Question

read the passage. then answer the question below.
at 2,500 meters deep, an ocean vent at the bottom of the eastern pacific is in complete darkness. the vent releases hot water full of sulfur into the sea. the deep - ocean vent is home to a diverse group of organisms.
species such as giant tube worms grow to be 2 meters long. snails crawl on the outside of the tube worms. both the giant tube worms and the snails are hunted by pink vent fish, a species of deep - sea predator.
at a deep - ocean vent in the eastern pacific, the giant tube worms make up which of the following? select all that apply.
a population
part of a community
part of an ecosystem

Explanation:

1. A population is a group of the same species in one area; the giant tube worms are a single species at the vent, so they form a population.
2. A community includes all living organisms in an area; the tube worms are one of multiple species (along with snails, pink vent fish) here, so they are part of the community.
3. An ecosystem includes all living organisms plus the non-living environment (the vent, seawater, sulfur); the tube worms are living organisms within this system, so they are part of the ecosystem.

Answer:

a. a population
b. part of a community
c. part of an ecosystem