BENTHIC ANIMALS IN SHALLOW WATERS THAT CAN EXPLOIT CHEMOSYNTHETIC PRIMARY PRODUCTION

依赖化能自养硫细菌初级生产的底栖生物群落不仅存在于排放高浓度H_2S热水的热液喷口周围，而且存在于河口和泥滩的有机富集沉积物中，其中硫酸盐还原菌厌氧分解有机物产生H_2S.依赖化能自养硫细菌初级生产的底栖生物群落似乎广泛存在于富含硫化物的海洋生态系统中。在本研究中，我们报道了一种以沉积物为食的多毛类（Capitella sp. I）的生长在暴露于H_2S的环境中得到了显著的促进。在高浓度硫化物环境中生长的大型蠕虫的Δ <13>C值（平均值为-24.4%）显著低于对照蠕虫（平均值为-20.1%）。蠕虫的正常生长依赖于化学合成产物。

Benthic communities, which rely on primary production by chemoautotrophic sulfur bacteria, have been discovered not only around hydrothermal vents, where heated water with extremely high levels of H_2S is emitted, but also in organically enriched sediments of estuaries and on mud flats, where sulfate-reducing bacteria decompose organic matter anaerobically producing H_2S.The benthic communities which rely on primary production by chemoautotrophic sulfur bacteriia appear to be widespread in sulfide-rich marine ecosystems. In this study, we report that growth of a deposit-feeding polychaete, Capitella sp. I, which is a dominant macrofaunal species in organically enriched sediments in coastal areas, was greatly enhanced by exposure to H_2S.The large worms grown in high levels of sulfide had significantly lower delta^<13>C values (mean, -24.4% than Control worms (mean, -20.1%). The worms appear to achieve normal growthrelying on the chemosynthetic production.