Mussel Periostracum from Deep-Sea Redox Communities as a Microbial Habitat: 3. Secondary Inhabitants |
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| Authors: | James E Hook Stjepko Golubic |
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| Institution: | Department of Biology, 5 Cummington St., Boston University, Boston, MA 02215–2425, U.S.A |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. Vacated microborings in periostracum of live mussels of the Florida Escarpment redox community (depth of 3266 m) become a habitat for a prolific secondary microbiota consisting of a variety of prokaryotic and a few eukaryotic organisms. Periostracum surface is also colonized by diverse microorganisms, dominated by presumed chemolithotrophic bacteria with stacks of intracellular lamellae. Unlike sheltered microflora within borings, the surface community is heavily grazed upon by numerous archaeogastropods and ciliates. |
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| Keywords: | Deep sea vent-type community mussel periostracum degradation bacteria chemolithotrophy |
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