Rather, energy was extracted by chemoautotrophic bacteria, living in a film on top of the water of an underground lake. These bacteria produce energy by oxidizing the sulfide compounds in the water, and derive organic compounds using carbon dioxide from the air.
Rather than relying on sunlight, energy was extracted from chemoautotrophic bacteria living in a film above an underground lake's surface. These bacteria transform sulfide compounds for energy production and synthesize organic molecules using carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.