Interactions between sediment chemistry and frenulate pogonophores (Annelida) in the north-east Atlantic

The small frenulate pogonophores (Annelida: Pogonophora a.k.a. Siboglinidae) typically inhabit muddy sediments on the continental slope, although a few species occur near hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. We present data on the distribution and habitat characteristics of several species on the Euro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers
Main Authors: Dando, P R, Southward, AJ, Southward, E C, Lamont, Peter, Harvey, Robin
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2008
Subjects:
HYDROGEN-SULFIDE
BIVALVE MOLLUSKS
PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY
MUD VOLCANO
BACTERIAL SYMBIONTS
COLD-SEEP COMMUNITIES
MOLLUSK THYASIRA-SARSI
Oceanography
ELEMENTAL SULFUR
ACID-VOLATILE SULFIDE
SULFATE REDUCTION
North East Atlantic
Online Access:https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/publications/3b398204-2695-465c-9a5b-4545128b8b8e
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2008.04.002
Description
Summary:The small frenulate pogonophores (Annelida: Pogonophora a.k.a. Siboglinidae) typically inhabit muddy sediments on the continental slope, although a few species occur near hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. We present data on the distribution and habitat characteristics of several species on the European continental shelf and slope from 48 degrees N to 75 degrees N and show how the animals interact with the chemistry of the sediments. The environments inhabited include: shallow (30m), organic-rich, fjord sediments; slope sediments (1000-2200m) and methane seeps at 330m depth. All the species studied obtain nutrition from endosymbiotic bacteria. They take up reduced sulphur species, or in one case, methane, through the posterior parts of their tubes buried in the anoxic sediment. We conclude that most species undertake sulphide 'mining', a mechanism previously demonstrated in the bivalves Lucinoma borealis and Thyasira sarsi. These pogonophores participate in the sulphur cycle and effectively lower the sulphide content of the sediments. Our results show that the abundance of frenulate pogonophores increases with increasing sedimentation and with decreasing abundance of other benthos, particularly bioturbating organisms. The maximum sustainable carrying capacity of non-seep sediments for frenulate pogonophores is limited by the rate of sulphate reduction. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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