@article {ISI:000349302600004,
	title = {{Size matters at deep-sea hydrothermal vents: different diversity and habitat fidelity patterns of meio- and macrofauna}},
	journal = {MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES},
	volume = {520},
	year = {2015},
	month = {feb},
	pages = {57{\textendash}66},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {Species with markedly different sizes interact when sharing the same habitat. Unravelling mechanisms that control diversity thus requires consideration of a range of size classes. We compared patterns of diversity and community structure for meio-and macrofaunal communities sampled along a gradient of environmental stress at deep-sea hydrothermal vents on the East Pacific Rise (9 degrees 50{\textquoteright} N) and neighboring basalt habitats. Both meio-and macrofaunal species richnesses were lowest in the high-stress vent habitat, but macrofaunal richness was highest among intermediate-stress vent habitats. Meiofaunal species richness was negatively correlated with stress, and highest on the basalt. In these deep-sea basalt habitats surrounding hydrothermal vents, meiofaunal species richness was consistently higher than that of macrofauna. Consideration of the physiological capabilities and life history traits of different-sized animals suggests that different patterns of diversity may be caused by different capabilities to deal with environmental stress in the 2 size classes. In contrast to meiofauna, adaptations of macrofauna may have evolved to allow them to maintain their physiological homeostasis in a variety of hydrothermal vent habitats and exploit this food-rich deep-sea environment in high abundances. The habitat fidelity patterns also differed: macrofaunal species occurred primarily at vents and were generally restricted to this habitat, but meiofaunal species were distributed more evenly across proximate and distant basalt habitats and were thus not restricted to vent habitats. Over evolutionary time scales these contrasting patterns are likely driven by distinct reproduction strategies and food demands inherent to fauna of different sizes.},
	keywords = {HOV Alvin (Human Occupied Vehicle)},
	issn = {0171-8630},
	doi = {10.3354/meps11078},
	author = {Gollner, Sabine and Govenar, Breea and Fisher, Charles R and Bright, Monika}
}
@article {ISI:000338027700011,
	title = {{Depth-dependent gene flow in Gulf of Mexico cold seep Lamellibrachia tubeworms (Annelida, Siboglinidae)}},
	journal = {HYDROBIOLOGIA},
	volume = {736},
	number = {1},
	year = {2014},
	month = {sep},
	pages = {139{\textendash}154},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {Lamellibrachia vestimentiferan tubeworms form aggregations at hydrocarbon cold seeps in the deep Gulf of Mexico (GoM), creating structures that provide living space for other fauna. In the GoM, three Lamellibrachia taxa vary in morphology and depth ranges: Lamellibrachia luymesi (300-950 m), Lamellibrachia sp. 1 (950-2,604 m), and Lamellibrachia sp. 2 (1,175-3,304 m). While Lamellibrachia sp. 2 is consistently identified as a separate species, L. luymesi and sp. 1 cannot be discriminated using barcoding markers cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and large ribosomal subunit rDNA (16S). To determine if limited gene flow was a factor in the formation of these taxa, we employed more quickly evolving markers, including mitochondrial cytochrome B (CYTB), hemoglobin subunit B2 intron (HbB2i), and six polymorphic microsatellites; microsatellites were amplified across 45 L. luymesi and sp. 1 individuals. Additionally, we used microsatellites to ask whether populations of Lamellibrachia sp. 1 and sp. 2 show evidence of significant structure. Despite a lack of resolution seen with CYTB and HbB2i, L. luymesi and sp. 1 form genetically differentiated clusters at the cross-amplified microsatellites. Furthermore, we find no evidence for population structure for either Lamellibrachia sp. 1 or sp. 2 across the GoM.},
	keywords = {HOV Alvin (Human Occupied Vehicle), ROV Jason (Remotely Operated Vehicle)},
	issn = {0018-8158},
	doi = {10.1007/s10750-014-1900-y},
	author = {Cowart, Dominique A and Halanych, Kenneth M and Schaeffer, Stephen W and Fisher, Charles R}
}
@article {ISI:000332225300011,
	title = {{Spatial patterns of tissue stable isotope contents give insight into the nutritional sources for seep communities on the Gulf of Mexico lower slope}},
	journal = {MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES},
	volume = {498},
	year = {2014},
	pages = {133{\textendash}U481},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {In this study, we present the first thorough trophic characterization of cold seep macrofaunal communities on the Gulf of Mexico lower continental slope ({\textgreater} 1000 m depth). We analyzed tissue delta C-13, delta N-15, and delta S-34 of vestimentiferan tubeworms, bathymodiolin mussels, vesicomyid clams, and their associated macrofaunal communities from discrete collections made across the entire lower slope. Over half of macrofauna associated with mussels and about half associated with vestimentiferans had delta C-13 values below -45{\%}. We also observed high spatial variability in the delta C-13 values of entire local communities, and the delta C-13 of associated fauna were significantly correlated with the delta C-13 compositions of the symbiotic species from the same location. These data indicate widespread incorporation of methane-derived carbon in mussel and vestimentiferan communities. This finding was particularly surprising in communities associated with older vestimentiferans, given the low rates of seepage observed in similar communities on the upper slope. On average, delta N-13 values in mussels and their associates were significantly more depleted and more variable than vestimentiferans, clams, and their associates, and there was a significant linear relationship between tissue delta N-15 values of mussels and their associated communities. The tissue delta S-34 values in macrofauna associated with vestimentiferans were more variable and significantly more depleted than mussel associates (delta S-34 = -16.8 to + 19.1{\%} for vestimentiferan associates and delta S-34 = -3.1 to + 20.8{\%} for mussel associates), consistent with higher isotopic fractionation during sulfate reduction in vestimentiferan habitats and a potentially higher nutritional contribution of sulfide-derived organic sulfur in vestimentiferan communities.},
	keywords = {HOV Alvin (Human Occupied Vehicle), ROV Jason (Remotely Operated Vehicle)},
	issn = {0171-8630},
	doi = {10.3354/meps10598},
	author = {Becker, Erin L and Cordes, Erik E and Macko, Stephen A and Lee, Raymond W and Fisher, Charles R}
}
@article {ISI:000339334700007,
	title = {{Symbiont-driven sulfur crystal formation in a thiotrophic symbiosis from deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps}},
	journal = {ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS},
	volume = {6},
	number = {4, SI},
	year = {2014},
	month = {aug},
	pages = {364{\textendash}372},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {The siboglinid tubeworm Sclerolinum contortum symbiosis inhabits sulfidic sediments at deep-sea hydrocarbon seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. A single symbiont phylotype in the symbiont-housing organ is inferred from phylogenetic analyses of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (16S rRNA) gene and fluorescent in situ hybridization. The phylotype we studied here, and a previous study from an arctic hydrocarbon seep population, reveal identical 16S rRNA symbiont gene sequences. While sulfide is apparently the energy source for the symbionts (and ultimately the gutless host), both partners also have to cope with its toxicity. This study demonstrates abundant large sulfur crystals restricted to the trophosome area. Based on Raman microspectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis, these crystals have the same S8 sulfur configuration as the recently described small sulfur vesicles formed in the symbionts. The crystals reside adjacent to the symbionts in the trophosome. This suggests that their formation is either extra-or intracellular in symbionts. We propose that formation of these crystals provides both energy-storage compounds for the symbionts and serves the symbiosis by removing excess toxic sulfide from host tissues. This symbiont-mediated sulfide detoxification may have been crucial for the establishment of thiotrophic symbiosis and continues to remain an important function of the symbionts.},
	keywords = {ROV Jason (Remotely Operated Vehicle)},
	issn = {1758-2229},
	doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12149},
	author = {Eichinger, Irmgard and Schmitz-Esser, Stephan and Schmid, Markus and Fisher, Charles R and Bright, Monika}
}
