Testing the uniqueness of deep terrestrial life.

ABSTRACT: Terrestrial life typically does not occur at depths greater than a few meters. Notable exceptions are massifs of fissured rock with caves and hollow spaces reaching depths of two kilometres and more. Recent biological discoveries from extremely deep caves have been reported as sensations analogous to wondrous deep sea creatures. However, the existence of unique deep terrestrial communities is questionable when caves are understood as integral parts of a bedrock fissure network (BFN) interconnecting all parts of a massif horizontally and vertically. We tested these two opposing hypotheses - unique deep cave fauna vs. BFN - by sampling subterranean communities within the 3D matrix of a typical karst massif. There was no distinction between deep core and shallow upper zone communities. Beta d

SUBMITTER: Trontelj P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6811635 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature