Mussel Periostracum from Deep-Sea Redox Communities as a Microbial Habitat: 2. The Pit Borers |
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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. Mussel periostracum from the Florida Escarpment redox community (3266 m depth) is extensively bored by a variety of microorganisms. Four different types of pit borings were observed and characterized on the basis of SEM images of their resin casts, and/or light and TEM reconstructions: two large, open-pit borers, a "button" borer, and a cone borer. These boring patterns represent distinctive feeding "strategies". The cumulative activities of periostracum borers remove the protective organic layer from the mussel shells, exposing the mineral to cndolith attack. |
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| Keywords: | Deep sea vent-type community shell mussel periostracum boring microorganism prokaryotic degradation |
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