ERUSALEM - Israeli scientists have discovered an ancient ecosystem containing eight previously unknown species in a lake inside a cave, where they were completely sheltered from the outside world for millions of years.
The newly discovered crustaceans and invertebrates were found last month in a cave near the city of Ramle in central
Israel, team leader Amos Frumkin announced Thursday.
"This is a very unique ecosystem that is completely isolated from the surface," said Frumkin, a cave researcher in the geography department of Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
The cave, located 328 feet below ground in a limestone quarry, includes tunnels that extend about a mile and a half. Inside, a large underground lake holds the previously unknown species, some similar to scorpions and shrimp.
Allen G. Collins, a research fellow at the
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, said the find "underscores how little we know about life on our planet and how important it is to keep looking."
"I imagine this is a unique situation, to have a cave system with both marine and freshwater systems, and it is quite interesting in an underground situation," he said. "The scorpion-like creatures as well as the shrimp-like creatures that were found are unique."
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dimensionless said:Does anyone know how such ecosystems can sustain themselves? I mean there is no sunlight, no hydrothermal vents, and the whole system is sealed of from the surface by a "thick layer of chalk that was impenetrable to water or exterior nutrients."
dimensionless said:What types of minerals are disolved into the water?
Your typical awful science journalism, leaves you dazed and confused.Frumkin said similar caves have been discovered in Romania and Mexico, but none were as isolated. Unlike most animals, which depend on the photosynthesis food chain, the newly discovered species live off a completely independent and self-sustaining ecosystem.
When one of the volunteer staff crouched down to measure the temperature of the warm, sulfuric water he suddenly jumped up and yelled "there is something moving here."
What do you mean, the free energy comes from the oxidation of (in)organic compounds.selfAdjoint said:..and where does the free energy come from?
Monique said:What do you mean, the free energy comes from the oxidation of (in)organic compounds.
There are different kinds of chemotrophy:
chemoautotroph- Organism that obtains energy from the oxidation of reduced inorganic compounds or elements and obtains carbon from carbon dioxide.
chemolithotroph- Organism that obtains energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds and uses inorganic compounds as electron donors.
chemoheterotroph- Organism that obtains energy and carbon from the oxidation of organic compounds (we humans).
chemoorganotroph- Organism that obtains energy and electrons (reducing power) from the oxidation of organic compounds.
The scientists found 8 new species in the underground cave, including a type of blind fish, a new type of beetle, and several new species of insects.
The scientists used specialized equipment such as cameras and sensors to explore the underground cave and identify these new species.
At this time, it is unclear if any of the new species are endangered. Further research and observation will be needed to determine their conservation status.
Finding new species is always significant as it adds to our understanding and knowledge of the biodiversity on our planet. Additionally, the discovery of these new species in an underground cave highlights the importance of exploring and preserving these unique and often overlooked ecosystems.
Yes, the scientists plan to conduct further research on these new species to learn more about their behaviors, habitats, and potential ecological roles within the underground cave ecosystem.