Although we think of land when we hear the word biome, there are also aquatic biomes. The abiotic factors that influence life forms vary with location within ocean systems. Oceanographers divide the ocean into five broad vertical
zones as seen in the chart above. Compare the characteristics of the five zones. The giant tube worms, Riftia
pachyptila, pictured here, have a red "plume at the tip of their free end which is an organ for exchanging compounds
with the environment. The tube worm does not have many predators. If threatened, the plume may be retracted into
the worm's protective tube. The plume provides essential nutrients to bacteria living inside the worm. Tube worms
have no digestive tract, but the bacteria, which may make up half of a worm's body weight, convert the oxygen,
hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, taken in by the plume, into organic molecules on which their host worms feed.
Compare this information with the information in the chart. Where could these worms live?
A)
The tube worms can only live where there is no light: zones 3, 4, and 5.
B)
C)
Only in the top-most two zones so the bacteria can use the light for
photosynthesis.
In any zone in the ocean, provided it was not too cold and there is enough
oxygen in the water
They tube worms are suited to live in the halad zone only, where there is
no light and it is extremely cold.
D)