Final answer:
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are inhabited by chemoautotrophs and heterotrophs. Chemoautotrophs harness chemical energy from compounds like hydrogen sulfide to produce organic molecules, enabling life in extreme, lightless environments. Heterotrophs consume organic compounds and are part of the hydrothermal vent ecosystem.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the unique and extreme environment of deep-sea hydrothermal vents, the types of prokaryotes you would expect to find are chemotrophs and autotrophs. Specifically, these would be organisms known as chemoautotrophs, which are bacteria or archaea that use chemical compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), abundant in hydrothermal vent ecosystems, as a source of energy. This process is known as chemosynthesis. Unlike phototrophs, which rely on sunlight for photosynthesis, chemoautotrophs can produce organic molecules such as glucose without light, making them particularly suited to the darkness of the deep ocean.
Furthermore, there are heterotrophs in these environments that do not produce their own food but instead obtain it by consuming other organisms or organic compounds. Together, these chemoautotrophs and heterotrophs form a complex ecosystem that thrives in the absence of sunlight. The ability of chemoautotrophs to utilize inorganic chemical energy sources allows them to sustain not only themselves but also a diverse community of other organisms.