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Chemolithotrophs near Hydrothermal Vents Support a Variety of Life Forms

Question 74

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Chemolithotrophs near hydrothermal vents support a variety of life forms. Why is this analogous to photosynthetic microbes supporting life forms closer to the surface of the planet?

Chemolithotrophs near hydrothermal vents support a variety of life forms. Why is this analogous to photosynthetic microbes supporting life forms closer to the surface of the planet?


A) Because all life forms need some energy source, electron source, and carbon source. Chemolithotrophs fix inorganic carbon and, if consumed by other microbes, could serve as sources for all three requirements for life. This is very similar to the role that photosynthetic microbes play in the top levels of the oceans/lakes.
B) Because chemolithotrophs will also use energy from sunlight to form their sugars/get their chemical energy...much like photosynthetic microbes.
C) Because chemolithotrophs also pull in carbon dioxide as their carbon source, just like photosynthetic microbes.
D) Because photosynthetic microbes use heat energy from the sun as an energy source. Chemolithotrophs use heat energy from hydrothermal vents, but it's still heat energy. This makes both microbes similar.
E) Because chemolithotrophs are also photosynthetic. They use the thermal energy from the vent to generate glucose from the ocean water around them. This glucose is then used by all the other organisms in the environment to support their growth.

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