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A new record of the vestimentiferan Lamellibrachia sp. (Polychaeta: Siboglinidae) from a deep shipwreck in the eastern Mediterranean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

David J. Hughes  and
Moya Crawford
David J. Hughes*
Affiliation:
Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, UK
Moya Crawford
Affiliation:
Deep Tek Ltd, Kilburns House, Newport on Tay, Fife, DD6 8PL, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: David J. Hughes, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, UK email: david.hughes@sams.ac.uk
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Abstract

Specimens of the vestimentiferan tubeworm Lamellibrachia sp. were collected from the wreck of the SS ‘Persia’ at 2800 m depth south-east of Crete, in association with decomposing paper in the ship's mailroom. Anaerobic breakdown of cellulose by bacterial consortia including sulphate-reducers is proposed as the source of sulphide required by Lamellibrachia's chemoautotrophic symbionts. Timing of wreck colonization is unknown but observed tube dimensions suggest growth rates at least equal to those measured for Lamellibrachia luymesi at Gulf of Mexico hydrocarbon seeps. The organic substrate supporting vestimentiferan growth in the ‘Persia’ is remarkable in consisting of highly refractory, human-modified terrestrial plant material. This record therefore expands the range of energy sources known to support chemosynthetic communities at the deep-sea floor.

Keywords

ChemosynthesisLamellibrachiaMediterraneanShipwrechSiboglinidaeVestimentifera
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 1 , January 2008 , e21
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2006

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