[Campbell Biology P.636] In hydrothermal vent ecosystems, what is the fundamental energy sou... | Practice Question

In hydrothermal vent ecosystems, what is the fundamental energy source that sustains the entire community, and which group of organisms plays a crucial role in harnessing this energy?

  • A: Sunlight; Photosynthetic algae.
  • B: Chemical energy from compounds like hydrogen sulfide; Chemoautotrophic bacteria.
  • C: Organic compounds from dead organisms; Decomposers.
  • D: Thermal energy from the vent; Large eukaryotic species.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'the energy that supports the community is derived from the metabolic activities of chemoautotrophic bacteria. These bacteria harvest chemical energy from compounds such as hydrogen sulfide H2S that are released from the vent.'