Publication Type: | Miscellaneous |
Year of Publication: | 1992 |
Authors: | J. Ott, Nebelsick, M., Novak, R., Polz, M. F., Felbeck, H. |
ISBN Number: | 0095-3628 |
Keywords: | 34, macrofauna, meiofauna, seagrasses, sulfur, Symbiosis |
Abstract: | The marine, free-living Stilbonematinae (Nematoda: Desmodorida) inhabit the oxygen sulfide chemocline in marine sands. They are characterized by an association with ectosymbiotic bacteria. According to their ultrastructure the bacteria are Gram-negative and form morphologically uniform coats that cover the entire body surface of the worms. They are arranged in host-genus or host-species specific patterns: cocci form multilayered sheaths, rods, and crescent- or filament-shaped bacteria form monolayers. The detection of enzymes associated with sulfur metabolism and of ribulose-1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase, as well as elemental sulfur in the bacteria indicate a chemolithoautotrophic nature of the symbionts. Their reproductive patterns appear to optimize space utilization on the host surface: vertically standing rods divide by longitudinal fission, whereas other bacteria form non-septate filaments of up to 100 mgrm length. |
DOI: | 10.1007/BF00167789 |