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May 28, 2005 I have a question about the bacteria that gets scraped off the tubeworms that was shown in a photo on the D&D site. How do you know that the bacteria are officially from the tubeworm shell that was on the bottom of the ocean? Is there a way that you (once you collect the tubeworm) make sure it doesn't come in contact with other parts of the ocean as the sub is moving around/accending and when it gets exposed to the air? Sasha Hi Sasha You have a very good point. In fact, we do our best to protect the deep-sea samples from coming into contact with surface water and other sources of contamination. Many of our samples are collected in the enzymatic sampler. It contains chambers into which we inject a preservative solution right after the samples are collected. Others are put into the "biobox" along with the surrounding seawater. Once the sub gets on the surface, we handle the samples wearing gloves, and sterilize everything that will come into contact with the sample. There is a limit to what we can do at sea to make sure our samples are uncontaminated, but I think we do everything that is realistically possible. I hope this gives you confidence in our sampling! Thanks Hello scientists, My name is Tonmoy and I am one of Miss Sheild's seventh graders in Lexington, MA. My question is: How many unknown vent species are there? Do you have an estimate? I appreciate that you are answering our questions. Thank you. Hello Tonmoy: What an interesting question! There are people who try to make estimates of diversity in unknown environment, but there is no one on our cruise who does that, and we are unaware of anyone who has. However, I can give you some numbers! Over 600 new species have been found at vents since 1977. There are approximately 60 to 80 species at each vent. However, we do not know how many vents there are, so total unknown species is still unknown. I hope you will continue to Dive and Discover! Susan Humphris My name is Naomi and I am one of the many students from Clover Hill High School reading about your expeditions. How does the size of the tubeworms change so much compared to your other expedition sites? Does this affect the organisms living off the tubeworms or around the tubeworms significantly? Are these tubeworms a different species, and if so how many different species of tubeworms have you discovered on your Dive Discover missions? Hi Naomi, There are several different species of tubeworms that live in the Pacific Ocean. At the hydrothermal vents along the East Pacific Rise, there are three tubeworm species. The largest is Riftia pachyptila. The other two species, Tevnia jerichonana and Oasisia alvinae, are often smaller and less common. Although only Riftia and Oasisia have been reported from the Galapagos Rift (where we are now), Tevnia may also occur here. In the northeastern Pacific Ocean on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, there is a different tubeworm species named Ridgeiapiscesae. Ridgeia comes in many sizes. In some areas, it is very long and skinny, and other areas it is short and fat. Even though these different body shapes may look like different species, they are genetically identical and are in fact, one species. Breea Govenar
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Hole Oceanographic Institution
