| Limestone
Caves 5b. Cave ecosystems |
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| Entrance Ecosystem. The entrance to North Glory Cave is a transition zone between the outside and the dark cave ecosystems. The climate of the entrance is modified by the cool air of the cave. The hillside below is opposite the cave and is covered with a typical eucalypt woodland. This cave entrance has shrubs including banksias, grevilleas and tussock grasses but has no trees. | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Twilight Ecosystem. As the amount of light decreases, in this case about 20 metres into the cave, the diversity and number of plants also decreases. This cave has ferns, lichens and algae growing on the rock. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Dark Cave Ecosystem. There is an absence of plants (no sunlight for energy) and hence a lack of food provided for the typical above ground food chain based on plant photosynthesis. Name
the cave ecosystem with the least diversity of plant life.
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