Question

Hydrothermal vents pump super heated salt water into the ocean that is filled with various minerals. Because of this, there is absolutely no life surrounding this oceanic feature.

True Or False

Answer 1

The presence of life around hydrothermal vents is significant and diverse despite the challenging conditions of high temperature, pressure, and lack of sunlight. Life at these vents is made possible by chemoautotrophic bacteria, which serve as a food source for a range of unique and adapted species.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that there is absolutely no life surrounding hyrdrothermal vents in the ocean is false. Hydrothermal vents spew superheated water that is rich in minerals such as metal sulfide. This environment presents unique challenges, but it is home to a variety of specialized organisms. The extreme conditions of high temperature, toxicity, pressure, and lack of sunlight make photosynthesis impossible, yet life thrives here thanks to chemoautotrophic bacteria, which use the energy stored in chemicals to produce food.

These bacteria form the base of a food chain that supports diverse species such as red and white tubeworms, crabs, and vent mussels. The unique adaptations of these organisms allow them to live in an environment that would be deadly to most other life forms. Some of these creatures include tubeworms that were discovered in 1977, which cluster around vents despite the toxic minerals, high pressure, cold temperature, and complete darkness. Moreover, other vent species such as ghost fish and crabs with eyes on their backs contribute to the complexity of this ecosystem. The organisms living around hydrothermal vents are an example of how life can adapt to extreme conditions and find alternative methods to obtain energy, thus flourishing in what seems inhospitable to human standards.

Answer 2

This is absolutely false.
There is a wide diversity of life teaming around hydrothermal vents. These communities include primary producer organisms, but instead of obtaining energy from the sun, these bacteria use a process called chemosynthesis to convert minerals and other chemicals in the water into energy. These bacteria support a wide range of other animal species, including giant tube worms, deep sea mussels, serpulid or “feather duster” worms, and vent crabs, the apex predator of the vent community.