Hidden Ecosystem Discovered Beneath Cement Quarry

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/060531_new_ecosystem.html

At a cement quarry in Israel, researchers have discovered eight previously unknown species of small creatures in a newfound underground cave.

The limestone cave has long been sealed off from it surroundings—even outside water cannot seep through an overlying layer of chalk—and it contains an entire ecosystem unlike anything known.

The newly named Ayalon Cave stretches for about 1.5 miles and is "unique in the world," said Amos Frumkin of the Hebrew University Department of Geography.

A small opening was uncovered at the quarry, leading to the cave, which extends more than 100 yards below the surface. It is situated between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

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This is a complete, self-sufficient ecosystem that exists without the benefit of sunlight. No nutrients are coming in from outside? (since they say external water can't get in). No waste is transported away from the cave?

I had no idea an ecosystem that small could be completely self-contained. Seems like there has to be some external food inputs they're not seeing, doesn't there?

If not, that's amazing!

Where some bacteria at the bottom of the food chain digests minerals in the cave.

Chemosynthesis.

In reality I am a computer wonk with a physics background.

useable energy sources eventually be reduced to zero, as the energy wound up as heat?

They could be extracting energy from some chemical--that's what we all do, ultimately--but eventually that would run out. Unless they're slowing eating through their food supply, and would be doomed to eventual extinction unless they found a new environment.

As we all are.

now that they opened it up, everything has changed.

interesting though.

But can't fault them as they didn't know it was there.

Another bit of nature lost.

We get to destroy a whole new ecosystem!

:rofl:

just to test your faith.

It must have been there for 6,000 years, right?

I'm sure that Noah took a spoonful on the ark.

:sarcasm:

Do any of the Mars satellites have the ability to locate underground caves?

...but really, no. You MIGHT see this in a gravitational map if the caverns were extensive enough.

...and really I wouldn't be shocked if we did find life down far below Mars surface. Life is insanely resilient. If Mars life managed to evolve before it lost its oceans then I would say that there is roughly a 75%-80% chance that there would be life deep below the Martian surface. Of course, all we have is the Earth as a measuring stick and its a pretty poor stick at that - we know life exists here. If we can find life on Mars, no matter where it is, or on Europa or some other moon or planet, then the chances of life existing outside of our solar system increases millions of fold.

Eight previously unknown invertebrate creatures have been discovered in a cave in central Israel.

The largest is a white shrimp-like crustacean. Another resembles a species of scorpion and is blind.

The cave, near the city of Ramle, contains a lake and was uncovered during drilling at a quarry.

Scientists say it is a unique ecosystem that has been sealed off from the rest of the world for five million years and could contain other ancient lifeforms.
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The ecosystem is thought to date back millions of years to a time when the area was part of the Mediterranean Sea.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5036618.stm There's also a link to a short video clip.