Question

The primary producers of the deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystem are

• A. bluegreen algae
• B. coral reefs
• C. green algae
• D. chemosynthetic bacteria

Answer 1

The correct option is D chemosynthetic bacteria

Hydrothermal vents are the fissures on the seafloor from which geothermally heated water discharges. The seawater here is enriched with metals and minerals present deep in the underlying bedrock. Since the sunlight cannot reach these vents, life here is sustained by energy from chemicals rather than energy from sunlight. Therefore, chemosynthetic bacteria which produce energy using chemicals are primary producers of the deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystem.
Blue-green algae, green algae being photosynthetic cannot be the primary producers here.
Due to intense conditions of hydrothermal vents, coral reefs are not normally found here.