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The first record of the genus Lamellibrachia (Siboglinidae) tubeworm along with associated organisms in a chemosynthetic ecosystem from the Indian Ocean: A report from the Cauvery–Mannar Basin

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Abstract

Here, we report for the first time, the genus Lamellibrachia tubeworm and associated chemosynthetic ecosystem from a cold-seep site in the Indian Ocean. The discovery of cold-seep was made off the Cauvery–Mannar Basin onboard ORV Sindhu Sadhana (SSD-070; 13th to 22nd February 2020). The chemosymbiont bearing polychaete worm is also associated with squat lobsters (Munidposis sp.) and Gastropoda belonging to the family Buccinidae. Relict shells of chemosynthetic Calyptogena clams are ubiquitous at the seep sites. The Lamellibrachia tubes were found to be firmly anchored into the authigenic carbonate crusts. The authigenic carbonate crusts (chemoherm) are packed with large Calyptogena shells (whole shell and fragments). Very high concentrations (3800–12900 µM) of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the interstitial waters (40 cmbsf) is responsible for the sustenance of chemosymbiont bearing tubeworms. The posterior end of the tube penetrates downwards into the H2S-rich zone. The high concentration of H2S at ~40 cmbsf is attributed to sulfate reduction via anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) pathway. Methane hydrate was observed within the faults/fractures in the sediments. The presence of ethane and propane along with methane in the headspace gases and δ13CCH4 values (–28.4 to –79.5‰ VPDB) suggest a contribution of deep-seated thermogenic methane.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Director, CSIR-NIO, and Secretary, MoES for supporting the gas hydrate program. The background information for the Cauvery–Mannar Basin was generated through the CSIR-funded GEOSCAPE program. We thank CSIR-NIO’s research vessel management team (Mr Siddharth Vernekar and Mr Harish Kumar) for their useful contributions during the SSD-070 cruise. Thanks to Drs Mandar Nanajkar and Sabyasachi Sautya for useful suggestions and insightful discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gas Hydrate Research Group, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403 004, India

    A Mazumdar, P Dewangan, A Peketi, Firoz Badesaab, Mohd Sadique, Kalyani Sivan, Jittu Mathai, Ankita Ghosh, A Zatale, S P K Pillutla, C K Mishra & Walsh Fernandes

  2. Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Kochi, Kerala, 682 506, India

    C Uma

  3. K.J. Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400 077, India

    Astha Tyagi

  4. Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, Karnataka, 576 104, India

    Tanojit Paul

  5. School of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Goa University, Taleigao Plateau, Goa, 403 001, India

    Mohd Sadique & S P K Pillutla

  6. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201 002, India

    Kalyani Sivan, Ankita Ghosh, A Zatale & C K Mishra

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  1. A Mazumdar
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Contributions

AM carried out result interpretation, manuscript preparation; PD interpreted geophysical results and contributed to manuscript preparation; AP, FB, MS, KS, JM, AG, AZ, SPKP, UC, CKM, WF, AT, and TP participated in onboard sampling and onshore analyses.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A Mazumdar.

Additional information

Communicated by Pratul K Saraswati

Supplementary material pertaining to this article is available on the Journal of Earth System Science website (http://www.ias.ac.in/Journals/Journal_of_Earth_System_Science).

Supplementary Information

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12040_2021_1587_MOESM1_ESM.pptx

Supplementary Figure S1: Comparison of the outer texture of chitinous tubes of Lamellibrachia anaximandri and Lamellibrachia columna with the Lamellibrachia sp. reported in the present work. The absence of prominent collars and contorted posterior ends are the notable similarity of the tubes. Detailed analyses of the soft body morphology and DNA analyses are required for the identification of the species (ongoing). (PPTX 1217 KB)

12040_2021_1587_MOESM2_ESM.pptx

Supplementary Figure S2: Comparison of squat lobsters morphotypes belonging to the genus Munidopsis recorded in the present work with the morphotypes reported in Mazumdar et al. (2019). Note the distinct carapace features of the different forms. Species-level identification would require DNA based studies (ongoing). (PPTX 6094 KB)

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Mazumdar, A., Dewangan, P., Peketi, A. et al. The first record of the genus Lamellibrachia (Siboglinidae) tubeworm along with associated organisms in a chemosynthetic ecosystem from the Indian Ocean: A report from the Cauvery–Mannar Basin. J Earth Syst Sci 130, 94 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01587-1

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