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

On Mon, 30 Apr 2007 12:05:32 CST, Galen Hekhuis
wrote:
It has been discovered, somewhat recently, that there are several
kinds of bacteria that seem to be capable of transforming elements (in
this case, sulphur) directly into energy, without requiring any
external light input. (Well, I think it is pretty remarkable,
anyway.) These bacteria may have played a greater role in cave
development than water, in some cases. There are also some examples
of food chains based on these same bacteria, but I digress. At first
glance, a cave looks like a sterile environment. There is no light
whatsoever, there is nothing growing, just water and rocks and mud.
Surely nothing could survive there. But then there are
speleobiologists and several many universities giving advanced degrees
in speleobiology (speleo meaning "cave" in Greek) so there must be
something to study.

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"