Hydrothermal vents in the Southern Ocean are the physiologically most isolated chemosynthetic environments known. Here, we describe Kiwa tyleri sp. nov., the first species of yeti crab known from the Southern Ocean. Kiwa tyleri belongs to the family Kiwaidae and is the visually dominant macrofauna of two known vent sites situated on the northern and southern segments of the East Scotia Ridge (ESR). The species is known to depend on primary productivity by chemosynthetic bacteria and resides at the warm-eurythermal vent environment for most of its life; its short-range distribution away from vents (few metres) is physiologically constrained by the stable, cold waters of the surrounding Southern Ocean. Kiwa tylerihas been shown to present differential life history adaptations in response to this contrasting thermal environment. Morphological adaptations specific to life in warm-eurythermal waters, as found on – or in close proximity of – vent chimneys, are discussed in comparison with adaptations seen in the other two known members of the family (K. hirsuta, K. puravida), which show a preference for low temperature chemosynthetic environments.
Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom;Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom;National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom;Engineering Sciences, μ-VIS CT Imaging Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom;British Antarctic Survey, High Cross Madingley Road, CB3 0ET, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Recommended Citation:
Sven Thatje,Leigh Marsh,Christopher Nicolai Roterman,et al. Adaptations to Hydrothermal Vent Life in Kiwa tyleri, a New Species of Yeti Crab from the East Scotia Ridge, Antarctica[J]. PLOS ONE,2015-01-01,10(6)