In Movile, the first link of the meal is without sun

A dark cave may seem to depend entirely on food from the surface. In Movile, Romania, the researchers found another food base: microbial communities that make organic matter using the energy of chemical reactions. Groundwater provides hydrogen sulfide.

A study published in 1996 brought the isotopic signature of microbes closer to that of invertebrates living in this environment. It has shown the role of this production in their diet. Subsequent analyses have clarified the diversity of microorganisms and possible reactions, beyond a single bacterium doing all the work.

This does not mean that animals eat stones directly or that they live without any source of energy. Organizations produce, others consume, and resources circulate. The surprise is at the beginning of the network: in this darkness, chemical energy can initiate a food chain that is spontaneously associated with illuminated plants.