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Un ecosistema de cuevas basado en el quimioautotrofismo
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 28, 1996
Resumen
Los ecosistemas de cuevas pueden ser apoyados por la quimiosíntesis. Las bacterias que utilizan el sulfuro de hidrógeno como energía forman la base de la red alimentaria de los invertebrados endémicos en un ecosistema de agua subterránea rumano único.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Microbiología Microbiología.
- Ecología Ecología Ecología.
- Biología de las Cuevas Biología de las Cuevas
Sus antecedentes:
- Los ecosistemas de aguas subterráneas albergan comunidades microbianas únicas.
- Las bacterias quimioautotróficas pueden formar la base de las redes alimentarias en entornos limitados por la luz.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para investigar las comunidades microbianas en un ecosistema de aguas subterráneas rumano.
- Para determinar la base alimenticia que apoya a los invertebrados adaptados a las cuevas.
Principales métodos:
- Análisis de esteras microbianas para las bacterias quimioautotróficas.
- Análisis de isótopos estables (carbono y nitrógeno) para rastrear las redes alimentarias.
Principales resultados:
- Se identificaron bacterias quimioautotróficas que utilizan sulfuro de hidrógeno.
- Estas bacterias forman la principal fuente de alimento para 48 especies de invertebrados.
- 33 de estas especies de invertebrados son endémicas del ecosistema.
Conclusiones:
- Este es el único ecosistema de cuevas conocido apoyado por producción autotrófica in situ.
- Representa la única comunidad terrestre conocida basada en la quimiosíntesis.
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