Sulphur signature in the hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

The sulphur compound composition of the hydrothermal vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) was analysed in order to determine the specific biochemical characteristics of a thiotrophic mode of nutrition. In specimens collected from two contrasting vent fields on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Menez Gwen and Lucky Strike), substantial differences in the sulphur composition were observed between tissues and sampling sites. Total sulphur content was higher for samples from Lucky Strike than for those from Menez Gwen. The amount of elemental sulphur in the gill of B. azoricus was in the same range as values previously reported for the vesicomyid clam Calyptogena phaseoliformis and the lucinid clam Lucinoma annulata. Rings of orthorhombic sulphur or compounds such as polythionates or organopolysulphides excreted in the cytoplasm by the symbionts may account for the large amounts of elemental sulphur evidenced for the first time in an hydrothermal vent mussel. A large proportion of the tissue-sulphur was incorporated into free amino compounds such as taurine, hypotaurine, thiotaurine and cysteine, and in a lesser extent to the tripeptide glutathione. In mantles, sulphur seems to be contained mainly in organic compounds such as proteins, mucopolysaccharides and lipids. However, the occurrence of specific compounds such as thiotaurine and elemental sulphur in gills indicate that in this tissue a large proportion of the sulphur might be involved in specific pathways related to transport, storage and detoxification of sulphide. Moreover, our results suggest a greater reliance on thiotrophy of mussels from Lucky Strike as compared to specimens from Menez Gwen.

Download Full-text

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

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315401004830 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 81 (6) ◽

pp. 913-915 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

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.

Download Full-text

Population structure and recruitment in mytilid bivalves from the Lucky Strike and Menez Gwen hydrothermal vent fields (37°17'N and 37°50'N on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps163165 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 163 ◽

pp. 165-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

T Comtet ◽

D Desbruyères

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Hydrothermal Vent ◽

Lucky Strike ◽

Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽

Menez Gwen

Download Full-text

Evidence of a sexual pause in Bathymodiolus azoricus (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) from hydrothermal vents of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315499001514 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 79 (6) ◽

pp. 1149-1150 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Thierry Comtet ◽

Marcel Le Pennec ◽

Daniel Desbruyères

Keyword(s):

Hydrothermal Vent ◽

Hydrothermal Vents ◽

Lucky Strike ◽

Histological Sections ◽

Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽

Menez Gwen

Histological sections of the gonad of Bathymodiolus azoricus from the Lucky Strike and Menez Gwen hydrothermal vent fields (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) demonstrated a spawning event in this species in May 1994, synchronous between the two vent fields located 60 km apart, and a sexual pause in gametogenesis. As reported for other vent mytilid species, B. azoricus from Lucky Strike and Menez Gwen could exhibit hermaphroditism.

Download Full-text

Distribution of dissolved sulfide, methane, and manganese near the seafloor at the Lucky Strike (37°17′N) and Menez Gwen (37°50′N) hydrothermal vent sites on the mid-Atlantic Ridge

Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers ◽

10.1016/s0967-0637(97)00082-4 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 45 (2-3) ◽

pp. 367-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Joël Radford-Knoery ◽

J.-L. Charlou ◽

J.-P. Donval ◽

M. Aballéa ◽

Y. Fouquet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydrothermal Vent ◽

Lucky Strike ◽

Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽

Dissolved Sulfide ◽

Menez Gwen

Download Full-text

Compared geochemical signatures and the evolution of Menez Gwen (37°50′N) and Lucky Strike (37°17′N) hydrothermal fluids, south of the Azores Triple Junction on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Chemical Geology ◽

10.1016/s0009-2541(00)00244-8 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 171 (1-2) ◽

pp. 49-75 ◽

Cited By ~ 228

Author(s):

J.L Charlou ◽

J.P Donval ◽

E Douville ◽

P Jean-Baptiste ◽

J Radford-Knoery ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Triple Junction ◽

Hydrothermal Fluids ◽

Lucky Strike ◽

Azores Triple Junction ◽

Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽

Menez Gwen

Download Full-text

Microbial diversity in deep-sea sediments from the Menez Gwen hydrothermal vent system of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Marine Genomics ◽

10.1016/j.margen.2015.09.001 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 343-355 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Teresa Cerqueira ◽

Diogo Pinho ◽

Conceição Egas ◽

Hugo Froufe ◽

Bjørn Altermark ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Diversity ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Hydrothermal Vent ◽

Deep Sea Sediments ◽

Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽

Menez Gwen

Download Full-text

Gaidropsarus mauli a new species of three-bearded rockling (Gadiformes, Gadidae) from the Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) and the Biscay Slope (Northeastern Atlantic)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4459.2.5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4459 (2) ◽

pp. 301

Author(s):

MANUEL BISCOITO ◽

LUIZ SALDANHA

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Hydrothermal Vent ◽

Valid Species ◽

Lucky Strike ◽

Pectoral Fins ◽

Dorsal Fin ◽

Fin Ray ◽

Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽

A New Species ◽

Northeastern Atlantic

Gaidropsarus mauli, new species, is described from the Lucky Strike Hydrothermal vent site (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) and from the Bay of Biscay. It is distinguished from congeners by a combination of characters such as the number of vertebrae, the size of the first dorsal-fin ray, the profile of the head and the shape of the snout, in dorsal view, the size and the position of the eyes, the length of the pelvic fins, the shape of the pectoral fins, and the length of the lateral line. A comparison with the other 13 valid species of the genus is presented.

Download Full-text

Temperature/pressure tolerance of the first larval stage of Mirocaris fortunata from Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent field

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315400002605 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 739-740 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

P.A. Tyler ◽

D.R. Dixon

Keyword(s):

Vertical Distribution ◽

Hydrothermal Vent ◽

Zoeal Stage ◽

Maximum Pressure ◽

Lucky Strike ◽

Upper Limit ◽

Pressure Tolerance ◽

Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽

Adult Habitat ◽

Hydrothermal Vent Field

Larvae of vent shrimp from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge are known to disperse widely from the adult habitat. Experimental analysis of the temperature/pressure tolerance of the first zoeal stage of Mirocaris fortunata from the Lucky Strike vent field suggest that the upper limit of vertical distribution is determined by temperature. Conversely, the lower limit is controlled by the maximum pressure tolerance of the larvae.

Download Full-text

Evidence of seasonal reproduction in the Atlantic vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus, and an apparent link with the timing of photosynthetic primary production

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315406014391 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 86 (6) ◽

pp. 1363-1371 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

D.R. Dixon ◽

D.M. Lowe ◽

P.I. Miller ◽

G.R. Villemin ◽

A. Colaço ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Production ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Euphotic Zone ◽

Seasonal Reproduction ◽

Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽

Time Series Studies ◽

Dominant Member ◽

Menez Gwen ◽

First Time ◽

The Relationship

Here we present evidence of seasonal reproduction in the deep-sea vent mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus, a dominant member of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) hydrothermal fauna in the Azores region. This is the first time that seasonal reproduction has been suggested for any deep-sea vent organism. This discovery was made possible by the use of novel, acoustically-retrievable cages, which allowed us to extend the frequency and temporal range of sampling that was previously limited to the summer months. The main spawning peak, at the Menez Gwen vent field (840 m) occurs in late December–January and shows a correlation with a winter–spring bloom in primary production in the euphotic zone. Our results suggest that this surface-derived material may act as both a food source for the dispersing mussel larvae and as a reproductive cue/supplementary nutritional source for the adult mussels. Further evidence of a dependence on photosynthetic inputs comes from the relationship between particulate feeding levels, which themselves correlate with the phytoplankton peak, and the amounts of storage tissue in the mantle, which ultimately gets converted into gonad. Thus, the pattern and energetics of reproduction in the Atlantic vent mussel B. azoricus closely resembles that found in the coastal mussel Mytilus edulis, which has been described as an adaptation for optimizing the timing of reproduction against a background of seasonally-varying food availability. This discovery emphasizes the complexity of the nutritional pathways found in some deep-sea chemosynthetic environments and highlights the need for more time-series studies.

Download Full-text