How have plants and animals adapted to live near volcanic vents???
In contrast to adjacent cold-water deep bottoms, the rocky surfaces surrounding the hot vents are covered with animals, including large limpets, clams, and mussels. The most curious and spectacular organism is a large type of tube worm, often 1 m in length, and secretes tubes up to 3 m long. Several species of tube worms have now been discovered and classified in the phylum Vestimentifera, which has affinities to both the Pogonophora and the Annelida. The community presents a paradox. How can such a productive biota occur in the midst of general poverty? The supply from surface waters is clearly insufficient to maintain these rich animal communities. The dissolved sulfide emanating from the vents seems to be the answer. Certain bacteria derive energy from the oxidation of sulfide. As the sulfide is released from the vent, bacterial populations grow and provide a food source for animals such as bivalve mollusks. Some animals may feed directly on sulfur bacteria from the water column, or
