scholarly journals Novel Forms of Structural Integration between Microbes and a Hydrothermal Vent Gastropod from the Indian Ocean

2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 3082-3090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shana K. Goffredi ◽  
Anders Warén ◽  
Victoria J. Orphan ◽  
Cindy L. Van Dover ◽  
Robert C. Vrijenhoek

ABSTRACT Here we describe novel forms of structural integration between endo- and episymbiotic microbes and an unusual new species of snail from hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean. The snail houses a dense population of γ-proteobacteria within the cells of its greatly enlarged esophageal gland. This tissue setting differs from that of all other vent mollusks, which harbor sulfur-oxidizing endosymbionts in their gills. The significantly reduced digestive tract, the isotopic signatures of the snail tissues, and the presence of internal bacteria suggest a dependence on chemoautotrophy for nutrition. Most notably, this snail is unique in having a dense coat of mineralized scales covering the sides of its foot, a feature seen in no other living metazoan. The scales are coated with iron sulfides (pyrite and greigite) and heavily colonized by ε- and δ-proteobacteria, likely participating in mineralization of the sclerites. This novel metazoan-microbial collaboration illustrates the great potential of organismal adaptation in chemically and physically challenging deep-sea environments.

2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32
Author(s):  
Boongho Cho ◽  
Dongsung Kim ◽  
Hyeonmi Bae ◽  
Taewon Kim

Abstract The Indian Ocean hydrothermal vent is a region where a new oceanic crust is formed by magma at the interface of the deep-sea bed over 2000 m in depth. Here we examined for the first time the exoskeleton structure and mechanical properties of the bythograeid crab Austinograea Rodriguezensis living in hydrothermal vents. Scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive x-ray were used for structural analysis, and a nanoindentation system was used for mechanical analysis. The exoskeleton was divided into four layers: epicuticle, exocuticle, endocuticle, and membrane. The thickness of each layer was different from that of other crustaceans previously reported. Additionally, the number of constituent elements, composition ratio, and hardness of each layer were unique among previously studied crabs. This observation indicates that those characteristics might have evolved for creatures with a hard exoskeleton living in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Bell ◽  
William D. K. Reid ◽  
David A. Pearce ◽  
Adrian G. Glover ◽  
Christopher J. Sweeting ◽  
...  

Abstract. Sedimented hydrothermal vents are those in which hydrothermal fluid is discharged through sediments and are among the least studied deep-sea ecosystems. We present a combination of microbial and biochemical data to assess trophodynamics between and within hydrothermally active and off-vent areas of the Bransfield Strait (1050–1647 m depth). Microbial composition, biomass and fatty acid signatures varied widely between and within vent and non-vent sites and provided evidence of diverse metabolic activity. Several species showed diverse feeding strategies and occupied different trophic positions in vent and nonvent areas. Stable isotope values of consumers were generally not consistent with feeding structure morphology. Niche area and the diversity of microbial fatty acids reflected trends in species diversity and was lowest at the most hydrothermally active site. Faunal utilisation of chemosynthetic activity was relatively limited but was detected at both vent and non-vent sites as evidenced by carbon and sulphur isotopic signatures, suggesting that hydrothermal activity can affect trophodynamics over a much wider area than previously thought.


2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 699-714
Author(s):  
Jong Guk Kim ◽  
Jimin Lee

The genus Smacigastes Ivanenko & Defaye, 2004 (Harpacticoida, Copepoda) is the most primitive genus in the family Tegastidae Sars, 1904, occurring in deep-sea chemosynthetic environments, such as hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, whale falls and wood falls. Our exploration of the Onnuri Vent Field, the sixth active hydrothermal vent system in the Central Indian Ridge, resulted in the discovery of a new species in the genus Smacigastes. A detailed morphological analysis of S. pumilasp. nov. reveals that it most resembles S. barti Gollner, Ivanenko & Martínez Arbizu, 2008, described from a hydrothermal vent in the East Pacific Ridge; the new species can be distinguished from the existing species by the 8-segmented female antennule, the absence of an abexopodal seta on the antennary basis, the mandibular exopod represented by a single seta and the exopod of the first leg with five setae. This is the first record of Smacigastes in the Indian Ocean. A dichotomous key to species of the genus Smacigastes worldwide is provided.


2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 932-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiliang Lai ◽  
Xiupian Liu ◽  
Jun Yuan ◽  
Shuchen Xie ◽  
Zongze Shao

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain CIC4N-9T, which was isolated from deep-sea water of the Indian Ocean. The bacterium was Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped and non-motile. Growth was observed at salinities of 0–9% and at temperatures of 4–41 °C. The isolate was able to degrade gelatin but not aesculin. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CIC4N-9T belonged to the genus Pararhodobacter , with the highest sequence similarity to the only recognized species, Pararhodobacter aggregans D1-19T (96.9 %). The average nucleotide identity and estimated DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain CIC4N-9T and P. aggregans D1-19T were 80.4 and 23.0 %, respectively. The principal fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl, C18 : 0 and C17 : 0. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 66.8 mol%. The sole respiratory quinone was determined to be Q-10. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unknown phospholipids, four unknown aminolipids and one unknown polar lipid were present. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data show that strain CIC4N-9T represents a novel species within the genus Pararhodobacter , for which the name Pararhodobacter marinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CIC4N-9T (=MCCC 1A01225T=KCTC 52336T).


Author(s):  
Futa Nakasugi ◽  
Motohiro Shimanaga ◽  
Hidetaka Nomaki ◽  
Hiromi Kayama Watanabe ◽  
Tomo Kitahashi ◽  
...  

Abstract Dirivultid copepods (Siphonostomatoida), one of the most successful meiobenthic organisms found at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, have been the focus of most previous ecological studies among meiofauna in these habitats. The ecology of Harpacticoida, a major benthic copepod group in typical deep-sea floor, however, is not well understood in terms of variations in community structure and controlling factors at venting sites. The spatial heterogeneities in benthic harpacticoid composition and their association with environmental parameters were investigated at hydrothermal vent chimney structures in the calderas of three neighbouring sea knolls (Bayonnaise Knoll, Myojin Knoll and Myojin-sho Caldera) in the western North Pacific. While a previous study had reported the distribution of dirivultids was strongly associated with spatial differences in stable carbon isotopic signatures (δ13C) of organic matter in the detritus on active chimneys in the field, multivariate analyses detected no significant corelation between the parameter and harpacticoid composition in this study. Instead, high associations of the harpacticoid composition with differences in water depth and total organic carbon (TOC) concentration were detected. Ectinosomatidae dominated at vent sites with lower TOC values in the shallowest Bayonnaise Knoll, while they were less prevalent at deeper vent fields in the other knolls, where Miraciidae was the most abundant family. This study indicated the availability of vent chemoautotrophic carbon is not a primary factor controlling the composition of harpacticoids even in the habitats on the hydrothermal vents, but instead by the food amount, regardless of its resources (including marine snow from the sea surface), in the study area.


Author(s):  
Shaobin Xie ◽  
Shasha Wang ◽  
Dengfeng Li ◽  
Zongze Shao ◽  
Qiliang Lai ◽  
...  

A novel mesophilic, hydrogen-, and sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, designated strain ST-419T, was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent plume on the Carlsberg Ridge of the Northwestern Indian Ocean. The isolate was a Gram-staining-negative, non-motile and coccoid to oval-shaped bacterium. Growth was observed at 4–50 °C (optimum 37 °C), pH 5.0–8.6 (optimum pH 6.0) and 1.0–5.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3.0 %). ST-419T could grow chemlithoautotrophically with molecular hydrogen, sulfide, elemental sulfur and thiosulfate as energy sources. Molecular oxygen, nitrate and elemental sulfur could be used as electron acceptors. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-6 and the G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that ST-419T represented a member of genus Sulfurovum and was most closely related to Sulfurovum riftiae 1812ET, with 97.6 % sequence similarity. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between ST-419T and S. riftiae 1812ET were 74.6 and 19.6 %, respectively. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicate that ST-419T represents a novel species within the genus Sulfurovum , for which the name Sulfurovum indicum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ST-419T (=MCCC 1A17954T=KCTC 25164T).


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4539 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER L. MAH

Modern goniasterids are the most numerous of living asteroids in terms of described genera and species and they have important ecological roles from shallow to deep-water marine habitats. Recent MNHN expeditions and historical collections in the USNM have resulted in the discovery of 18 new species, three new genera and multiple new occurrence records from the western Indian Ocean region including Madagascar, Glorioso and Mayotte islands, Walters Shoal, South Africa, and Somalia. This report provides the first significant contribution to knowledge of deep-sea Asteroidea from the Indian Ocean since the late 20th Century. Several deep-sea species, previously known from the North Pacific are now reported from the western Indian Ocean. Gut contents from Stellaster and Ogmaster indicate deposit feeding. Feeding modes of this and other deep-sea species are discussed. Comments are made on fossil members of included taxa. A checklist of Indian Ocean Goniasteridae is also included.


1968 ◽  
Vol 36 (283) ◽  
pp. 1012-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Baker

SummaryIn view of recently reported microtektites in deep-sea sediments north-west, south-west, and south of Australia, attention is drawn to the occurrence of minute forms of hay-silica glass among the products of incineration of opal-bearing vegetation in haystacks, and to the minute forms of volcanic glass ejected in lava fountains. These terrestrial micro-forms of glass have properties within the range of those for the fossil glassy bodies named ‘microtektites’. It is possible that the fusion of opal contained in silica-accumulator plants during fierce, prehistoric forest, bush, and grass fires in Australia generated micro-forms of glass that became readily airborne and drifted away in up-currents. Carried by the south-east Trades, they would ultimately descend over the Wharton Basin in the Indian Ocean. Strong to violent northerlies and north-easterlies (Brickfielder Winds) would carry them over the ocean south and south-west of Australia. Thus they could contribute to the deposits of bodies of glass regarded as microtektites in deep-sea sediments. Many microbodies of glass in the Wharton Basin could have had their origin in the Javanese volcanic eruptions.


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