Organisms produce organic carbon in hydrothermal vent fields through ______. a.photosynthesis b.chemosynthesis c.decomposing organic carbon from the surface ocean

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
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Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
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17. Organisms produce organic carbon in hydrothermal vent fields through ______.
a.photosynthesis
b.chemosynthesis
c.decomposing organic carbon from the surface ocean

Life in the Deep: Hydrothermal Vent Systems
Most organisms in the ocean live within the photic zone, the upper 200 m (650 ft). They depend on the Sun to fuel autotrophs that form the basis of the marine food web. Life also exists deep on the ocean floor. These organisms do not photosynthesize organic carbon for food; instead they use chemicals that seep from Earth's hot interior along hydrothermal vents in a
process called chemosynthesis. During chemosynthesis, bacteria oxidize hydrogen sulfide as an energy source to convert nutrients into organic carbon.
Most vent systems are more than 3000 m (2 mi.) beneath the water's surface so very little organic carbon filters through the water column to these remote locations. In addition to the absence of sunlight, the abiotic factors that influence this ecosystem are intense pressure (300 bars), extreme temperature (2-403°C or 26-760°F), and the absence of sunlight. Figure 8B-2
shows the cross-section of a hydrothermal vent system, where cool water seeps through cracks in the ocean floor and interacts with hot water close to a magma source. Chemical ions are exchanged between the ocean water and the magma. As the super-heated ocean water exits the vent system, it interacts with the cold ocean water. Ions in the super-heated plume of
water precipitate, forming a plume of tiny, solid minerals that resembles smoke. This plume of minerals gives rise to the common name of black smokers for hydrothermal vent systems. The ions accumulate around the vent opening, producing large chimneys. The vent water also provides the fuel for chemosynthesis.
2°C
0.1 cm/s
Oxyanions, (HPO,, HVO,, Cro,, HASO,?), REE, Trace Metals
He, Mn2*, H,S,0,4, FEOOH, MnO2, AT, CH, Fe2+, Fe,S,²Rn, H, H,S
2.05°C
Precipitation
Chimney
(Black Smoker)
HOT
(focussed)
flow
Basalt
Sub Seafloor
Microbial Biosphere
350°C
WARM
...diffuse)
flow
2-60°C
Basalt
M,2
Spreading
Axis
O Metalliferous Sediments
OIron-Magnesium Crusts
H*, Cr, Fe2*, Mn²*,
H,SiO, He, H,S, CH,, CO, H,
Ca", K*, Li*, Cư", Zn* Pb*
Seawater
Evolved
Figure 8B-2. Cross-section of a hydrothermal vent system. [NOAA OER, Link 8B-2]
Because of the harsh environment, hydrothermal vent ecosystems are home to some of the most unique organisms on the planet's surface. Over 300 new species have been discovered at hydrothermal vent systems, including the tube worms in Figure 8B-3.The red plumes on the tube worm house symbiotic bacteria that perform chemosynthesis. These bacteria are able
to use chemicals (hydrogen sulfide) from the vent plume as the energy source to produce organic carbon that provides food for the entire ecosystem. The remaining vent organisms rely on the food supply produced by the tube worms for survival. Other prominent members of the vent community are fish, dandelions, crabs, clams, mussels, shrimp, limpets, and
octopuses.
Seawater
Seawater
Transcribed Image Text:Life in the Deep: Hydrothermal Vent Systems Most organisms in the ocean live within the photic zone, the upper 200 m (650 ft). They depend on the Sun to fuel autotrophs that form the basis of the marine food web. Life also exists deep on the ocean floor. These organisms do not photosynthesize organic carbon for food; instead they use chemicals that seep from Earth's hot interior along hydrothermal vents in a process called chemosynthesis. During chemosynthesis, bacteria oxidize hydrogen sulfide as an energy source to convert nutrients into organic carbon. Most vent systems are more than 3000 m (2 mi.) beneath the water's surface so very little organic carbon filters through the water column to these remote locations. In addition to the absence of sunlight, the abiotic factors that influence this ecosystem are intense pressure (300 bars), extreme temperature (2-403°C or 26-760°F), and the absence of sunlight. Figure 8B-2 shows the cross-section of a hydrothermal vent system, where cool water seeps through cracks in the ocean floor and interacts with hot water close to a magma source. Chemical ions are exchanged between the ocean water and the magma. As the super-heated ocean water exits the vent system, it interacts with the cold ocean water. Ions in the super-heated plume of water precipitate, forming a plume of tiny, solid minerals that resembles smoke. This plume of minerals gives rise to the common name of black smokers for hydrothermal vent systems. The ions accumulate around the vent opening, producing large chimneys. The vent water also provides the fuel for chemosynthesis. 2°C 0.1 cm/s Oxyanions, (HPO,, HVO,, Cro,, HASO,?), REE, Trace Metals He, Mn2*, H,S,0,4, FEOOH, MnO2, AT, CH, Fe2+, Fe,S,²Rn, H, H,S 2.05°C Precipitation Chimney (Black Smoker) HOT (focussed) flow Basalt Sub Seafloor Microbial Biosphere 350°C WARM ...diffuse) flow 2-60°C Basalt M,2 Spreading Axis O Metalliferous Sediments OIron-Magnesium Crusts H*, Cr, Fe2*, Mn²*, H,SiO, He, H,S, CH,, CO, H, Ca", K*, Li*, Cư", Zn* Pb* Seawater Evolved Figure 8B-2. Cross-section of a hydrothermal vent system. [NOAA OER, Link 8B-2] Because of the harsh environment, hydrothermal vent ecosystems are home to some of the most unique organisms on the planet's surface. Over 300 new species have been discovered at hydrothermal vent systems, including the tube worms in Figure 8B-3.The red plumes on the tube worm house symbiotic bacteria that perform chemosynthesis. These bacteria are able to use chemicals (hydrogen sulfide) from the vent plume as the energy source to produce organic carbon that provides food for the entire ecosystem. The remaining vent organisms rely on the food supply produced by the tube worms for survival. Other prominent members of the vent community are fish, dandelions, crabs, clams, mussels, shrimp, limpets, and octopuses. Seawater Seawater
Figure 8B-4 provides the location of hydrothermal vent systems found from 1977 to 2016, based on data from The Deep-Sea Vent Discoveries dataset. At the time of writing more than 550 vent fields are estimated across the global ocean.
Global Distribution of Hydrothermal Vent Fields
30'E
60'E
90'E
120'E
150'E
180
150'W 120'W 90'W
60'W
30 W
90'N
Gakkel Ridge
60'N
Juan
Hellenik
Aleutian Arc
de Fuca
Kuril Arc
Ridge
Aeoli
30'N
zu-Bunin Arc
Red
Sea
Mariapa Arc
and Back-Arc
iantic Ridge
Lesser
Antilles
nus Basin
Arc
Galapag
Rift
Basin
Central
Indian
• Ridge
Woodlark
Basin
Tonga Arc
and L
Back-Arc
New
Hebrid
30's
S.E. Indian Ridge
Kermadec Arc
Chile Rise
E Scotia
Ridge
Pacific-Antarctic Ridge
60'S
Bransheld
Strait
90'S
Mid-ocean ridge
• Active
Intra-plate volcano
& Other
Ridge & Transform
Arc volcano
A Active
Back-arc spreading center
INTER
RIDGE
IActive
--- Trench
O Unconfirmed
A Unconfirmed
O Unconfirmed
• Active
Exclusive Economic Zones
Figure 8B-4. Active (red) and unconfirmed (yellow) hydrothermal vent fields across the global ocean. [Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Link 8B-4]
abpry upul MS
Transcribed Image Text:Figure 8B-4 provides the location of hydrothermal vent systems found from 1977 to 2016, based on data from The Deep-Sea Vent Discoveries dataset. At the time of writing more than 550 vent fields are estimated across the global ocean. Global Distribution of Hydrothermal Vent Fields 30'E 60'E 90'E 120'E 150'E 180 150'W 120'W 90'W 60'W 30 W 90'N Gakkel Ridge 60'N Juan Hellenik Aleutian Arc de Fuca Kuril Arc Ridge Aeoli 30'N zu-Bunin Arc Red Sea Mariapa Arc and Back-Arc iantic Ridge Lesser Antilles nus Basin Arc Galapag Rift Basin Central Indian • Ridge Woodlark Basin Tonga Arc and L Back-Arc New Hebrid 30's S.E. Indian Ridge Kermadec Arc Chile Rise E Scotia Ridge Pacific-Antarctic Ridge 60'S Bransheld Strait 90'S Mid-ocean ridge • Active Intra-plate volcano & Other Ridge & Transform Arc volcano A Active Back-arc spreading center INTER RIDGE IActive --- Trench O Unconfirmed A Unconfirmed O Unconfirmed • Active Exclusive Economic Zones Figure 8B-4. Active (red) and unconfirmed (yellow) hydrothermal vent fields across the global ocean. [Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Link 8B-4] abpry upul MS
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