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Sulfide-oxidizing bacteria in the burrowing echinoid, Echinocardium cordatum (Echinodermata)

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Abstract

Symbiotic filamentous bacteria thrive in the intestinal caecum of the deposit-feeding echinoid Echinocardium cordatum. Specimens of E. cordatum were collected at Wimereux (Nord Pas-de-Calais, France) in 1991. Their symbiotic bacteria build nodules by forming multilayered mats around detrital particles that enter the caecum. The morphological features of the bacteria are those of Thiothrix, a sulfide-oxidizing genus. The filaments, which may form rosettes, are sheathed and made by a succession of hundreds of rod-shaped bacteria which store elemental sulfur in the presence of external sulfide. Live bacteria are restricted to the outer layers of the nodules. Their sulfide-oxidizing activity was investigated, using a Biological Oxygen Monitor, by measuring the O2-consumption when reduced sulfur compounds are provided. They oxidize thiosulfate and sulfide. Optimal sulfide oxidation occurs at intermediary pO2 (100 to 160 μM O2l-1). Spectrophotometry has confirmed that the sulfur content of the filamentous symbiotic sulfideoxidizing bacteria depends on the presence of external sulfide. This is the first report of symbiotic intradigestive Thiothrixspp.-like bacteria; it lengthens the list of symbioses between sulfide-oxidizing bacteria and invertebrates from sulfide-rich habitats.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie marine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 av. F.D. Roosevelt, C.P. 160, B-1050, Bruxelles, Belgium

    A. Temara & C. de Ridder

  2. Kluyver Laboratory of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, P.O. Box 5057, 2600 GB, Delft, The Netherlands

    J. G. Kuenen & L. A. Robertson

Authors
  1. A. Temara
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  2. C. de Ridder
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  3. J. G. Kuenen
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  4. L. A. Robertson
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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

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Temara, A., de Ridder, C., Kuenen, J.G. et al. Sulfide-oxidizing bacteria in the burrowing echinoid, Echinocardium cordatum (Echinodermata). Marine Biology 115, 179–185 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346333

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346333

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