Abstract
Two species of the crustacean amphipod genus Niphargus inhabit the sulfidic groundwaters of the Frasassi caves in central Italy, and both harbor filamentous, sulfide-oxidizing Thiothrix ectosymbionts. As sulfide is toxic to most aerobic organisms, it appeared possible that the ectosymbionts could help their Niphargus hosts with detoxification processes. In this study, mortality due to sulfide was compared between Niphargus individuals with ectosymbionts and individuals whose ectosymbionts had been killed by antibiotic treatment. Both Frasassi-dwelling Niphargus species revealed exceptionally high tolerances to sulfide compared to other amphipod species studied so far. Niphargus individuals without viable ectosymbionts tolerated sulfide levels exceeding those occurring in Frasassi cave waters. Thus, the amphipods may employ Thiothrix-independent mechanisms for sulfide resistance.
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.42.2.6
Recommended Citation
Bauermeister, Jan; Karoline Assig; and Sharmishtha Dattagupta.
2013.
Exploring the sulfide tolerance of ectosymbiotic Niphargus amphipods from the Frasassi caves, central Italy.
International Journal of Speleology,
42: 141-145.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol42/iss2/6
Included in
Biology Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Toxicology Commons, Zoology Commons
