How does the energy budget for deep subsurface chemosynthetic ecosystems compare to surface ecosystems like forests?

Answer

Orders of magnitude smaller

Microbial life thriving near hydrothermal vents operates on energy budgets orders of magnitude smaller than the high-energy input required by complex, surface-based ecosystems relying on photosynthesis.

How does the energy budget for deep subsurface chemosynthetic ecosystems compare to surface ecosystems like forests?

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