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Rotifers colonising sediments with shallow gas hydrates
Stefan Sommer1, Erik Gutzmann, Wilko Ahlrichs
1GEOMAR, Forschungszentrum für Marine Geowissenschaften, Universität Kiel, Wischhofstrasse 1-3, 24148, Kiel, Germany. ssommer@geomar.de
Die Naturwissenschaften
|July 2, 2003
Summary
Marine rotifers were discovered in high abundances near gas hydrates (GH) in anoxic, sulphidic sediments. These findings expand the known habitats for these small metazoans in deep-sea environments.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Deep-sea ecology
- Microbial ecology
Background:
- Rotifers are typically found in freshwater environments, with marine occurrences being rare.
- Gas hydrates (GH) create unique geochemical conditions in deep-sea sediments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and abundance of rotifers in marine environments associated with gas hydrates.
- To characterize the habitat of newly discovered rotifer species.
Main Methods:
- Sediment sampling at Hydrate Ridge, Oregon, at depths of approximately 780 m and 1,285–2,304 m.
- Identification and abundance assessment of metazoan fauna, including rotifers.
- Co-occurrence analysis with microbial communities, specifically sulphide-oxidising bacteria.
Main Results:
- High abundances of at least two new rotifer species were found in anoxic, sulphidic sediments near shallow gas hydrates.
- Rotifers were also found co-occurring with Thioploca sp. bacteria in deeper basins adjacent to Hydrate Ridge.
- This discovery challenges the notion of rotifers being exclusively freshwater organisms.
Conclusions:
- Marine rotifers can thrive in extreme deep-sea environments characterized by anoxia and high sulfide concentrations.
- The association with gas hydrates suggests a specialized ecological niche for these newly discovered rotifer species.
- Further research is needed to understand the physiology and ecological role of these marine rotifers.
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