Ecophysiology of the Hydrothermal Vent Tubeworm Riftia Pachyptila

这个研究项目集中在生物学的 热液喷口管虫，Riftia pachyptila。 这种动物 含有共生的化能自养细菌， 为这个没种的宿主提供所有的营养 是 只有一种属于毛蕊花门和毛蕊花门 进行详细的生理生态学研究。 研究将集中在这个物种能够 利用周围海水中的无机二氧化碳， 直接生产大部分的生物质， 社区 三个主要的研究领域是：a） 参与二氧化碳运输的代谢途径 从羽流到滋养体中的共生细菌，B） 通过共生体排泄还原的有机化合物，以及 c）细菌细胞壁材料在细菌生长中的可能作用 将碳转移到宿主。 为了实现这些研究目标，研究将利用整个 动物保持在高压水族馆后立即 收集、灌注组织制备和纯化的共生体 细菌 在这项研究中使用的主要工具是孵化与 放射性标记物（有时是代谢抑制剂）， 随后鉴定代谢物， 标记已被纳入。

This research project concentrates on the biology of the hydrothermal vent tubeworm, Riftia pachyptila. This animal contains symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria which appear to supply all of the nutrition for this gutless host. It is the only member of the phyla Vestimentifera and Pogonophora accessible for detailed ecophysiological studies. Studies will concentrate on the ways this species is able to utilize the inorganic carbon dioxide of the surrounding sea water to produce directly a major portion of the biomass of this community. The 3 major research areas to be investigated are: a) metabolic pathways involved in the transport of carbon dioxide from the plume to the symbiotic bacteria in the trophosome, b) the excretion of reduced organic compounds by the symbionts, and c) the possible role of bacterial cell wall material in the transfer of carbon to the host. To accomplish these research goals studies will utilize whole animals maintained in high pressure aquaria immediately after collection, perfused tissue preparations, and purified symbiotic bacteria. The main tool used in this research is incubation with radioactive markers (and sometimes metabolic inhibitors) with a subsequent identification of the metabolites in which these markers have been incorporated.