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. For "a population": A population is a group of individuals of the same species in a given area. The giant tube worms at the deep - ocean vent are of the same species, so they form a population.
2. For "part of a community": A community consists of all the different populations (species) living and interacting in a particular area. The giant tube worms interact with snails, pink vent fish, etc., so they are part of the community at the vent.
3. For "part of an ecosystem": An ecosystem includes all the living (biotic) components (like the giant tube worms, snails, fish) and the non - living (abiotic) components (like the hot water with sulfur, the ocean vent environment). So the giant tube worms are part of the ecosystem.

Answer:

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