Finds of Siboglinids (Annelida, Siboglinidae) in the Estuaries of the Largest Arctic Rivers Are Associated with Permafrost Gas Hydrates

N P Karaseva; N N Rimskaya-Korsakova; V N Kokarev; M I Simakov; R V Smirnov; M M Gantsevich; V V Malakhov

doi:10.1134/S0012496623700229

Finds of Siboglinids (Annelida, Siboglinidae) in the Estuaries of the Largest Arctic Rivers Are Associated with Permafrost Gas Hydrates

Dokl Biol Sci. 2023 Apr;509(1):116-118. doi: 10.1134/S0012496623700229. Epub 2023 May 19.

Authors

N P Karaseva¹, N N Rimskaya-Korsakova¹, V N Kokarev², M I Simakov³, R V Smirnov⁴, M M Gantsevich⁵, V V Malakhov¹

Affiliations

¹ Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
² Faculty of Biological Sciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.
³ Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
⁴ Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.
⁵ Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia. mgantsevich@gmail.com.

PMID: 37208578
DOI: 10.1134/S0012496623700229

Abstract

Gutless marine worms of the family Siboglinidae have been found in the estuaries of the largest Arctic rivers Yenisei, Lena, and Mackenzie. Siboglinid metabolism is provided by symbiotic chemoautotrophic bacteria. Strong salinity stratification is characteristic of the estuaries of the largest Arctic rivers and ensures a high salinity at depths of 25-36 m, where siboglinids were found. High methane concentrations, which are necessary for siboglinid metabolism, result from dissociation of permafrost gas hydrates under the influence of river runoff in the conditions of Arctic warming.

Keywords: Arctic warming; Lena; Mackenzie; Siboglinidae; Yenisei; estuaries; gas hydrates; permafrost rocks.

MeSH terms

Animals
Annelida*
Arctic Regions
Estuaries
Permafrost*
Polychaeta*
Rivers