Dorvilleid from Eel R.

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Dorvilleid from Eel R. methane seep (525 m)
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Research Questions How many dorvilleid species
are present? How can they tolerate such toxic
conditions? Do the species partition their
habitat ? (by food? sulfide tolerance? settlement
cues?) Does sulfide drive their evolution?
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Studying sulfide effects with experiments
Colonization tray
Gear Elevator
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Do dorvilleids respond to sulfide as a
settlement cue?
Eel R. Seeps (N. CA) 500 m
with or without sulfide
Tray Treatments (6 reps each) 1. Agar without
sulfide (outside seeps) 2. Agar with sulfide,
8- 9mM (outside seeps) 3. Agar with sulfide, 8-
9 mM (inside seeps)
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Do dorvilleids partition the system by diet?
Pseudophryotrocha cf. serrata
bacteria
d13C -36.9
sediment
Ophryotrocha platykephale
d13C -22.7
Stable isotope signatures indicate diet (you are
what you eat)
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Isotopes reveal habitat partitioning -
Dorvilleidae Eel R. Margin, Bacterial mat, 500 m
H2S 2-10mM
?
H2S 2mM
phytoplankton
sulfur bacteria
methane derived C
sulfide oxidation
terrestrial C