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The bathyal serpulid Laminatubus alvini ten Hove & Zibrowius, 1986 was described from the periphery of hydrothermal vents of the Galapagos Rift and has been recorded from other vent communities of the East Pacific Rise (EPR). Here we assessed the biodiversity of serpulids collected from eastern Pacific hydrothermal vents and methane seeps using DNA sequences and morphology. Laminatubus alvini showed little genetic variation over a wide geographic range from the Alarcon Rise vents in southern Gulf of California (~23°N), to at least a point at 38°S on the EPR. Specimens from several methane seeps off Costa Rica and the Gulf of California (Mexico) differed markedly from those of Laminatubus alvini on DNA sequence data and in having seven thoracic chaetigers and lacking Spirobranchus-type special collar chaetae, thus fitting the diagnosis of Neovermilia. However, phylogenetic analysis of molecular data showed that L. alvini and the seep specimens form a well-supported clade. Moreover, among the seep specimens there was minimally a ~7% distance in mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences between a shallow-water (1000 m) seep clade restricted to Costa Rica and a deep-water clade (1800 m) from Costa Rica to Gulf of California. We describe the seep taxa here as morphologically indistinguishable L. paulbrooksi n. sp. and L. joycebrooksae n. sp.
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This content will become publicly available on January 3, 2026
A faunal inventory of methane seeps on the Pacific margin of Costa Rica
The methane seeps on the Pacific margin of Costa Rica support extensive animal diversity and offer insights into deep-sea biogeography. During five expeditions between 2009 and 2019, we conducted intensive faunal sampling via 63 submersible dives to 11 localities at depths of 300–3600 m. Based on these expeditions and published literature, we compiled voucher specimens, images, and 274 newly published DNA sequences to present a taxonomic inventory of macrofaunal and megafaunal diversity with a focus on invertebrates. In total 488 morphospecies were identified, representing the highest number of distinct morphospecies published from a single seep or vent region to date. Of these, 131 are described species, at least 58 are undescribed species, and the remainder include some degree of taxonomic uncertainty, likely representing additional undescribed species. Of the described species, 38 are known only from the Costa Rica seeps and their vicinity. Fifteen range extensions are also reported for species known from Mexico, the Galápagos seamounts, Chile, and the western Pacific; as well as 16 new depth records and three new seep records for species known to occur at vents or organic falls. No single evolutionary narrative explains the patterns of biodiversity at these seeps, as even morphologically indistinguishable species can show different biogeographic affinities, biogeographic ranges, or depth ranges. The value of careful molecular taxonomy and comprehensive specimen-based regional inventories is emphasized for biodiversity research and monitoring.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2036298
- PAR ID:
- 10580359
- Author(s) / Creator(s):
- ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more »
- Publisher / Repository:
- Pensoft
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- ZooKeys
- Volume:
- 1222
- ISSN:
- 1313-2989
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 250
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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