Several Deep-Sea Mussels And Their Associated Symbionts Are Able To Live Both On Wood And On Whale Falls

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 17 Sep 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Original organisms occur at hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, deep-sea ecosystems where they thrive thanks to symbiotic associations with bacteria. Among those organisms, mussels have markedly closely related parents which are also associated with sunken woods and bones. These organic falls were suggested as potential evolutionary 'stepping-stones', allowing colonization processes toward vent and seeps. The current study provides evidences that some mussels are able to live both on sunken wood and on bones, thus providing new insights into this 'stepping-stones' hypothesis. Their symbiotic relationships were also studied to explain the abilities of host species to adapt to various substrates.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences