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Gametogenic periodicity in the chemosynthetic cold-seep mussel “Bathymodiolus” childressi

Marine Biology volume 150, pages 829–840 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The gametogenic periodicity of the cold seep mussel “Bathymodiolus” childressi was analysed from a time series of samples from depths of ∼ 650 m surrounding the Brine Pool cold seep on the continental slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Occasional samples were retrieved from Bush Hill and GC 234 for comparison. At the Brine Pool, both females and males showed strong reproductive periodicity with the initiation of gametogenesis from December to March, followed by a period of gamete growth or proliferation and spawning from October to February. Gametogenesis was synchronized at all three sites. Gametogenic periodicity appears to be correlated with surface production that peaks during the winter months. Downward flux of detritus during this period may provide food for the planktotrophic larvae and also supplementary nutrition for the adult, which has chemosynthetic bacterial symbionts but is also capable of filter feeding. Individuals in all three populations carried parasites and these were especially common at Bush Hill and GC234, where it is suggested they have a major impact on reproductive output.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the crews of the RV Seward Johnson II and the RV Pelican for their help at sea. The sub crews of the Johnson-Sea-Link II submersibles are thanked for all their support and patience. Steve Macko and his laboratory at the University of Virginia assisted with shipboard collections and logistics, as did Johanna Jarnegren, Michael Holmes, Tracey Smart, Ahna Van Gaest and a number of other students at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. The work was supported by NSF grant OCE-0118733 to the University of Oregon, with a portion of the shiptime funded by the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration through a grant to Pennsylvania State University. The National Undersea Research Program at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington also provided some research support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK

    Paul Tyler, Emily Dolan & Maria Baker

  2. Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oregon, Charleston, OR, 97420, USA

    Craig M. Young, Shawn M. Arellano & Sandra D. Brooke

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  1. Paul Tyler
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  2. Craig M. Young
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  3. Emily Dolan
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  4. Shawn M. Arellano
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Correspondence to Paul Tyler.

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Communicated by J.P. Thorpe, Port Erin

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Tyler, P., Young, C.M., Dolan, E. et al. Gametogenic periodicity in the chemosynthetic cold-seep mussel “Bathymodiolus” childressi . Mar Biol 150, 829–840 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0362-9

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Keywords

  • Digestive Gland
  • Mytilus Edulis
  • Bacterial Symbiont
  • Cold Seep
  • East Pacific Rise