An overview of chemosynthetic symbioses in bivalves from the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea

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作者：

S Duperron，SM Gaudron，CF Rodrigues，MR Cunha，C Decker，K Olu

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摘要：

Deep-sea bivalves found at hydrothermal vents,cold seeps and organic falls are sustained by chemosyntheticbacteria that ensure part or all of their carbon nutrition. Thesesymbioses are of prime importance for the functioning of theecosystems. Similar symbioses occur in other bivalve speciesliving in shallow and coastal reduced habitats worldwide. Inrecent years, several deep-sea species have been investigatedfrom continental margins around Europe, West Africa, easternAmericas, the Gulf of Mexico, and from hydrothermalvents on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In parallel, numerous, moreeasily accessible shallow marine species have been studied.Herein we provide a summary of the current knowledgeavailable on chemosymbiotic bivalves in the area rangingwest-to-east from the Gulf of Mexico to the Sea of Marmara,and north-to-south from the Arctic to the Gulf of Guinea.Characteristics of symbioses in 53 species from the area aresummarized for each of the five bivalve families documentedto harbor chemosynthetic symbionts (Mytilidae, Vesicomyidae,Solemyidae, Thyasiridae and Lucinidae). Comparisonsare made between the families, with special emphasis onecology, life cycle, and connectivity. Chemosynthetic symbiosesare a major adaptation to ecosystems and habitatsexposed to reducing conditions. However, relatively little isknown regarding their diversity and functioning, apart from afew "model species" on which effort has focused over the last30 yr. In the context of increasing concern about biodiversityand ecosystems, and increasing anthropogenic pressureon oceans, we advocate a better assessment of the diversity of bivalve symbioses in order to evaluate the capacities ofthese remarkable ecological and evolutionary units to withstandenvironmental change.

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关键词：

Geology

DOI：

10.5194/bg-10-3241-2013

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年份：

2013