Which ecosystem is independent of solar energy?
The keyed cave response is only conditionally valid and conflicts with accepted ecology if interpreted generally. Most cave food webs depend on photosynthetically derived material carried in by water, wind, roots, or animals such as bats, so they are indirectly solar-dependent. Some caves host chemoautotrophic bacteria that oxidize sulfide, methane, ammonium, or ferrous iron and fix carbon without sunlight; those specific communities can support solar-independent food webs. The item therefore confuses absence of local light with independence from solar energy and should be flagged as a key mis
Ref: Fundamentals of Ecology, Odum & Barrett, 5th Ed., Ch. 3
