Which of the following types of microbes might be found in a boiling hot spring?

• A. Halophilic archaea
• B. Mesophilic fungi
• C. Thermophilic bacteria
• D. Psychrophilic bacteria

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the temperature ranges associated with different microbial types. Thermophilic bacteria thrive at high temperatures, typically between 45°C and 80°C, which matches the conditions of a boiling hot spring.
2. Step 2: Recognize that halophilic archaea prefer high salt concentrations but do not necessarily thrive at very high temperatures like those in boiling hot springs.
3. Step 3: Note that mesophilic fungi grow best at moderate temperatures, usually between 20°C and 45°C, so they are unlikely to survive in boiling hot springs.
4. Step 4: Psychrophilic bacteria prefer cold environments, typically below 15°C, so they would not be found in hot springs.
5. Step 5: Conclude that thermophilic bacteria are the most suitable microbes to be found in boiling hot springs due to their adaptation to high-temperature environments.