Hebrew University researchers uncover eight previously unknown species

Item of interest to those who haven't seen it
yet, but are interested in the history of ancient
bodies of water in the Middle East ~ Janice

<http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641160/posts>Hebrew
University researchers uncover eight previously unknown species
EurekAlert! News ^ | May 31, 2006 |
Staff http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-05/thuo-hur053106.php

Discovery of eight previously unknown, ancient
animal species within "a new and unique
underground ecosystem" in Israel was revealed
today by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers.

In a press conference on the Mt. Scopus campus of
the Hebrew University, the researchers said the
discovery came about when a small opening was
found, leading to a cave extending to a depth of
100 meters beneath the surface of a quarry in the
vicinity of Ramle, between Jerusalem and Tel
Aviv. The quarry is operated by cement manufacturer Nesher Industries.

The cave, which has been dubbed the Ayalon Cave,
is "unique in the world," said Prof. Amos Frumkin
of the Hebrew University Department of Geography.
This is due mainly to its isolation from the
outside world, since the cave's surface is
situated under a layer of chalk that is
impenetrable to water. The cave, with its
branches, extends over some 2½ kilometers, making
it Israel's second largest limestone cave. It is
to remain closed to the public to permit further scientific research.

The invertebrate animals found in the cave – four
seawater and freshwater crustaceans and four
terrestial species – are related to but different
from other, similar life forms known to
scientists. The species have been sent to
biological experts in both Israel and abroad for
further analysis and dating. It is estimated that
these species are millions of years old. Also
found in the cave were bacteria that serve as the
basic food source in the ecosystem.

"The eight species found thus far are only the
beginning" of what promises to be "a fantastic
biodiversity," said Dr. Hanan Dimentman of the
Hebrew University Alexander Silberman Institute
of Life Sciences, another of the researchers
involved in the project. He said that he expects
further exploration to reveal several other unique life forms.

The animals found there were all discovered live,
except for a blind species of scorpion, although
Dr. Dimentman is certain that live scorpions will
be discovered in further explorations and also
probably an animal or animals which feed on the scorpions.

The underground cave includes an underground
lake, in which the crustaceans were found. The
lake is part of the Yarkon-Taninim aquifer, one
of Israel's two aquifers, yet is different in
temperature and chemical composition from the
main waters of the aquifer. The lake's
temperature and salinity indicates that its source is deep underground.

Among the interesting features of the discoveries
thus far in the cave is that two of the
crustaceans are seawater species and two others
are of a types found in fresh or brackish water.
This can provide insights into events occurring
millions of years ago regarding the history of
ancient bodies of water in the region.
Received on Wed May 31 10:49:32 2006