At a deep-sea hydrothermal vent, researchers document a group of giant tube worms (Riftia pachyptila\textit{Riftia pachyptila}Riftia pachyptila), vent crabs (Bythograea thermydron\textit{Bythograea thermydron}Bythograea thermydron), and chemosynthetic bacteria. They also measure abiotic factors, including a fluid temperature of 380∘C380^\circ\text{C}380∘C and high concentrations of dissolved hydrogen sulfide (H2S\text{H}_2\text{S}H2S).
Which of the following represents the ecosystem of this hydrothermal vent?
All the individual giant tube worms (Riftia pachyptila\textit{Riftia pachyptila}Riftia pachyptila) living around this specific hydrothermal vent.
The physical and chemical environment of the vent, including the 380∘C380^\circ\text{C}380∘C fluid temperature and dissolved H2S\text{H}_2\text{S}H2S.
The populations of tube worms, crabs, and chemosynthetic bacteria interacting together in this habitat.
The community of tube worms, crabs, and bacteria interacting with the high-temperature fluid and dissolved H2S\text{H}_2\text{S}H2S.
67 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Biology 4.1 Ecosystems, covering 4.1.1 Cycling of materials in ecosystems, 4.1.2 Microorganisms in cycling materials, 4.1.3 The carbon and water cycles, 4.1.4 Factors affecting decomposition, 4.1.5 Levels of organisation in an ecosystem, 4.1.6 Abiotic and biotic factors affecting communities, 4.1.7 Interdependence and competition, 4.1.8 Trophic levels, 4.1.9 Pyramids of biomass, and 4.1.10 Efficiency of biomass transfers. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.