How are Dark/Cave Ecosystems Supported if There is no Sunlight?

Question

You know, things live in caves... but there is no Sun, thus no photosynthesis... the root of all life.

And what about in under-the-ocean caves? It's freezing cold, and there is no trace of light, but things still seem to thrive there? How is that possible?

We are taught that the sun an photosynthesis are the ultimate bases of life. Could that be wrong? Could there even be other intelligent life forms on our planet, other than us? We're searching across the universe... when what we're looking for is right here, just under our noses.

Think about it...

Don't forget to answer the question either!

Thanks! =)

Answer 1

Bats, birds, and other organisms drop guano and transport other organic materials into caves.  Water and wind physically transport organic materials into caves.  Dissolved nutrients and minerals are transported in water.  The products of photosynthesis make their way into cave systems.  Caves are not a closed ecosystem.

Life in deep sea caves and habitats are fed by the products of the activities that go on above them.  Think of all the organic matter that settles on the ocean floor, this is all driven by photosynthesis.

Answer 2

Yes, we are taught that many plants need the sun to use photosynthesis, but most plants you see in dark caves are either bacteria or just spores or mosses that do not need the sun to survive.

I really doubt that there would be plants under-the-ocean caves, unless they are adaptable to severe conditions, so I think that only bacteria can survive there, because bacteria form almost anywhere on earth due to there unique ability to survive in servere conditions.

Who knows what we haven't explored yet, there's a whole world out there waiting for us to grasp its knowledge.

Hope i helped.