Dropped Cheetos Could Have Triggered Ecosystem Chaos in Largest US Cave Chamber
A bag of Cheetos in Carlsbad Caverns raised concerns about ecological disruption, fostering microbial life and attracting cave organisms, prompting rangers to remove trash and mold to mitigate impacts.
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A bag of Cheetos left in the Big Room of Carlsbad Caverns, the largest cave chamber in North America, has raised concerns about its potential impact on the cave's ecosystem. The National Park Service (NPS) highlighted that while a dropped snack may seem insignificant, it can disrupt the delicate balance of life within the cave. The humid environment allowed the processed corn snacks to foster microbial life and fungi, which attracted cave crickets, mites, spiders, and flies, creating a temporary food web. This situation could lead to mold growth and nutrient dispersal, affecting the cave's natural formations. Rangers spent time removing the trash and mold to mitigate any lasting effects. The NPS emphasized the importance of minimizing human impact in sensitive environments like caves, which host unique and vulnerable species. The incident serves as a reminder of the broader issue of trash in national parks, where millions of visitors generate substantial waste each year. Past examples, such as the Lascaux Caves in France, illustrate how human activity can irreparably damage delicate ecosystems and historical sites.
- A bag of Cheetos left in Carlsbad Caverns could disrupt the cave's ecosystem.
- The humid environment allowed the snacks to foster microbial life and attract various cave organisms.
- Rangers removed the trash and mold to prevent lasting ecological damage.
- The incident highlights the broader issue of waste in national parks.
- Caves are particularly vulnerable to human impact due to their unique ecosystems.
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5 commentsWhen I got hike, I just started taking a trashbag. Was on a waterfall trail in Colorado three weeks ago; someone left a sock, another their _entire pants_ in a tree (we checked around before cleaning them up, and it was obvious they had been there awhile). How you forget your pants is beyond me.
And don't get me started on people's stupid dogs. Dog feces is pollution, and is non-natural in these environments. People will sometimes scoop, but then leave the bag. What part of that is acceptable?
What? Does this include waste the parks themselves generate in brochures and such?
I cannot fathom how each visitor to a national park generates an average of 467 pounds of trash.
Where it will be consumed by the mold eating cave inhabitants. Do they really think that cave ecosystems weren't prepared for a deer carcass? They had received external supplies of nutrients for millions of years.
Keeping caves clean is a good thing, but if people can't behave can be fined for it. In any case, regular cleaning teams should be included in the budget of the park as part of the management. Stop being cheap with nature.
Except for the aluminum and plastic bag, easily removable, this is a storm in a teacup. Would be relevant only when prehistoric art is present.
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