Morphology of the Eye of the Hydrothermal Vent Shrimp, Alvinocaris Markensis

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 1097-1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darrison N. Wharton ◽  
Robert N. Jinks ◽  
Erik D. Herzog ◽  
Barbara-Anne Battelle ◽  
Leonard Kass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Pigment Cells ◽  
Ambient Light ◽  
Minimum Level ◽  
Black Smoker ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽  
Dim Light ◽  
Structure And Ultrastructure ◽  
Dioptric Apparatus

The bresiliid shrimp Alvinocaris markensis is a predator that inhabits the base of sulphide mounds built by the black smoker chimneys of active hydrothermal vents at the Snake Pit site on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Casual examination of animals collected with theDSV ‘Alvin’ suggests that, like other biesiliid shrimp from hydrothermal vents, the eyes of this species are adapted for vision in very dim light. However, examination of the structure and ultrastructure of eyes of animals collected and immediately fixed shows that the expected massive array of photoreceptors is partially or completely missing. The eye is enlarged, its dioptric apparatus has disappeared, its screening pigment is essentially gone, and its reflecting pigment cells have formed an enlarged mass of white diffusing cells behind the expected layer of photoreceptors. In half of the animals examined, there were no recognizable photoreceptors in the retina, and in the remaining animals there were only scattered photoreceptors with poorly organized microvillar arrays of photosensitive membrane. We conclude that this species is blind despite some retinal adaptations for vision in very dim light. Apparently, the ambient light of this animal's environment is below the quit point (the minimum level that can be exploited) so that the retina has begun to degenerate by losing its photoreceptors.

Retinal Anatomy of New Bresiliid Shrimp from the Lucky Strike and Broken Spur Hydrothermal Vent Fields on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 707-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.O. Kuenzler ◽  
J.T. Kwasniewski ◽  
R.N. Jinks ◽  
R.C. Lakin ◽  
B.A. Battelle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Visual Sensitivity ◽  
Black Smoker ◽  
Lucky Strike ◽  
Rimicaris Exoculata ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽  
Surface Dwelling ◽  
Dim Light ◽  
Visual Apparatus

The 1989 discovery of a large dorsal eye on the hydrothermal vent shrimp, Rimicaris exoculata, debunked the prevailing opinion that all animals living around deep hydrothermal vents were blind. Recent dives with DSV ‘Alvin’ recovered new bresiliid shrimp [Chorocaris (Lucky Strike) and Chorocaris (Broken Spur)] from two new vent fields on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Lucky Strike species has recently been named Chorocaris fortunata and may be the same as the Broken Spur species - the retinal morphologies reported here are very similar. Like R. exoculata, C. fortunata has a visual apparatus adapted to the very dim light of its environment. Although in both species enlarged, non-imaging eyes appear to have evolved from the stalked compound eyes typical of caridean shrimp, those of C. fortunata are forward-facing whilst that of R. exoculata is located dorsally. The massive array of photosensitive membrane (rhabdom) of C. fortunata lies beneath a smooth cornea within a matt, white, reflecting matrix and occupies 80% of the available volume of the photoreceptors compared to the expected 10–15% of shallow water decapods. All screening pigment is located out of the light path at the bottom of the retina. There is no ultrastructural evidence for cyclic rhabdom shedding or renewal. Thus the cellular organization of C. fortunata is remarkably similar to that of R. exoculata and distinct from its surface-dwelling relatives. This suggests that in these species imaging optics have been sacrificed to achieve the increased visual sensitivity necessary to detect the very dim light emitted from the throats of the black smoker chimneys around which they live

scholarly journals Cutting through the smoke: the diversity of microorganisms in deep-sea hydrothermal plumes

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 160829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anni Djurhuus ◽  
Svein-Ole Mikalsen ◽  
Helge-Ansgar Giebel ◽  
Alex D. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Black Smoker ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Diffuse Flow ◽  
Environmental Selection

There are still notable gaps regarding the detailed distribution of microorganisms between and within insular habitats such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents. This study investigates the community composition of black smoker vent microorganisms in the Southern Hemisphere, and changes thereof along a spatial and chemical gradient ranging from the vent plume to surrounding waters. We sampled two hydrothermal vent fields, one at the South West Indian Ridge (SWIR), the other at the East Scotia Ridge (ESR). Samples were collected across vent fields at varying vertical distances from the origin of the plumes. The microbial data were sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform for the 16SrRNA gene. A substantial amount of vent-specific putative chemosynthetic microorganisms were found, particularly in samples from focused hydrothermal venting. Common vent-specific organisms from both vent fields were the genera Arcobacter , Caminibacter and Sulfurimonas from the Epsilonproteobacteria and the SUP05 group from the Gammaproteobacteria. There were no major differences in microbial composition between SWIR and ESR for focused plume samples. However, within the ESR the diffuse flow and focused samples differed significantly in microbial community composition and relative abundance. For Epsilonproteobacteria, we found evidence of niche-specificity to hydrothermal vent environments. This taxon decreased in abundance by three orders of magnitude from the vent orifice to background water. Epsilonproteobacteria distribution followed a distance–decay relationship as vent-effluents mixed with the surrounding seawater. This study demonstrates strong habitat affinity of vent microorganisms on a metre scale with distinct environmental selection.

The morphology of the dorsal eye of the hydrothermal vent shrimp, Rimicaris exoculata

1995 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 861-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J. O'Neill ◽  
Robert N. Jinks ◽  
Erik D. Herzog ◽  
Barbara-Anne Battelle ◽  
Leonard Kass ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Compound Eye ◽  
Thick Layer ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Volume Density ◽  
Pigment Cells ◽  
Body Volume ◽  
Rimicaris Exoculata ◽  
Screening Pigment

AbstractThe bresiliid shrimp, Rimicaris exoculata, lives in large masses on the sides of hydrothermal vent chimneys at two sites on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Although essentially no daylight penetrates to depths of 3500 m, very dim light is emitted from the hydrothermal vents themselves. To exploit this light, R. exoculata has evolved a modified compound eye on its dorsal surface that occupies about 0.5% of the animal's body volume. The eye's morphology suggests that it is extremely sensitive to light. The cornea of the dorsal eye is smooth with no dioptric apparatus. The retina consists of two wing-shaped lobes that are fused across the midline anteriorly. The rhabdomeral segments of the 7000 ommatidia form a compact layer of photosensitive membrane with an entrance aperture of more than 26 mm2. Within this layer, the volume density of rhabdom is more than 70%. Below the rhabdomeral segments, a thick layer of white diffusing cells scatters light upward into the photoreceptors. The arhabdomeral segments of the five to seven photoreceptors of each ommatidium are mere strands of cytoplasm that expand to accommodate the photoreceptor nuclei. The rhabdom is comprised of well-organized arrays of microvilli, each with a cytoskeletal core. The rhabdomeral segment cytoplasm contains mitochondria, but little else. The perikaryon contains a band of mitochondria, but has only small amounts of endoplasmic reticulum. There is no ultrastructural indication of photosensitive membrane cycling in these photoreceptors. Vestigial screening pigment cells and screening pigment granules within the photoreceptors are both restricted to the inner surface of the layer of the white diffusing cells. Below the retina, photoreceptor axons converge in a fan-shaped array to enter the dorsal surface of the brain. The eye's size and structure are consistent with a role for vision in shrimp living at abyssal hydrothermal vents.

scholarly journals Thermococcus thioreducens sp. nov., a novel hyperthermophilic, obligately sulfur-reducing archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent

2007 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1612-1618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena V. Pikuta ◽  
Damien Marsic ◽  
Takashi Itoh ◽  
Asim K. Bej ◽  
Jane Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Strictly Anaerobic ◽  
Black Smoker ◽  
Separate Species ◽  
Gene Sequence Analysis ◽  
Nacl Concentration ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽  
Casamino Acids ◽  
Ph Range

A hyperthermophilic, sulfur-reducing, organo-heterotrophic archaeon, strain OGL-20PT, was isolated from ‘black smoker’ chimney material from the Rainbow hydrothermal vent site on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (36.2°N, 33.9°W). The cells of strain OGL-20PT have an irregular coccoid shape and are motile with a single flagellum. Growth was observed within a pH range of 5.0−8.5 (optimum pH 7.0), an NaCl concentration range of 1–5 % (w/v) (optimum 3 %) and a temperature range of 55–94 °C (optimum 83–85 °C). The novel isolate is strictly anaerobic and obligately dependent upon elemental sulfur as an electron acceptor, but it does not reduce sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, Fe(III) or nitrate. Proteolysis products (peptone, bacto-tryptone, Casamino acids and yeast extract) are utilized as substrates during sulfur reduction. Strain OGL-20PT is resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin and gentamicin, but sensitive to tetracycline and rifampicin. The G+C content of the DNA is 52.9 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain OGL-20PT is closely related to Thermococcus coalescens and related species, but no significant homology by DNA–DNA hybridization was observed between those species and the new isolate. On the basis of physiological and molecular properties of the new isolate, we conclude that strain OGL-20PT represents a new separate species within the genus Thermococcus, for which we propose the name Thermococcus thioreducens sp. nov. The type strain is OGL-20PT (=JCM 12859T=DSM 14981T=ATCC BAA-394T).

scholarly journals Exploring brain diversity in crustaceans: sensory systems of deep vent shrimps

Neuroforum ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Machon ◽  
Jakob Krieger ◽  
Magali Zbinden ◽  
Juliette Ravaux ◽  
Steffen Harzsch
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Black Smoker ◽  
Evolutionary Diversification ◽  
Toxic Emissions ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽  
Extreme Habitats ◽  
Current Report

AbstractThe current report focuses on shrimps from deep hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that live in an environment characterized by high hydrostatic pressure, lack of sunlight, and with hot and potentially toxic emissions of black smoker vents. Malacostracan crustaceans display a large diversity of lifestyles and life histories and a rich repertoire of complex behavioral patterns including sophisticated social interactions. These aspects promote this taxon as an interesting group of organisms for those neurobiologists interested in evolutionary transformation of brain structures and evolutionary diversification of neuronal circuits. Here, we explore how analyzing the nervous system of crustacean species from extreme habitats can provide deeper insights into the functional adaptations that drive the diversification of crustacean brain structure.

Tanaidacean (Crustacea: Peracarida) fauna from chemically reduced habitats—the lucky strike hydrothermal vent system, mid-atlantic ridge

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1187 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
KIM LARSEN ◽  
MAGDALENA BŁAÓEWICZ-PASZKOWYCZ ◽  
MARINA R. CUNHA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Lucky Strike ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge

The tanaidacean fauna from the hydrothermal vents in the Lucky Strike Field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is examined. The material reveals species belonging to the genera Agathotanais, Apseudes, Leviapseudes, Sphyrapus, Armaturatanais, Leptognathiella, Mesotanais, Pseudotanais and Typhlotanais. One new typhlotanaid genus, Obesutanais, and five new species, Armaturatanais atlanticus, Obesutanais sigridae, Mesotanais styxis, Leptognathiella fragilis, and Typhlotanais incognitus, are described.

scholarly journals Ambient light emission from hydrothermal vents on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (15) ◽  
pp. 34-1-34-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheri N. White ◽  
Alan D. Chave ◽  
George T. Reynolds ◽  
Cindy L. Van Dover
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Light Emission ◽  
Ambient Light ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge

A new species of Archinome (Polychaeta: Archinomidae) from hydrothermal vents on the Pacific–Antarctic Ridge 37°S

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 689-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Fiege ◽  
Gordon Bock
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Morphological Comparison ◽  
The North ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Family ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽  
North Fiji Basin ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Synoptic Table

Archinome storchi sp. nov. is described as the second species of the family Archinomidae. The specimens were collected from a hydrothermal vent site in 2212 m depth on the Pacific–Antarctic Ridge at 37° S. It differs from Archinome rosacea mainly in the position of the anus, the first appearance of branchiae and the length of the nuchal cirrus. Additional specimens of A. rosacea collected from hydrothermal vent locations in the North Fiji Basin and on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge were used for morphological comparison. A synoptic table of characters is given for A. rosacea and A. storchi sp. nov. together with a list of records for Archinomidae compiled from the literature.

Mercury concentrations in invertebrates from Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal vent fields

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 913-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Martins ◽  
V. Costa ◽  
F. Porteiro ◽  
A. Cravo ◽  
R.S. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Methyl Mercury ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Lucky Strike ◽  
Rimicaris Exoculata ◽  
Coastal Species ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽  
Total Hg ◽  
Menez Gwen

Mercury determinations were carried out in mussels (Bathymodiolus azoricus) from three Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal vents (Lucky Strike, Menez Gwen and Rainbow) and shrimps (Rimicaris exoculata and Mirocaris fortunata) from Rainbow. Among the three hydrothermal vents, mussels of Menez Gwen show the highest levels of total Hg and comparing mussels and shrimps from Rainbow the former show more Hg than shrimps. Mussels from different hydrothermal vents are exposed to different kinds of environment which may result in distinct bioaccumulation processes. Detoxification processes in shrimps are related to the low concentrations found. When compared with coastal species from unpolluted sites, mussels show higher concentrations of total Hg and shrimps lower levels. The methyl-mercury concentrations found were very low, not exceeding the detection limit of the technique.

scholarly journals Vision in hydrothermal vent shrimp

2000 ◽  
Vol 355 (1401) ◽  
pp. 1151-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven C. Chamberlain
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal Vent ◽  
Hydrothermal Vents ◽  
Light Environment ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Screening Pigment ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽  
Surface Dwelling

Bresiliid shrimp from hydrothermal vents on the Mid–Atlantic Ridge have non–imaging eyes adapted for photodetection in light environments of very low intensity. Comparison of retinal structures between both vent shrimp and surface–dwelling shrimp with imaging eyes, and between juvenile and adult vent shrimp, suggests that vent shrimp have evolved from ancestors that lived in a light environment with bright cyclic lighting. Whether the vent shrimp live in swarms and have large dorsal eyes or live in sparse groupings and have large anterior eyes, the basic retinal adaptations are the same across species. Retinal adaptations in adult vent shrimp include the loss of dioptrics, enlargement of both the rhabdomeral segment of the photoreceptors and the light–sensitive rhabdomere therein, attenuation of the arhabdomeral segment of the photoreceptors, reduction of black screening pigment, development of a white diffusing layer behind the photoreceptors, and the loss of rhabdom turnover.

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