| Alvinellid polychaetes are, to date, restricted to deep-sea hydrothermal vents of the eastern and the western ridges of the Pacific Ocean. These organisms Live in various sulfide-rich habitats, including the hottest part of the hydrothermal environment (i.e. chimneys). They experience transient anoxia, high levels of heavy metals and H2S, natural radioactivity and temperatures ranging from 5 to 80 degrees C which vary greatly with time. The Alvinellidae, as many vent organisms, have developed specific adaptations to cope with this harsh and unstable environment. Enzyme systems are good markers of the adaptation of ectotherms to temperature, which acts on both enzyme kinetics and protein denaturation. We estimated genetic distances between 11 alvinellid... |
