Soil-like bodies of autochemolithotrophic ecosystems in the caves of the Kugitangtau Ridge, eastern Turkmenistan

Ecosystems, in which the role of primary producers is played not by the photosynthetically active plants, but by the autochemolithotrophic microorganisms utilizing the chemical energy instead of the solar energy, have been described in the caves of eastern Turkmenistan. The zones of contact and inte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Eurasian soil science 2010-06, Vol.43 (6), p.614-627
Main Authors: Semikolennykh, A. A., Targulian, V. O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioaccumulation
Caves
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Ecosystems
Force and energy
Genesis and Geography of Soils
Geochemistry
Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences
Lakes
Methane
Microorganisms
Soil sciences
Soil surfaces
Solar energy
Sulfur compounds
Trophic levels
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Summary:Ecosystems, in which the role of primary producers is played not by the photosynthetically active plants, but by the autochemolithotrophic microorganisms utilizing the chemical energy instead of the solar energy, have been described in the caves of eastern Turkmenistan. The zones of contact and interaction between the microorganisms and the mineral substrate perform the regulative, structuring, and bioaccumulative functions of surface soils. These zones have a vertically anisotropic profile forming in situ. Their functional and structural specificity makes it possible to consider them as bio-abiotic natural soil-like bodies and to apply the methods of pedology for their study.
ISSN:1064-2293
1556-195X
DOI:10.1134/S1064229310060025