Olavius algarvensis
Olavius algarvensis is a type of belt worms ( Clitellata ) from the order of Little Borster ( Oligochaeta ). The 12 to 25 millimeters long worm living on the Portuguese Atlantic coast and in the Italian Mediterranean coast in the subtidal sand. He, like all species of the genus Olavius no digestive tract and operates its metabolism via symbiotic bacteria. Olavius algarvensis was first described by Olav Giere, Christer Erséus and Frank Stuhlmacher 1998.
Features
O. algarvensis is 12-25 mm long with 100-150 segments. Like all other species of the genus Olavius has the kind no digestive tract. The genital segment XI is approximately 0.27 mm wide, the width of the post- genital segments is from 0.25 to 0.27 mm. Since the body surface is very irregular, varying the width of the rest of the body. The prostomium is oblong and measures about 100 microns. The Klitellardrüsen are relatively strongly developed and extend from the middle of the X to XII. Genital segment. On the ventral side is located in the XIV genital segment a large subcutaneous pad of symbiotic bacteria, of which two are also filled with bacteria grooves to XII. Genital segment extend where they enclose the female pores. The Penialborsten of O. algarvensis are about 70 microns long and are available in bundles of ten to eleven. They are 2.5-3 microns thick and are covered by the male papillae. In each of the bundles of bristles the front bristles are longer than the rear. The Spermathekalporen are arranged in pairs and are located between the genital segments IX and X, and the rear bristle bundles.
The cuticle and the epidermis often touch each other directly. Because the length of Epidermisstränge varies varies the thickness of the epidermis. Between the epidermal cells are also numerous glandular cells. The sperm funnel is 42 microns wide and 15 microns deep. The vas deferens has a length of 125 microns, 10 microns wide and not muscular. The narrow, 80-100 20 microns measured atrium of O. algarvensis is narrow is almost perpendicular to the body axis. The anterior prostate gland is lobed and large, it is 11 microns long and 70-90 microns wide. The posterior prostate is vertical and is 95 microns long and 55 microns wide. The length of the spermatheca is 130 microns, they are about 40 microns wide.
Distribution and habitat
Olavius algarvensis was first discovered in a lagoon in the Portuguese Algarve coast. Later the species was discovered on the coast of the Italian island of Elba. She lives in coarse-grained, subtidalem sand with 0.8-1.1 % debris. The water depth of the habitat is ahead of Portugal up to a meter, but are preferred depths of 10-15 cm, followed by Italy, the kind found in 10-18 cm depth. The local water temperature is in the Algarve at up to 30 ° C, the salt content is 35.5 to 37 ‰. The temperatures are Elba at 26 ° C in summer and minimum 13 ° C in winter, the salinity in summer is 37 ‰.
Way of life
Olavius algarvensis leads its metabolism by the lack of a digestive tract with the help of bacteria with which the species lives in symbiosis. These living in the skin of the worm bacteria oxidize carbon monoxide to aerobischem and anaerobic way, including through the reduction of sulfates. The electrons derived therefrom can be used for energy in subsequent reactions with a variety of elements and chemical compounds. In addition, the bacteria exploit apparently also hydrogen ( H2) from the anaerobic CO oxidation as an energy source. O. algarvensis itself produces acetate, malate and succinate as metabolic products, urea and glycine betaine. The latter two are utilized by the symbiotic bacteria in turn, which is an important source of nitrogen in the habitat of the species.
The algarvensis symbiotic with O. bacteria are a delta- proteobacterium that produces containing numerous selenoproteins and pyrrolysine proteins. Selenocysteine and pyrrolysine are considered 21 and 22 amino acid. This algarvensis symbiotically living in O. bacterium possesses through the use of nearly 100 selenoproteins so far the largest known seleno- and Pyrroproteom.
System
Olavius algarvensis was discovered in the 1990s off the coast of Portugal and first described by Olav Giere, Christer Erséus and Frank Stuhlmacher 1998. The type was the first representative of the genus, which has been found in European waters; all previously known Olavius species were from the Caribbean. Passengers and colleagues chose the specific epithet algarvensis based on the locality, the Algarve. The phylogenetic relationships of the species are unclear, Giere and Erséus assume that the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea from Olavius species were colonized from the Caribbean. There are clear differences, such as in the number of symbionts, their location and the size of the worms between the two populations from Portugal and Elba. Therefore, the two scientists initially suspect a gradual colonization of the Atlantic coast, and then in the Mediterranean, with the type adapted to different habitats in different ways and acquired the additional symbionts before Elba only later did.