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Explore the dynamic earth and ocean off Canada's Pacific coast |
Endeavour Ridge food web - life in a hydrothermal vent community At Endeavour Ridge, the food web is powered by chemosynthesis. Chemicals such as sulfides spewing out of the hot smoker chimneys and cracks in the sea floor are gobbled up by mighty microbes as the primary producers. These sulfide suckers are generally of two types. First, some chemosynthetic bacteria, or microbes live in large mat-shaped mounds that are tasty treats for bacterivores like snails, crabs and shrimp that graze on these food piles and for filter feeders sorting food “crumbs” from the water. Second, as you have learned, some of these microbial producers live right inside the bodies of some animals in a symbiotic partnership. These bacteria produce carbohydrates from the sulfide that is pumped out of the vents (see chemosynthesis).
Tubeworms, limpets, clams, and other amazing animals can be thought of as “farmers” supplying chemicals to the microbes so they will produce sugars for them to eat. These hot vent worms and clams (“V-worms” and “V-clams”) are extremophiles, animals that thrive in the extreme temperatures and chemical conditions of this deep, hot place. Just waiting to munch on these animals, are carnivores like scale worms, spider crabs, fish, and octopi (a mix of secondary, tertiary and top-level consumers). Detrivores include species of crabs and fish that dine on the dead. Those organisms that rely on chemosynthetic symbiotic bacteria for their nutrition, like vent mussels, clams and tubeworms, are considered primary consumers. The bacteria live in the gills of the mussels and clams, and in the body cavity of tube worms.
Animals that feed directly on the bacteria are also considered primary consumers, which include animals like zooplankton and small crustaceans such as shrimp and amphipods, which feed directly on the vent bacteria.
Secondary Consumers feed on primary consumers, and include the smaller crabs and fish. Tertiary or top-level consumers feed on the first order carnivores and include larger crabs, octopus and fishes.
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