Advances in taxonomy, ecology, and biogeography of Dirivultidae (copepoda) associated with chemosynthetic environments in the deep sea

• Published in: PloS one 2010-08, Vol.5 (8), p.e9801-e9801
• Main Authors: Gollner, Sabine, Ivanenko, Viatcheslav N, Arbizu, Pedro Martínez, Bright, Monika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Animals; Biogeography; Cetacea; Classification - methods; Copepoda; Copepoda - classification; Copepoda - metabolism; Copepoda - physiology; Crustacea; Deep sea; Deep sea environments; Dirivultidae; Ecbathyriontidae; Ecology; Ecology - methods; Ecology/Community Ecology and Biodiversity; Ecology/Marine and Freshwater Ecology; Ecosystem; Ecosystem biology; Ecosystems; Females; Genera; Geography; Habitats; Habitus; Hydrothermal plumes; Hydrothermal systems (Geology); Hydrothermal vents; Identification keys; Immigration; Lamellibrachia; Marine; Marine and Aquatic Sciences/Evolutionary Biology; Marine biology; Mid-ocean ridges; Mollusks; Monstrilloida; Morphology; Phylogeny; Reviews; Seawater - chemistry; Sediments; Seepage; Siphonostomatoida; Species; Studies; Stygiopontius; Sulfide; Taxa; Taxonomy; Vents; Wood; Zoology
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009801

Copepoda is one of the most prominent higher taxa with almost 80 described species at deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The unique copepod family Dirivultidae with currently 50 described species is the most species rich invertebrate family at hydrothermal vents. We reviewed the literature of Dirivultidae and provide a complete key to species, and map geographical and habitat specific distribution. In addition we discuss the ecology and origin of this family. Dirivultidae are only present at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and along the axial summit trough of midocean ridges, with the exception of Dirivultus dentaneus found associated with Lamellibrachia species at 1125 m depth off southern California. To our current knowledge Dirivultidae are unknown from shallow-water vents, seeps, whale falls, and wood falls. They are a prominent part of all communities at vents and in certain habitat types (like sulfide chimneys colonized by pompei worms) they are the most abundant animals. They are free-living on hard substrate, mostly found in aggregations of various foundation species (e.g. alvinellids, vestimentiferans, and bivalves). Most dirivultid species colonize more than one habitat type. Dirivultids have a world-wide distribution, but most genera and species are endemic to a single biogeographic region. Their origin is unclear yet, but immigration from other deep-sea chemosynthetic habitats (stepping stone hypothesis) or from the deep-sea sediments seems unlikely, since Dirivultidae are unknown from these environments. Dirivultidae is the most species rich family and thus can be considered the most successful taxon at deep-sea vents.