Mixotrophy in the deep sea: a dual endosymbiotic hydrothermal mytilid assimilates dissolved and particulate organic matter

Type Article
Date 2010-04
Language English
Author(s) Riou Virginie1, 2, Colaco Ana1, Bouillon Steven2, 5, Khripounoff AlexisORCID3, Dando Paul4, Mangion Perrine2, Chevalier Emilie2, Korntheuer Michael2, Santos Raphael1, Dehairs Frank2
Affiliation(s) 1 : IMAR Univ Azores, Dept Oceanog & Fisheries, P-9901862 Horta, Portugal.
2 : Vrije Univ Brussel, Earth Syst Sci Grp, Dept Analyt & Environm Chem, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
3 : IFREMER, Ctr Brest, DEEP LEP, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
4 : Marine Biol Assoc UK, Plymouth PL1 2PB, Devon, England.
5 : Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Earth & Environm Sci, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
Source Marine Ecology-progress Series (0171-8630) (Inter-research), 2010-04 , Vol. 405 , P. 187-201
DOI 10.3354/meps08515
WOS© Times Cited 33
Keyword(s) Bathymodiolus azoricus, Particulate and dissolved material, Nitrogen and carbon assimilation, Deep sea, Hydrothermal vent, Mussel
Abstract Bathymodiolus azoricus mussels thrive 840 to 2300 m deep at hydrothermal vents of the Azores Triple Junction on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Although previous studies have suggested a mixotrophic regime for this species, no analysis has yet yielded direct evidence for the assimilation of particulate material. In the present study, tracer experiments in aquaria with C-13- and N-15-labelled amino acids and marine cyanobacteria demonstrate for the first time the incorporation of dissolved and particulate organic matter in soft tissues of vent mussel. The observation of phytoplanktonic tests in wild mussel stomachs highlights the occurrence of in situ ingestion of sea-surface-derived material. Particulate organic carbon fluxes in sediment traps moored away from direct vent influence are in agreement with carbon export estimates from the surface ocean above the vents attenuated by microbial degradation. Stable isotope composition of trapped organic matter is similar to values published in the literature, but is enriched by +7 parts per thousand in C-13 and +13 parts per thousand in N-15, relative to mussel gill tissue from the Menez Gwen vent. Although this observation suggests a negligible contribution of photosynthetically produced organic matter to the diet of B. azoricus, the tracer experiments demonstrate that active suspension-feeding on particles and dissolved organic matter could contribute to the C and N budget of the mussel and should not be neglected.
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Riou Virginie, Colaco Ana, Bouillon Steven, Khripounoff Alexis, Dando Paul, Mangion Perrine, Chevalier Emilie, Korntheuer Michael, Santos Raphael, Dehairs Frank (2010). Mixotrophy in the deep sea: a dual endosymbiotic hydrothermal mytilid assimilates dissolved and particulate organic matter. Marine Ecology-progress Series, 405, 187-201. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08515 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00005/11589/