Spanning the thermal limits: an extreme eurythermal symbiosis
In: Cahiers de Biologie Marine. Station Biologique de Roscoff: Paris. ISSN 0007-9723; e-ISSN 2262-3094, more Also appears in:(1998). Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vent Biology: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal 20-24 October 1997. Cahiers de Biologie Marine, 39(3-4). Station Biologique de Roscoff: Roscoff. 219-392 pp., more |   |
| Abstract | In previous studies the alvinellid symbiont population has been implicated in both the nutrition of the host and in the detoxification of sulphide and heavy metals (Alayse-Danet et al., 1987). The evidence for this, however, is inconclusive. Stable isotope analysis and activities of key metabolic enzymes provide only a measurement of the epibiont population average and not an understanding of the specific roles of the symbionts. The focus of this study has been to use recently developed molecular genetic technologies to characterize the predominant symbionts within the mixed population and to determine their function in the symbiosis. Our specific objectives have been to: 1) phylogenetically characterize the dominant symbionts in the population, 2) determine the distribution of these symbionts both on the worm and within the vent environment, and 3) determine the metabolic capabilities within the structure of the symbiont population. |
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