Chemoautotrophy in Bivalve Molluscs of the Genus Thyasira

P. R. DANDO AN AD. J. SOUTHWARDThe Laboratory, Marine Biological Association, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB(Figs. 1-5)The bivalves Thyasiraflexuosa and T. sarsi have enlarged gills which contain numerousprokaryotes. Gills from freshly collected animals contain high concentrations of elementalsulphur. Homogenates of gill tissue show activity for ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase,adenylylsulphate reductase, sulphate adenylyltransferase and sulphate adenylyltransferase(ADP), indicating that the prokaryotes are sulphur-oxidizing autotrophs. Both species canburrow to depths of 8 cm below the sediment surface and use their vermiform feet toconstruct channels penetrating deeper into the sediment. T.flexuosa and T. sarsi are scarcein sediments with high hydrogen sulphide concentrations and are not found in sedimentswhere the sulphide zone is below their burrowing depth.INTRODUCTION

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