Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
10:03
Quantitative Locomotion Study of Freely Swimming Micro-organisms Using Laser Diffraction
Published on: October 25, 2012
Deep-sea, swimming worms with luminescent "bombs"
Karen J Osborn1, Steven H D Haddock, Fredrik Pleijel
1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. kjosborn@ucsd.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 22, 2009
Summary
Seven new species of deep-sea swimming annelid worms were discovered, some with bioluminescent organs. This finding highlights the rich biodiversity yet to be uncovered in unexplored ocean habitats.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Deep-Sea Ecology
- Invertebrate Zoology
Background:
- The deep-sea pelagic realm remains underexplored, with many species yet to be discovered.
- Annelid worms (segmented worms) are a diverse group, with some species adapted to deep-sea environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discover and describe new species of swimming annelid worms in deep-sea habitats.
- To investigate the evolutionary relationships of newly discovered annelid worms within the Cirratuliformia order.
Main Methods:
- Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) were used for deep-sea exploration below 1800 meters.
- Morphological examination of specimens, including head appendages and specialized organs.
- Phylogenetic analysis using five genes to determine evolutionary relationships.
Main Results:
- Seven previously unknown species of large swimming annelid worms were discovered.
- Five species possess unique ellipsoidal organs capable of producing green bioluminescence upon autotomy.
- Phylogenetic analysis revealed these species form a distinct clade within the Acrocirridae family, representing a third independent invasion of the pelagic zone by Cirratuliformia.
Conclusions:
- The discovery of these new species underscores the significant biodiversity present in deep-sea pelagic and demersal zones.
- The findings provide new insights into the evolutionary adaptations of annelid worms to pelagic life.
- Further exploration of deep-sea habitats is crucial for understanding marine biodiversity and evolutionary processes.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Diversity of Protists III
Rhizaria are a diverse group of unicellular protists characterized by their threadlike cytoplasmic extensions known as pseudopodia. These structures aid in both locomotion and feeding, giving Rhizaria an amoeboid appearance. Their amoeboid morphology once led to taxonomic confusion, but molecular phylogenetics has clarified their evolutionary placement and emphasized their shared use of pseudopodia despite divergent lineages.This clade comprises diverse lineages such as Chlorarachniophyta,...
01:18Deep Sea Microbial Ecology
The deep ocean and its underlying sediments represent vast, largely unexplored microbial habitats that extend far beyond the sunlit photic zone. The photic (euphotic) zone typically spans the upper ~100–200 meters of pelagic waters in the open ocean, but its depth varies geographically and seasonally, where sufficient light supports photosynthetic life. Below this lies the deep sea, spanning roughly 1000–6000 meters (bathypelagic to abyssal zones), with deeper hadal trenches extending beyond...