Question

What are the adaptations of hydrothermal vents? What are the major biotic interactions? What are the dominant life forms? The global distribution of hydrothermal vents?

Answer 1

Adaptations are as follows:-

• Many microorganisms are adapted to high temperature
• Development of strategies to protect themselves from toxins such as hydrogen sulphide and heavy metals
• Animals are adapted to live in symbiotic relationship with sulfo-oxidizing and methanogenic bacteria
• Primary producers of energy are adapted to become chimiolitho- autotrophic bacteria

Major biotic interactions:-

• Symbiotic relationship between animals and microorganisms such as bacteria
• Vent crabs prey on mollusks,snails etc
• Hydrothermal vent Eelpout fish preys amphipods and crustaceans

Dominant life form of hydrothermal vents are microorganisms

Most abundant animal is tube worm

Global distribution:-

• Found along earth's plate boundaries
• Also found at hotspot volcanoes
• These are atleast 11 biogeographic provinces few of which are as follows:-

1. Mid Atlantic ridge
2. East pacific rise
3. South of Easter microplate
4. Northeast pacific rise
5. Indian ocean province ETC