Hydrothermal Vents
Website: Vent Basics:
Explain the process of a BLACK SMOKER
Black smoker is a hydrothermal fluid that is so hot it can melt metal. The fluid carries dissolved metals from deep beneath the ocean floor. When the fluid mixes with the sea water, these metals combine with sulfure to form tiny black particles and it makes the fluid look like smoke.
Explain the process of a BLACK SMOKER
Black smoker is a hydrothermal fluid that is so hot it can melt metal. The fluid carries dissolved metals from deep beneath the ocean floor. When the fluid mixes with the sea water, these metals combine with sulfure to form tiny black particles and it makes the fluid look like smoke.
Vent Boiling Points:
Explain why the boiling point of water changes with depth in the ocean.
The deeper the depth is, the higher the boiling point rises. This is because of the increase in pressure. To sum it up, as the pressure increases, the boiling point also increases.
Explain why the boiling point of water changes with depth in the ocean.
The deeper the depth is, the higher the boiling point rises. This is because of the increase in pressure. To sum it up, as the pressure increases, the boiling point also increases.
Vent Chemistry:
Explain how the water chemistry changes in the hydrothermal vent system.
When the fluid rises up through the seafloor, it carries many new chemicals with it, such as copper and zinc. These chemical reactions also remove chemicals from the seawater, such as oxygen and magnesium.
Explain how the water chemistry changes in the hydrothermal vent system.
When the fluid rises up through the seafloor, it carries many new chemicals with it, such as copper and zinc. These chemical reactions also remove chemicals from the seawater, such as oxygen and magnesium.
Vents Around the World:
Where can hydrothermal vents be found? Give a few examples.
Most of the vents scientists have discovered are along the Mid-Ocean Ridge. There are vents on the Loihi Seamount, the newest underwater volcano in the Hawaii chain. Vents are also found along some subduction zones. Vents can also occur at any depth.
Where can hydrothermal vents be found? Give a few examples.
Most of the vents scientists have discovered are along the Mid-Ocean Ridge. There are vents on the Loihi Seamount, the newest underwater volcano in the Hawaii chain. Vents are also found along some subduction zones. Vents can also occur at any depth.
Vent Life:
Name some of the critters found around hydrothermal vent systems.
Octopus, tubeworms, dandelions, shrimps, clams, microbes, crabs, and mussels are found around hydrothermal vent systems.
Name some of the critters found around hydrothermal vent systems.
Octopus, tubeworms, dandelions, shrimps, clams, microbes, crabs, and mussels are found around hydrothermal vent systems.
Tubeworm Anatomy:
Describe the tubeworm anatomy. Explain the symbiotic relationships that are found within tubeworms.
The cavity (trophosome) is packed with bacteria and they manufacture sugars through chemosynthesis. The tube is made out of a hard substance (chitin) and it protects the worms from predators and toxic chemicals from the vents. The muscle holds the worm in the tube. The plume is bright red because it is filled with blood and it filters oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide from the seawater.
Tubeworms have a special type of hemoglobin cells in their blood that can transport oxygen as well as sulfide (human hemoglobin only transports oxygen). Tubeworms’ hemoglobin carries away sulfide products made by the bacteria, which would otherwise poison the tubeworms. Both the tubeworms and the bacteria inside them have a endosymbiosis relationship.
Describe the tubeworm anatomy. Explain the symbiotic relationships that are found within tubeworms.
The cavity (trophosome) is packed with bacteria and they manufacture sugars through chemosynthesis. The tube is made out of a hard substance (chitin) and it protects the worms from predators and toxic chemicals from the vents. The muscle holds the worm in the tube. The plume is bright red because it is filled with blood and it filters oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide from the seawater.
Tubeworms have a special type of hemoglobin cells in their blood that can transport oxygen as well as sulfide (human hemoglobin only transports oxygen). Tubeworms’ hemoglobin carries away sulfide products made by the bacteria, which would otherwise poison the tubeworms. Both the tubeworms and the bacteria inside them have a endosymbiosis relationship.
Chemosynthesis:
Explain the different between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.
Chemosynthesis is a process certain organisms use to produce energy, akin to photosynthesis, but without the utilization of sunlight. The energy comes from the oxidization (burning) of chemicals which seep up from the Earth's crust. The organisms that use chemosynthesis, all bacteria, manufacture carbohydrates and other organic molecules from the oxidization of sulfates or ammonia. The hydrogen they use comes from hydrogen sulfite, whereas the nitrogen comes from ammonia or nitrates. The organisms that use chemosynthesis are found around hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.
Explain the different between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.
Chemosynthesis is a process certain organisms use to produce energy, akin to photosynthesis, but without the utilization of sunlight. The energy comes from the oxidization (burning) of chemicals which seep up from the Earth's crust. The organisms that use chemosynthesis, all bacteria, manufacture carbohydrates and other organic molecules from the oxidization of sulfates or ammonia. The hydrogen they use comes from hydrogen sulfite, whereas the nitrogen comes from ammonia or nitrates. The organisms that use chemosynthesis are found around hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.