Alive and kicking

The movile cave in
Romania, has
existed for more
than five million
years without any
contact with
the outside world.
The cave
houses about 50
invertebrate
species, of which 33
are unique
to the cave
(Science, Vol 270,
No 5239).

Biologists from the
University
of Cincinnati, USA,
believe that
the cave, a
'biodiversity hot-
spot' represents a
self-contained
ecosystem thriving
on hydrogen-
sulphide oxidising
bacteria which
represents the
beginning of the food
chain.