chemosynthesis
Chemical energy production
Chemosynthesis is the production of organic compounds using energy from chemical reactions rather than sunlight.
While most life depends on photosynthesis, certain bacteria near deep-sea hydrothermal vents convert hydrogen sulfide and other chemicals into energy, forming the base of ecosystems that thrive in complete darkness: The tube worms rely on chemosynthetic bacteria living in their tissues.
organisms
Organisms surviving extreme conditions
- archaeaThird domain of life
- thermophilesOrganisms requiring high temperatures
- autotrophsSelf-nourishing organisms
- prokaryotesOrganisms without membrane-bound nuclei
substrates
Simplest alkane fuel
- ammoniaAcrid nitrogen-hydrogen gas
- hydrogenSimplest atomic element
- thiosulfateSulfur-oxygen anion compound
- nitriteNO₂ minus ion
habitats
Of ocean depths
- seafloorOcean's solid base
- cavesNatural underground chambers
- subsurfaceBelow the outer layer
- benthicOf the sea bottom
extremophiles
Organisms surviving extreme conditions
- archaeaThird domain of life
- thermophilesOrganisms requiring high temperatures
- autotrophsSelf-nourishing organisms
methane
Simplest alkane fuel
- ammoniaAcrid nitrogen-hydrogen gas
- hydrogenSimplest atomic element
- thiosulfateSulfur-oxygen anion compound
deep-sea
Of ocean depths
- seafloorOcean's solid base
- cavesNatural underground chambers
- subsurfaceBelow the outer layer
oxidation
Losing electrons chemically
symbiosis
Interspecies biological interdependence
- deep seaabyss, seabed, ocean floor, ocean depths, seafloor
- Early Earthprimordial soup, early life, abiogenesis, prokaryotes, single-celled organisms
- hydrothermal ventshydrothermal vents, black smokers, tube worms, chimneys, mid-ocean ridge
- Microbial metabolismaerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, fermentation, glycolysis, citric acid cycle
- microbial processesfermentation, decomposition, nitrogen fixation, sporulation, conjugation
- energyelectricity, power, oil, fuel, gas
chemical, synthetic, synthesis, synthesize, synthesized, synthetics, synthesizing, photosynthesis, biosynthesis