Draft:Terebellides

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Terebellides
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Clade:	Pleistoannelida
Clade:	Sedentaria
Family:	Trichobranchidae
Genus:	Terebellides M. Sars, 1835
Type species
Terebellides stroemii Sars, 1835
Synonyms
Ampharetides Ehlers, 1913 (subjective synonym) Aponobranchus Gravier, 1905 (subjective synonym) Canephorus Erichson, 1846 (alternate spelling of Corephorus, a subjective synonym) Corephorus Grube, 1846 (subjective synonym) Unobranchus Hartman, 1965 (subjective synonym)

Terebellides is a genus of polychaetae worms which belong to the Trichobranchidae family. They were once considered to be cosmopolitan in their distribution, and were first examined in 1984 by Susan J. Williams. The specimens first examined were located in the Eastern Pacific. In recent years, there has been a shift of focus to study them in the Atlantic Ocean, due to their complex DNA. Relating to their geographic distribution emphasizes their differences in nephridia sizes this is the first and only characteristic found present in the Atlantic Ocean. This discovered the importance for relating further taxa to the study of them in the Atlantic Ocean compared to the eastern Pacific. Now, the current research on them is the discovery of their third region discovered in the stomach and how it lacks an internal anatomical characteristic with the new introduction to further taxa.

Physiology

These worms tend to have a distinct pale brown color to them. They have multiple known physiological features. From the study shown above in the developmental research, there have been further discoveries of their overall physiology. Several elements have been noted in their stomach makeup and their internal anatomy and their proportionate stomachs connect them to further interspecies relationships. There has been an increase in the study of the number of lamella located in their digestive gland. Specific characteristics for their makeup is the single mid-dorsal branchia. This composition includes two to five lamellate lobes. They have a visible presence of eggs throughout their wall of their body. Around their head, they have tentacles which aid in the locomotion and feeding process. These worms are elongated and taper downwards with their ending segments that are crowded and shorter in comparison. The head region is known as the prostomium. It is compact and used to formulate the lips in order for these worms to be able to have their cilia bring them their food from their tentacles. They also have a thorax and an abdomen. Their thorax contains 18 pairs of notopodia.

Feeding

Depiction of the various visuals for their feeding process.

They are deposit feeders which utilize their grooved tentacles to obtain food particles from the surface of the ocean and also from sediment. They have mucus present on their tentacles that helps them trap food.They transfer food to their upper lip and then moves it into the mouth by the cilia. The reason as to why they rely on their tentacles for their feeding habits to reach out from their burrows and grasp onto nearby food in the benthic region of the oceans. A current study focusing on their alimentary canal has been recently introduced. This involves their digestive process and how their bodies will break down ingested food.

Movement

They have been noted to move along the Norwegian and Swedish continental shelf. They are sedentary and presently live within burrows in the benthic region of the oceans. They utilize this location to their advantage in order to be bottom feeders and will rise to the surface when necessary and to forage for their food. They only move to obtain food and survive, and tend not to leave their burrows unless it is to obtain their food. They rely on currents to disperse planktonic larvae, in addition to utilizing them for movement. Some species have limited movement abilities, specifically when they become disturbed. Their primary means of transportation are ocean currents, as they are not able to move their bodies sufficiently on their own to obtain food.

Life cycle

Life cycle process of this invertebrate.

These worms start in larval stages and then grow into their adult stages. There is parental care involved. Planktonic larval stages, commonly known as planktotrophy, develop directly into adults. Some skip this stage and go straight to the adult stage. However, this is still being researched, as it is a recent discovery. A general overview is that they mostly begin in these larval stages. The first stage is the planktonic larval stage. This stage is spent in open water and this is where the larvae begins to undergo multiple developmental changes and turn into adults. The next stage is the planktonic larvae stage where these marine worms have long feedings to prepare for transitioning to the adult stage. They feed and develop in the water column before they begin to settle to the bottom of the ocean within the benthic region for the remainder of their lifecycle. From here is the direct development stage. This is where the adults produce their direct offspring which skip the larvae stages. The next stage involves parental care even though they are mostly considered to not care for their offspring. Female worms lay their eggs in capsules and reside in their burrows. Depending on the growth stage they may attach to the parent's body as they continue to grow throughout their lifecycle. The next stage is metamorphosis. This is when the larvae becomes mature as they transform into their adult form. This process includes the development of the segments they will utilize for feeding. The final stage is the adult stage,where they become more sedentary and then reside in the burrows.

Ecology

They play an important role in ecosystems. These worms thrive in benthic ocean regions and have a relationship with chemosynthetic bacteria. These bacteria live within worm burrows on the ocean floor and perform chemosynthesis, where they convert hydrogen sulfide into organic compounds. This process provides food sources for both the bacteria and these worms.These bacteria utilise the relationship with these worms because they share this energy source with one another, which provides a food source in the benthic regions of the ocean where they reside, which are extremely nutrient deficient. The worms have adapted to living in these extreme, harsh environments. The temperature of hydrothermal vents, burrows, and cold seeps can range from near-freezing to surpassing 574 degrees Fahrenheit. The key to their survival is the symbiotic relationship they share the bacteria in these vents.

External links

• WA Department of ecology: Terebellides Californica

Category:Aquatic invertebrates