[Campbell Biology P.1231] Which statement accurately describes the primary producers in coral... | Practice Question

Which statement accurately describes the primary producers in coral reefs compared to deep-sea hydrothermal vents?

  • A: Both ecosystems primarily rely on photosynthetic organisms for energy.
  • B: Coral reefs primarily have photosynthetic algae, while deep-sea hydrothermal vents have chemoautotrophic prokaryotes.
  • C: Deep-sea hydrothermal vents have photosynthetic organisms due to light penetration, unlike coral reefs.
  • D: Primary production in both ecosystems depends on symbiotic relationships with multicellular red and green algae.

Explanation

The text states that in coral reefs, unicellular algae live within corals and multicellular red and green algae also contribute photosynthesis. For deep-sea hydrothermal vents, it explicitly states that 'food producers are chemoautotrophic prokaryotes' which obtain energy by oxidizing H2S.