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Bacterial symbionts and low 13C/12C ratios in tissues of Pogonophora indicate unusual nutrition and metabolism

Nature volume 293, pages 616–619 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

Observations on fine structure, metabolic enzymes and stable isotope ratios of several species of Pogonophora from a wide range of habitats suggest that members of this enigmatic phylum of worm-like deep-sea animals use internal chemoauto -trophic bacteria as part of their nutrition, allowing them to exploit scarce nutrient and energy resources.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. G. H. Rau

    Present address: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, MS 239-12, California, 97035, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK

    A. J. Southward, Eve C. Southward & P. R. Dando

  2. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90024, USA

    G. H. Rau

  3. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, A-002, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA

    H. Felbeck

  4. Institut für Meereskunde an der Universität Kiel, 23, Keil, FRG

    H. Flügel

Authors
  1. A. J. Southward
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  2. Eve C. Southward
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  3. P. R. Dando
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  4. G. H. Rau
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  5. H. Felbeck
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  6. H. Flügel
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Southward, A., Southward, E., Dando, P. et al. Bacterial symbionts and low 13C/12C ratios in tissues of Pogonophora indicate unusual nutrition and metabolism. Nature 293, 616–619 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/293616a0

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