Definition of chemoautotroph in English:
chemoautotroph
noun ˌkiːməʊˈɔːtətrəʊfˌkiːməʊˈɔːtətrɒfˌkɛməʊˈɔːtətrɒfˌkɛməʊˈɔːtətrəʊfˌkēmōˈôtəˌtrōf
Biology An organism, typically a bacterium, which derives energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds.
Example sentencesExamples
- The reaction pathways that these chemoautotrophs employ involve the reduction of inorganic carbon compounds to form organic compounds, which include their biomolecules.
- While chemoautotrophs are uncommon, photoautotrophs are common and quite diverse.
- These so-called chemoautotrophs use the stored energy of certain chemicals [usually sulfides such as hydrogen sulfide or iron sulfide (FeS 2)] to drive chemosynthesis.
Derivatives
adjective ˌkiːməʊɔːtəˈtrɒfɪkˌkiːməʊɔːtəˈtrəʊfɪk
Biology Few authors have explored body size patterns across the E / O transition, although Hickman did document an increase in the size of chemoautotrophic thyasirid bivalves from the Pacific Northwest.
Example sentencesExamples
- These resemble the foot of some specialized bivalves (Solemya or Lucina) used to penetrate putrid sediment to release H 2 S consumed by symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria.
- They evolved towards sessile life possibly in symbiosis with photo- or chemoautotrophic microorganisms.
- Here 32 new species and 2 genera of invertebrates were discovered thriving on sulfur - rich seeps inside the cave, in what appears to be the most easily accessible chemoautotrophic ecosystem known so far.
- ‘Our synthesis of ammonia may serve as a model for a primordial nitrogen fixing system and conforms well with theories of the chemoautotrophic origin of life,’ say the researchers.
noun ˌkiːməʊɔːtəˈtrɒfiˌkiːməʊɔːtəˈtrəʊfi
Biology In anoxic bank sediments, respiration was also much greater than chemoautotrophy, but was entirely anaerobic.
Example sentencesExamples
- Nitrifying bacteria are capable of chemoautotrophy.