On Tue, 1 May 2007 07:53:42 CST, wrote:

There have been two science shows on caves so far that I use in class.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/caves/extremophiles.html
As a microbiologist by training I am fascinated with archeabacteria
(the old ones) and the extremophiles, like those found in caves.
The story begins at the sulfur plumes at the bottom of oceans where
chemilithotrophs (rock feeding) bacteria use sulfur to get some high
energy electrons to make ATP, they use the ATP to convert CO2 into
glucose. The whole cycle does not use photosynthesis or oxygen. IN
FACT, bacteria like this are at the bottoms of poorly oxygenated ponds
that create a sulfurous stinking mess and toxic gases.
Caves like Lechuguilla are filled with hydrogen sulfide and methane
made by bacteria even lower down in the soil that are working away at
organic deposits that are now oil.
Our ponds are little scale models of the original conditions, and
anybody who has had to clean out a badly crudded up pond finds the
oily like gunk on the bottom.
Our ponds are also little scale ecosysytems if there is algae. the
bacteria feed on the algae, the itty bitty critters (protista) feed on
the bacteria and our fish feed on the protistas.
http://weloveteaching.com/hopepond/m...g/microbug.htm
http://weloveteaching.com/hopepond/m...g/macrobug.htm
Ingrid

Those are great links. You may also want to check out
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resour...map/index.html
for a more general introduction to solution caves in general. I have
a book on the discovery and exploration of Lechuguilla ("little
lettuce") Cave which I can loan to you if you send me your postal
address. I can go on and on about caves, so I guess further
discussion ought to be carried on via email, lest some folks think
this is rec.caves.moderated or something. :^)
--
Galen Hekhuis
"Mistakes were made"