Pompeii worm survives this extreme temperature by sticking out its head from one end of the tube which stays in the cooler water to take up some foods and other nutrients whilst the tail on the other side stays in the extreme heat.This is one of the example of thermophiles in the deep sea and is one of the best examples of symbiosis at the vents. However they are filled with massive colonies of bacteria that synthesize nutrients for them due to the absent of digestive tract, they releases hemoglobin via there red plume on its dorsal side, and in turn the sulfur containing compounds. The bacteria use the plume as a home base to turn this into compounds yielding energy to the worm.
Studies have shown a possible heat-absorbing factor of the symbiotic bacteria on the back of the worm, this can be why they can withstand such an enormous amount of heat.Their reddish colour is created by haemoglobin which is a red protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. It also grows a centimeter thick thermal coat on its body from filamentous bacteria to help it to cope with the heat.
Each of the worms body segments has appendages on the side called parrapodium which are muscles that help to propel the worm.
The symbiotic bacteria has been discovered to be the main survival mechanism of pompeii worm because they provide thermal insulation. [Read More:http://news.sciencemag.org/2005/04/vent-worms-make-good-neighbors].
Studies have shown a possible heat-absorbing factor of the symbiotic bacteria on the back of the worm, this can be why they can withstand such an enormous amount of heat.Their reddish colour is created by haemoglobin which is a red protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. It also grows a centimeter thick thermal coat on its body from filamentous bacteria to help it to cope with the heat.
Each of the worms body segments has appendages on the side called parrapodium which are muscles that help to propel the worm.
The symbiotic bacteria has been discovered to be the main survival mechanism of pompeii worm because they provide thermal insulation. [Read More:http://news.sciencemag.org/2005/04/vent-worms-make-good-neighbors].