Evidence for a physiological gradient in the vestimentiferan trophosome: size–frequency analysis of bacterial populations and trophosome chemistry

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Abstract
Size of bacterial symbionts was compared in anterior and posterior trophosome tissue of four vestimentiferan worm species from hydrothermal vents. Analysis of size measurements indicated that there were more small bacteria in the anterior than the posterior trophosome. Bacterial division, though rarely seen, was more common in the anterior trophosome. Bulk chemical analysis of the two trophosome regions showed that sulfur (essential in the bacterial symbiont metabolism) and zinc were more concentrated in the anterior tissues, whereas 31 other major and minor elements were more concentrated in the posterior region. The existence and significance of a physiological gradient in the vestimentiferan trophosome is discussed.

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