Feeding biology of the shrimp Rimicaris exoculata at hydrothermal vents on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
| |
Authors: | C L Van Dover B Fry J F Grassle S Humphris P A Rona |
| |
Institution: | (1) Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 02543 Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA;(2) Marine Biological Laboratory, Ecosystems Center, 02543 Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA;(3) NOAA/AOML, US Department of Commerce, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, 33149 Miami, Florida, USA |
| |
Abstract: | A newly described species of shrimp, Rimicaris exoculata Williams and Rona, 1986, dominates the megafaunal community at two hydrothermal vent sites on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Behavioral observations and gut-content analyses indicate, that these shrimp ingest large amounts of sulfide particles from black smoker chimneys. We found no evidence for chemoautotrophic endosymbionts in R. exoculata, based on analyses of morphology, stable isotopes, lipopolysaccharides, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCase) activity. Instead we suggest that the shrimp, are normal heterotrophs, grazing on free-living microorganisms associated with black smoker chimneys. We infer that high bacterial productivity is required to sustain populations of R. exoculata at these vent sites. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|