezell`s Cave and the Texas Blind Salamander" by Joe Furman
7:45 PM
Friday, November10, 2006
Brown Education Building
The Houston Zoo
Houston, Texas
"Ezell`s Cave and the Texas Blind Salamander" by Joe Furman
The Texas Blind Salamander is the most cave adapted salamander in North America.
In has evolved specalized adaptations to be able to live and hunt prey in a world of complete darkness.
The Edwards Aquifer is devoid of any plant life, therfore it's ecosystem is completely
dependant on biorich nutrients that have to either be washed in or brought in by outside animals.
The Edwards Aquifer has the most fauna of any aquifer system known in the world,
41 plus species described so far.
In the Hays county portion of the aquifer, the Texas Blind Salamander is the top preditor.
It has taken me nearly two and a half years to gain access to Ezell's Cave and film this salamander in the wild.
Together with scientist who study these animals, we have documented rare footage of this threatened
animal insitu underwater in it's natural environment. Because of the rich biological diversity of Ezell's Cave, it was
the first cave to be protected in Texas. It is a registered National Landmark and is the only
place you can access the one hundred and eighty mile long aquifer system in order to dive in it.
The cave biology, geology and aquifer ecosystem will also be explored.
The video will also have other cave adapted herps that occur in Ezell's Cave.
"Ezell`s Cave and the Texas Blind Salamander" by Joe Furman
7:45 PM
Friday, November10, 2006
Brown Education Building
The Houston Zoo
Houston, Texas
"Ezell`s Cave and the Texas Blind Salamander" by Joe Furman
The Texas Blind Salamander is the most cave adapted salamander in North America.
In has evolved specalized adaptations to be able to live and hunt prey in a world of complete darkness.
The Edwards Aquifer is devoid of any plant life, therfore it's ecosystem is completely
dependant on biorich nutrients that have to either be washed in or brought in by outside animals.
The Edwards Aquifer has the most fauna of any aquifer system known in the world,
41 plus species described so far.
In the Hays county portion of the aquifer, the Texas Blind Salamander is the top preditor.
It has taken me nearly two and a half years to gain access to Ezell's Cave and film this salamander in the wild.
Together with scientist who study these animals, we have documented rare footage of this threatened
animal insitu underwater in it's natural environment. Because of the rich biological diversity of Ezell's Cave, it was
the first cave to be protected in Texas. It is a registered National Landmark and is the only
place you can access the one hundred and eighty mile long aquifer system in order to dive in it.
The cave biology, geology and aquifer ecosystem will also be explored.
The video will also have other cave adapted herps that occur in Ezell's Cave.