Author Topic: Underground ecosystem discovered (Read 1652 times)

tivx · « **on:** June 06, 2006, 04:31:10 PM »

http://today.reuters.co.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-05-31T102559Z_01_L31581222_RTRIDST_0_SCIENCE-SCIENCE-ISRAEL-CAVE-DC.XML]http://today.reuters.co.uk/News/NewsArticl...AEL-CAVE-DC.XML

Quote

Scientists discover prehistoric cave in Israel
Wed May 31, 2006 11:26 AM BST
Email This Article | Print This Article | RSS

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli scientists said on Wednesday they had discovered a prehistoric ecosystem dating back millions of years.

The discovery was made in a cave near the central Israeli city of Ramle during rock drilling at a quarry. Scientists were called in and soon found eight previously unknown species of crustaceans and invertebrates similar to scorpions.

"Until now eight species of animals were found in the cave, all of them unknown to science," said Dr Hanan Dimantman, a biologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

He said the cave's ecosystem probably dates back around five million years when the Mediterranean Sea covered parts of Israel.

The cave was completely sealed off from the world, including from water and nutrients seeping through rock crevices above. Scientists who discovered the cave believe it has been intact for millions of years.

"Every species we examined had no eyes which means they lost their sight due to evolution," said Dimantman.

Samples of the animals discovered in the cave were sent for DNA tests which found they were unique, he said. The cave has been closed off as scientists conduct a more detailed survey.

"This is a cave of fantastic biodiversity," Dimantman said.Scientists discover prehistoric cave in Israel
Wed May 31, 2006 11:26 AM BST
Email This Article | Print This Article | RSS

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli scientists said on Wednesday they had discovered a prehistoric ecosystem dating back millions of years.

The discovery was made in a cave near the central Israeli city of Ramle during rock drilling at a quarry. Scientists were called in and soon found eight previously unknown species of crustaceans and invertebrates similar to scorpions.

"Until now eight species of animals were found in the cave, all of them unknown to science," said Dr Hanan Dimantman, a biologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

He said the cave's ecosystem probably dates back around five million years when the Mediterranean Sea covered parts of Israel.

The cave was completely sealed off from the world, including from water and nutrients seeping through rock crevices above. Scientists who discovered the cave believe it has been intact for millions of years.

"Every species we examined had no eyes which means they lost their sight due to evolution," said Dimantman.

Samples of the animals discovered in the cave were sent for DNA tests which found they were unique, he said. The cave has been closed off as scientists conduct a more detailed survey.

"This is a cave of fantastic biodiversity," Dimantman said.

StreakInTheSky · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2006, 09:49:49 AM »

oh wtf... I want to see pics...

I sort of feel sorry for that ecosystem... humans finally got their hands on it...

ohbahsan · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2006, 04:17:03 PM »

some pics: http://www.targetpoint.com/greenview/?id=5&sid=3&gid=245

vicmu · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2006, 09:02:56 PM »

scorpion? looks kinda like a lobster to me @.@

StreakInTheSky · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2006, 03:10:57 AM »

Yeah I thought it looked more like a lobster too

JTRIX · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2006, 01:28:13 AM »

well they do look like lobsters, but the clamps they have seems more like scorpions like.

Anyhow I hope these "scientists" will perserve this ecosystem and not leeting it destroy.