Publications
2024 Socioeconomic Research of Mammoth Cave National Park: Report on 2024 Data Collection
A comprehensive socioeconomic monitoring of Mammoth Cave National Park in 2024 reveals critical insights into visitor demographics, trip characteristics, and park resource perception. The study employed a two-step survey methodology—on-site intercept surveys via tablets and post-trip surveys (mail-back or online)—to capture representative data during peak seasons. Key findings include detailed visitor profiles, trip planning behaviors, and evaluations of park experiences, which are designed to assist park managers in assessing current utilization, identifying operational issues, and guiding decision-making processes. This research contributes to broader national-level findings, aiding communication between the park and its stakeholders while aligning with NPS strategic goals for science monitoring.
2026 Socioeconomic Research of Mammoth Cave National Park: Report on 2026 Data Collection
Mammoth Cave National Park's 2026 socioeconomic research reveals critical insights into visitor demographics, trip characteristics, and experience evaluations during the off-peak season. The study, conducted via a two-step survey methodology—on-site intercept surveys using tablets followed by post-trip surveys (mail-back or online)—aims to provide park managers with data on current utilization and perception of park resources. This approach helps assess operations, identify potential issues, and facilitate communication between the park and its stakeholders. The findings are expected to guide decision-making processes, contributing to more effective management strategies for this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mammoth Cave National Park: Paleontological resource inventory (public version)
Mammoth Cave National Park harbors one of the most paleontologically significant and diverse fossil records within the U.S. National Park Service, spanning over 300 million years from the Mississippian to Quaternary periods. The park's cave system, formed in ancient marine carbonate rocks, preserves a rich array of fossils including cephalopods, cartilaginous fishes, and terrestrial organisms such as mastodons and saber-toothed cats, reflecting dramatic environmental shifts during the Ice Age. A comprehensive paleontological resource inventory, conducted from 2019 to 2025, documented the temporal and geospatial distribution of these non-renewable resources using field surveys, photogrammetry, specimen analysis, and archival research. This study establishes Mammoth Cave as a globally significant site for understanding paleoenvironmental changes and evolutionary history.
Mammoth Cave National Park: Paleontological resource inventory (sensitive version)
Mammoth Cave National Park (MACA) harbors one of the most paleontologically significant and extensive cave systems globally, with fossils dating from 335 to 2.58 million years ago. A recent inventory revealed a rich tapestry of marine and terrestrial fossils, including rare shark remains, preserved in Mississippian bedrock formed beneath an ancient continental sea. The study also documented Ice Age megafauna such as mastodons and saber-toothed cats, highlighting the park's unparalleled paleontological significance within the National Park Service (NPS). Using photogrammetry, specimen analysis, archival research, and expert consultation, the team systematically mapped the temporal and geospatial distribution of these non-renewable resources. This comprehensive inventory establishes MACA as a critical site for understanding Earth's deep-time biodiversity and provides a foundation for future conservation efforts.
Sharks in the dark: Paleontological resource inventory reveals multiple successive Mississippian Subperiod cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes) assemblages within Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
A paleontological resource inventory of Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, has uncovered a rich diversity of Mississippian Subperiod marine vertebrate fossils, particularly cartilaginous fishes (sharks and kin), with over 70 species identified—90% of which are sharks. This discovery reveals multiple successive assemblages of ancient fish, correcting outdated records from the late 19th century. The study highlights Mammoth Cave as a significant site for understanding fish assemblage changes during the formation of Pangea. Researchers conducted a focused search across four primary horizons, two of which had no prior fossil records, providing new insights into regional paleontology.
Janassid petalodonts (Chondrichthyes, Petalodontiformes, Janassidae) from the middle Mississippian (Viséan) Ste. Genevieve Formation, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA
A new genus and species of janassid petalodont, Strigilodus tollesonae, has been identified from isolated teeth discovered within the Middle Mississippian (Viséan) Joppa Member of the Ste. Genevieve Formation at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. This marks the first record of this chondrichthyan group in the formation. The study analyzed dental structures, revealing rounded spoonlike cusps and V- to U-shaped lingual cristae unique to Strigilodus. Additionally, Janassa sp. was identified within the same formation. Dental reconstructions for Strigilodus and Cypripediodens cristatus suggest distinct feeding adaptations, with Strigilodus showing similarities to Janassa, while Cypripediodens exhibited a possible extreme form of durophage (hard-shelled prey) feeding. The research proposes two subfamilies within Janassidae: Janassinae, including Janassa and Strigilodus, and Cholodinae, comprising Cholodus, Cypripediodens, and Cavusodus.
Mammoth Cave National Park Historic Resource Study
A comprehensive Historic Resource Study (HRS) of Mammoth Cave National Park, conducted by the National Park Service (NPS) in 2022, reanalyzed and updated the park's cultural resources, identifying 55 new candidates for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The study surveyed 290 resources, with 82 recommended for further research due to gaps in documentation, particularly regarding roads and cemeteries. Additionally, it confirmed that 13 resources were previously eligible for NRHP listing or contributing to historic districts, while 17 were deemed ineligible. The HRS also documented the loss of 15 previously recorded resources, providing a critical framework for park management under Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and guiding future documentation efforts.
"Come along, Floyd!" An Ethnographic Study of the Crystal Cave District at Mammoth Cave National Park
A groundbreaking ethnographic study of the Crystal Cave District at Mammoth Cave National Park reveals that cultural elements such as place, history, identity, and tradition play a pivotal role in shaping environmental relationships. Unlike traditional Cultural Landscape Reports (CLRs) that focus primarily on physical characteristics, this research underscores the significance of documenting intangible aspects like values, beliefs, ideas, and traditions. The study employed archival research, Participatory Public GIS (PPGIS), and ethnographic interviews to gather data, providing a nuanced understanding of how individuals perceive and connect with the Crystal Cave District. This approach offers valuable insights for conservation efforts and cultural heritage management.
Effects of stream permanence on stonefly (Insecta, Plecoptera) community structure at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA
Stonefly communities at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA, exhibit significant differences based on stream permanence. The study found that 88% of the 34 stonefly species collected had univoltine-fast life cycles and 79% likely experienced extended egg or larval diapause, enabling survival in intermittent habitats. Spring runs, spring seeps, and summer dry streams harbored distinct assemblages compared to upland perennial streams, with larger lotic system species filtered out due to habitat limitations. The research employed a 14-month sampling regime (December 2018–November 2019) across 45 sites, including both adult and larval collections, to assess these patterns.
Mammoth Cave: A Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in the United States
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, USA, is identified as a global hotspot for subterranean biodiversity, particularly terrestrial species. The study compiles an updated list of 49 cave-limited fauna, including 32 troglobionts and 17 stygobionts, with seven species endemic to the park and 33 species having their type locality in Mammoth Cave. This exceptional diversity is attributed to factors such as high dispersal potential, surface productivity, and extensive exploration history. Notably, nearly 80% of these cave-limited fauna are of conservation concern, facing elevated extinction risks due to small ranges and multiple threats.
Landscape-scale distribution of tree roosts of the northern long-eared bat in Mammoth Cave National Park, USA
Female northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) in Mammoth Cave National Park, USA, predominantly select roost sites within 2000 meters of known hibernacula, favoring higher elevations in mesic upland deciduous forests near water sources and road corridors. This landscape-scale pattern, identified through mist-netting and radiotelemetry from 2015 to 2016, challenges traditional microhabitat-focused conservation strategies by highlighting the importance of broader spatial considerations for effective maternity habitat management. The study underscores the need for empirically-based, large-scale assessments to inform policies aimed at conserving this declining species.
Shifts in Assemblage of Foraging Bats at Mammoth Cave National Park following Arrival of White-nose Syndrome
White-nose syndrome (WNS), which arrived in North America in 2006, has significantly altered the foraging bat assemblage at Mammoth Cave National Park. A study analyzing mist net capture data from 2009 to 2016 revealed a notable shift in species abundance. The Northern Long-eared Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), once the most common species, declined to 18.5% of its pre-WNS levels. Conversely, the Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis) showed the largest increase in capture success post-WNS arrival, followed by the Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) and Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis). These changes suggest that WNS is reshaping foraging bat communities, with less affected species potentially occupying niche space vacated by those severely impacted by the disease. The study highlights the broader ecological implications of WNS on forest-dwelling bats.
A Descriptive Study of Guided Tours at Mammoth Cave National Park
A recent decline in cave tour attendance across the United States has been partially addressed through a study at Mammoth Cave National Park, revealing that guided tours are highly valued by visitors despite low crowding levels. The research, conducted via a mail-back survey of 660 visitors, found high approval ratings and perceived value for the fee paid, suggesting potential strategies to counteract attendance drops. This study highlights the importance of understanding social aspects of visitation in cave settings, where guided tours are often the sole means of exploration.
Historical GIS as a Platform for Public Memory at Mammoth Cave National Park
A historical GIS platform for Mammoth Cave National Park reveals the landscape's transition from a farming community to a protected national park, preserving public memory of its pre-park inhabitants. The Mammoth Cave Historical GIS (MCHGIS) overlays 1920 census data at the household level with streaming topographic maps and georeferences Civilian Conservation Corps photographs, enabling visualization and analysis of population dynamics on the eve of park establishment. This web-based interface broadens access to archival holdings while integrating public participation GIS techniques to create a virtual site of public memory, supplementing institutional history with privately donated materials.
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