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First published online September 19, 2006
Journal of Experimental Biology 209, 3795-3805 (2006)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2006
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02413

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The hydrocarbon seep tubeworm Lamellibrachia luymesi primarily eliminates sulfate and hydrogen ions across its roots to conserve energy and ensure sulfide supply

Sharmishtha Dattagupta^*, Lara L. Miles, Matthew S. Barnabei and Charles R. Fisher

Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

View larger version (192K): [in a new window]   Fig. 1. The extensive tubeworm roots of an aggregation that was excavated and collected using the Bushmaster sampling device (Bergquist et al., 2002; Cordes et al., 2005b). This photograph shows roots that are about 1 m long, extending below the carbonate rock substrate. The roots were observed to break during collection and we believe they might have been even longer in the intact aggregation (C.R.F., personal observation). Photo courtesy of Dr E. E. Cordes.

View larger version (60K): [in a new window]   Fig. 2. Schematic representation of a tubeworm maintenance aquarium. Sulfide dissolved in synthetic seawater (SSW) was introduced into the polyvinylchloride (PVC) hose, which was connected to PVC grating. The sulfide diffused out from the grating through the crushed coral and sediment layers. The aquarium was filled with SSW, which was kept aerated and filtered.

View larger version (20K): [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Relation between (A) sulfate (µmol h-1 g-1 wet mass), and (B) protons (µequiv. h-1 g-1 wet mass) eliminated across plumes and roots of individual tubeworms exposed to sulfide for 48 h prior to the measurement. Closed circles in B represent animals that might have experienced hypoxic conditions and eliminated protons from anaerobic metabolism.

View larger version (16K): [in a new window]   Fig. 4. Relation between (A) plume, (B) root and (C) total (plume and root combined) proton and sulfate eliminated from individual tubeworms exposed to sulfide for 48 h prior to the experiment. Closed circles represent animals that might have experienced hypoxic conditions and eliminated protons from anaerobic metabolism.

View larger version (19K): [in a new window]   Fig. 5. A summary of the effect of the membrane transport inhibitors and the solvent (DMSO) on sulfate elimination across plumes and roots of L. luymesi. An asterisk indicates that the treatment caused significant (P<0.05) inhibition of sulfate elimination.

View larger version (62K): [in a new window]   Fig. 6. A schematic representation of an aggregation of L. luymesi, depicting a nutrient exchange model for this species. Seawater and sediment pore-water sulfate concentration and pH are from Aharon and Fu (Aharon and Fu, 2000). The equation for microbial sulfate reduction shows sulfate reduction coupled with methane oxidation. However, sulfate reduction coupled with higher molecular mass hydrocarbons can also occur (Joye et al., 2004). Bicarbonate uptake across roots is suggested, but has not been directly demonstrated in this study.