In situ growth of the vestimentiferan Ridgeia piscesae living in highly diffuse flow environments in the main Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge

Istvan A. Urcuyo, Gary J. Massoth, Ian R. Macdonald, Charles R. Fisher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

At many hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seep locations vestimentiferans are an ecosystem structuring organism. The vestimentiferan Ridgeia piscesae Jones, 1985 is one of the most abundant macrofauna present at the vent sites of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and due to its endosymbiotic relationship with chemoautotrophic bacteria can be characterized as a primary producer. The tube-worms' tubes provide surface for colonization and the tube-worm aggregations provide refuge for other vent-endemic micro and macro fauna. The different R. piscesae morphotypes found on the Juan de Fuca Ridge were originally thought to represent up to five different species but further investigations using allozymes and morphological reassessments demonstrate that they all are one species (Southward et al., 1995). Preliminary observations suggest that the different morphotypes are a reflection of the different temperature and sulphide regimes that this species inhabits. A primary objective of our ongoing studies on the main Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge is to measure the in situ growth rates of the different R. piscesae morphotypes living in a variety of different diffuse flow habitats. Here we report some preliminary results of a growth study on the long-skinny morphotype.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)267-270
Number of pages4
JournalCahiers de Biologie Marine
Volume39
Issue number3-4
StatePublished - Dec 1 1998

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aquatic Science

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