Beard Worms: Pogonophora

Most organisms depend on sunlight to produce or acquire food. The conversion of sunlight to simple sugars and other compounds that can be used as food is called photosynthesis (FO-to-SIN-thuh-sihs). Beard worms, especially those living in total darkness, must rely on billions of bacteria living in them to make food. The worms provide the bacteria with carbon dioxide produced by their own bodies and hydrogen sulfide collected from water coming through the hydrothermal vents. As the bacteria convert these chemicals into energy for themselves, they produce simple sugars and other compounds that the worms can absorb as food. The conversion of chemical reactions into food is called chemosynthesis (KEY-moh-SIN-thuh-sihs).