chemosynthetic
/ˌkimoʊsɪnˈθɛtɪk/
adjective
- Relating to or involving the process by which certain organisms (such as bacteria) produce food using energy from chemical reactions, rather than from sunlight.
- Scientists study chemosynthetic ecosystems to understand how life can exist without sunlight.
- Some chemosynthetic organisms live in the dark ocean depths, using sulfur compounds for energy.
- Deep-sea vents host chemosynthetic bacteria that form the base of the food chain.