Abstract
Abstract. Three species of Alvinellidae are found on walls of some hydrothermal chimneys at 13o N on the East Pacific Rise (EPR); numerous epibiotic bacteria were associated with two of these polychaetes, Alvinella pompejana and Alvinella caudata, but not with the third, Paralvinella grasslei. Many studies suggest that chemoautotrophic bacteria play a prominent role in deep‐sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems. Particularly important are the intracellular bacteria present in the giant pogonophores and bivalve molluscs.The abundant epibioses observed on these Alvinella species are unusual and the relationships between these bacteria and the worms are unknown. Previous results, including 13C values, morphological insertion of the bacteria on the epidermis, presence of ribulose biphosphate carboxylase, and fixation of 14C bicarbonate in some bacteria and in the dorsal epidermis, suggest that a trophic relationship could exist between Alvinella and its epibiotic bacteria. The present study compared the incorporation area of 14C bicarbonate in the 3 species. Paralvinella, which is devoid of epibiotic bacteria, served as a control.
Published Version
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