Mussel Periostracum from Deep-Sea Redox Communities as a Microbial Habitat: 3. Secondary Inhabitants

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.     

Mussel Periostracum from Deep-Sea Redox Communities as a Microbial Habitat: 2. The Pit Borers

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.     

Mussel Periostracum from Deep-Sea Redox Communities as a Microbial Habitat: The Scalloping Periostracum Borer

Abstract. A complex and highly unusual eukaryotic microorganism was discovered to be penetrating and removing the periostracum of deep-sea mussels from the Florida Escarpment brine seeps at a depth of 3266 m. These brine seeps support a chemolithoautotrophic redox community similar to those known from Pacific hydrotherma! vents. This microorganism of unknown taxonomic affinity is filamentous and coenocytic, with a simple plasma membrane and no cell wall. It forms prostrate, radiating systems of branched tunnels, 8–15 u.m in diameter. The surface of the tunnels is sculptured by helically organized, scale-like depressions, which are left as scars in the process of periostracum removal by the organism. Periostracum is removed in discrete pieces (scallops) at the ends of the tunnels. This organism has been found at three Atlantic deep-sea redox communities, but not in similar communities of the Pacific.     

Phosphorus and nitrogen effects on microbial euendolithic communities and their bioerosion rates

Cages and fertilizers were used at Glover's Atoll, Belize to test the relative importance of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to microbial euendolithic communities (bacteria, algae and fungi) and their bioerosion rates of Strombus gigas shells after 56-days of exposure. By the end of the experiment, the abundance of green algae was higher than cyanobacteria and fungi in N and N+P treatments, although green algae did not increase proportionally with increasing N concentrations, suggesting that green algae were co-limited by P and N. In contrast, cyanobacteria abundance increased with increasing P concentration, suggesting that cyanobacteria were P-limited. Fungi were not significantly affected by the addition of nutrients. Microbioerosion rates in the N and N+P treatments were 2-times greater than rates in the P treatment and 15-times greater than the control treatment. Results demonstrate that increased nutrient concentrations on coral reefs may increase microbioerosion rates, and variations in nutrient ratios can modify microborers community composition.     

Entwurf zu einem ökologischen System der Blaualgen

Zusammenfassung es wird vorgeschlagen, die heutige Blaualgensystematik durch ein ?kologisches System zu erg?nzen, welches die ?kologisch bedingte Variabilit?t der Formen systematisch berücksichtigt, so dass die Grenzen der ?kologisch unbeeinflussten Einheiten der reinen Taxonomie klarer werden. Dafür wird das Benennungssytem von JAAG als günstigstes betrachtet.