BOEM - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
10/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/24/2024 08:10
Tube Worms
Distribution:
In deep water near hydrothermal vents along
mid-ocean ridges in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Cold seeps such as those found in the
Gulf of Mexico also serve as habitat.
Ecosystem:
Biological communities near hydrothermal
vents and cold seeps
Feeding Habits:
Symbiotic Feeder
Taxonomy:
Families Siboglinidae
Class Polychaeta
Overview and Physical Characteristics
Tube worms are elongated deep-sea invertebrates that anchor themselves to underwater surfaces near nutrient-rich environments such as hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. Once attached, they secrete chitin, which hardens to form a protective tube around their bodies - similar to an insect's exoskeleton. These worms can sometimes grow over 8 feet in length; as they grow, they continue to secrete chitin, extending the tube. Tube worms lack a digestive system and rely on symbiotic bacteria housed in an organ - called a trophosome - within their bodies for nourishment. These bacteria are chemosynthetic, oxidizing hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbons to produce energy. This process creates organic compounds that the tube worms consume as food.
Habitat and Distribution
Tube worms are primarily found in deep-sea environments near hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and other areas containing the ingredients for the chemosynthetic process. For example, cold seeps in the Gulf of Mexico release methane and other hydrocarbons that support tube worm populations. The Juan de Fuca Ridge, an underwater volcanic ridge off the coast of Washington and Oregon, contains hydrothermal vent systems where tube worms thrive. Tube worms also inhabit Monterey Canyon, off the coast of central California, where many hydrocarbon cold seeps are located.
Ecosystem
Tube worms live at extreme ocean depths, ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 meters (about 6,500 to 10,000 feet). Both hot and cold temperatures can be found at these depths, depending on the habitat. Some species live near hydrothermal vents along mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are spreading apart, with temperatures exceeding over 300°C (572°F). Others inhabit cold seep environments where hydrocarbons leak from the ocean floor, with temperatures close to 0°C (32°F). Due to their depths, both environments are subject to extremely high pressure, making them inhospitable for most sea creatures. Being well-adapted to the hot and cold extremes and relying on the nutrients their symbiotic bacteria produce for energy allow tube worms to thrive in both habitats.
Feeding Habits
The bacteria in the tube worm's trophosome oxidize various chemicals found in hydrothermal vents and cold seeps to generate energy. The byproducts of this chemosynthetic process are sugars and other nutrients, which the tube worm absorbs directly from the bacteria.
Behavior and Reproduction
Tube worms spend most of their lives anchored in one spot, near the specialized environments that provides the necessary chemical resources for survival. They reproduce through external fertilization, releasing sperm and eggs into the water. Fertilization occurs in the water column; once fertilized, the eggs develop into free-swimming larvae. These larvae eventually settle on a suitable surface and grow into adult worms.
Visual System and Communication
Tube worms do not have eyes, so they do not have a visual system. Tube worms also lack complex nervous systems and do not exhibit any behavior that could be considered communication. However, they are highly sensitive to changes in temperature, chemical composition, and pressure in their extreme deep-sea habitats, and will withdraw into their protective tubes to avoid predators and unfavorable water conditions.
Conservation Status
Tube worms have not been designated with a conservation status. But their deep-sea habitats may be indirectly affected by human activities such as deep-sea mining, fishing, and climate change. Hydrothermal vent ecosystems in which tube worms live are unique and diverse, and are part of a number of marine protected areas.
Fun Fact
Tube worms are capable of remarkable growth rates and are some of the fastest-growing marine invertebrates. In nutrient-rich environments such as hydrothermal vents, some species of tube worms have been observed to grow up to 33 inches per year.
BOEM Studies:
Chemosynthetic Community Locations in the Gulf of Mexico
For more information
This story is part of the "Unleashing the Science" series, showcasing how bureaus within the Department of the Interior produce and apply science to ensure responsible management decisions for our planet now and for the future.
--BOEM--
The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) manages development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy, mineral, and geological resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way.