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UID:pretalx-nss-convention-2026-WDCKVJ@talks.caving.dev
DTSTART;TZID=EST:20260707T144000
DTEND;TZID=EST:20260707T150000
DESCRIPTION:The U.S. Cave Animal of the Year (CAOTY) program began in 2020 
 is our country's entry into what is now a global celebration of cave biota
  each year. NSS Conservation Division CAOTY Team Members started this impo
 rtant program to help educate the general public about the diversity and u
 nique adaptations of life underground. Our NSS CAOTY TEAM decides on a rep
 resentative troglobitic\, troglophilic\, or trogloxenic species each year 
 and promotes the winner in the NSS News Conservation Issue\, on the NSS we
 bsite at https://caves.org/conservation\, and by creating stickers for sal
 e in the NSS Bookstore. This year\, every Convention attendee will receive
  a CAOTY sticker in their registration packet. The stickers serve as a cri
 tical marketing tool\, to generating interest and awareness of the annual 
 species to cavers and the general public. Commercial show caves can become
  Cave Preservation Network partners and purchase CAOTY stickers and sell t
 hem in their gift shops furthering our education mission. Proceeds from th
 ese stickers pay for the stickers themselves and go back into conservation
  outreach efforts. This year\, the team selected the Slimy Salamander! Whi
 le the genus Plethodon includes dozens of woodland species\, the 2026 Cave
  Animal of the Year focuses specifically on the Slimy Salamander complex (
 Plethodon glutinosus group). These salamanders are among the most frequent
 ly encountered amphibians in eastern U.S. caves. Although they lack the ex
 treme cave adaptations of troglobionts\, Slimy Salamanders function as cla
 ssic troglophiles—regular cave users that move freely between surface fo
 rces and subterranean environments. Come to this session to learn more abo
 ut the dynamic and beautiful Slimy Salamander!
DTSTAMP:20260826T232337Z
LOCATION:205
SUMMARY:026 U.S. Cave Animal of the Year – The Slimy Salamander Cave Anim
 al of the Year Team - 
URL:https://talks.caving.dev/nss-convention-2026/talk/WDCKVJ/
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