The seabed (also known as the seafloor , sea floor , ocean floor , and ocean bottom ) is the bottom of the ocean . All floors of the ocean are known as 'seabeds'.
88-522: Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm . It contains one human parasite – Onchocerca volvulus – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis , also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live near rivers where host black flies live. Over 40 million people are infected in Africa , Central America , and South America . Other species affect cattle, horses, etc. This parasitic animal -related article
176-458: A characteristically bent or fan-shaped tail. During copulation , one or more chitinized spicules move out of the cloaca and are inserted into the genital pore of the female. Amoeboid sperm crawl along the spicule into the female worm. Nematode sperm is thought to be the only eukaryotic cell without the globular protein G-actin . Eggs may be embryonated or unembryonated when passed by
264-458: A collaborative wiki called 959 Nematode Genomes is underway to improve the systematics of this phylum. An analysis of the mitochondrial DNA suggests that the following groupings are valid In 2022 a new classification of the entire phylum Nematoda was presented by M. Hodda. It was based on current molecular, developmental and morphological evidence. Under this classification, the following classes and subclasses are presented: Nematode eggs from
352-433: A diverse animal phylum inhabiting a broad range of environments. Most species are free-living, feeding on microorganisms , but many species are parasitic . The parasitic worms ( helminths ) are the cause of soil-transmitted helminthiases . They are taxonomically classified along with arthropods , tardigrades and other moulting animals in the clade Ecdysozoa . Unlike the vaguely similar flatworms , nematodes have
440-483: A genetically determined correlation between DNA repair capacity and lifespan. In female C. elegans , germline processes that control DNA repair and formation of chromosomal crossovers during meiosis were shown to progressively deteriorate with age. Different free-living species feed on materials as varied as bacteria , algae , fungi , small animals, fecal matter, dead organisms, and living tissues. Free-living marine nematodes are important and abundant members of
528-534: A glandular and muscular ejaculatory duct associated with the vas deferens and cloaca . In females, the ovaries each open into an oviduct (in hermaphrodites, the eggs enter a spermatheca first) and then a glandular uterus . The uteri both open into a common vulva/vagina, usually located in the middle of the morphologically ventral surface. Reproduction is usually sexual, though hermaphrodites are capable of self-fertilization. Males are usually smaller than females or hermaphrodites (often much smaller) and often have
616-491: A globe-spanning mid-ocean ridge system, as well as undersea volcanoes , oceanic trenches , submarine canyons , oceanic plateaus and abyssal plains . The mass of the oceans is approximately 1.35 × 10 metric tons , or about 1/4400 of the total mass of the Earth. The oceans cover an area of 3.618 × 10 km with a mean depth of 3,682 m, resulting in an estimated volume of 1.332 × 10 km . Each region of
704-445: A large ventral, a smaller dorsal and two pairs of sublateral cords extend posteriorly. Each nerve lies within a cord of connective tissue lying beneath the cuticle and between the muscle cells. The ventral nerve is the largest, and has a double structure forward of the excretory pore . The dorsal nerve is responsible for motor control, while the lateral nerves are sensory, and the ventral combines both functions. The nervous system
792-446: A million individuals per square meter and accounting for about 80% of all individual animals on Earth, their diversity of lifecycles, and their presence at various trophic levels point to an important role in many ecosystems. They have been shown to play crucial roles in polar ecosystems. The roughly 2,271 genera are placed in 256 families . The many parasitic forms include pathogens in most plants and animals. A third of
880-502: A pore on the underside of the animal, close to the pharynx. In most other nematodes, these specialized cells have been replaced by an organ consisting of two parallel ducts connected by a single transverse duct. This transverse duct opens into a common canal that runs to the excretory pore. At the anterior end of the animal a dense, circular nerve ring which serves as the brain surrounds the pharynx. From this ring six labial papillary nerve cords extend anteriorly, while six nerve cords;
968-410: A range of reproductive modes, including sexual reproduction , facultative sexuality (in which most, but not all, generations reproduce asexually), and both meiotic and mitotic parthenogenesis . The genus Mesorhabditis exhibits an unusual form of parthenogenesis, in which sperm-producing males copulate with females, but the sperm do not fuse with the ovum. Contact with the sperm is essential for
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#17327764250821056-501: A rate anywhere from 1 mm to 1 cm every 1000 years. Hydrogenous sediments are uncommon. They only occur with changes in oceanic conditions such as temperature and pressure. Rarer still are cosmogenous sediments. Hydrogenous sediments are formed from dissolved chemicals that precipitate from the ocean water, or along the mid-ocean ridges, they can form by metallic elements binding onto rocks that have water of more than 300 °C circulating around them. When these elements mix with
1144-426: A synonym. However, in 1910, Grobben proposed the phylum Aschelminthes and the nematodes were included as class Nematoda along with class Rotifera, class Gastrotricha, class Kinorhyncha, class Priapulida, and class Nematomorpha (The phylum was later revived and modified by Libbie Henrietta Hyman in 1951 as Pseudoceolomata, but remained similar). In 1932, Potts elevated the class Nematoda to the level of phylum, leaving
1232-472: A tubular digestive system , with openings at both ends. Like tardigrades, they have a reduced number of Hox genes , but their sister phylum Nematomorpha has kept the ancestral protostome Hox genotype, which shows that the reduction has occurred within the nematode phylum. Nematode species can be difficult to distinguish from one another. Consequently, estimates of the number of nematode species are uncertain. A 2013 survey of animal biodiversity published in
1320-541: Is Bursaphelenchus xylophilus , the pine wood nematode, present in Asia and America and recently discovered in Europe. This nematode is transmitted from tree to tree by sawyer beetles ( Monochamus ). Seabed The structure of the seabed of the global ocean is governed by plate tectonics . Most of the ocean is very deep, where the seabed is known as the abyssal plain . Seafloor spreading creates mid-ocean ridges along
1408-402: Is absorbed before it can reach deep ocean water, the energy source for deep benthic ecosystems is often organic matter from higher up in the water column that drifts down to the depths. This dead and decaying matter sustains the benthic food chain ; most organisms in the benthic zone are scavengers or detritivores . Seabed topography ( ocean topography or marine topography ) refers to
1496-415: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Rhabditida roundworm-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Nematode (see text ) The nematodes ( / ˈ n ɛ m ə t oʊ d z / NEM -ə-tohdz or NEEM - ; ‹See Tfd› Greek : Νηματώδη ; Latin : Nematoda ), roundworms or eelworms constitute the phylum Nematoda . They are
1584-434: Is a vertical coordinate used in geology, paleontology , oceanography , and petrology (see ocean drilling ). The acronym "mbsf" (meaning "meters below the seafloor") is a common convention used for depths below the seafloor. Sediments in the seabed vary in origin, from eroded land materials carried into the ocean by rivers or wind flow, waste and decompositions of sea creatures, and precipitation of chemicals within
1672-444: Is a lethal parasite of gastropods such as slugs and snails . Some members of the genus Steinernema such as Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema riobrave are generalist parasites of webworms , cutworms , armyworms , girdlers , some weevils , wood-borers and corn earworm moths . These organisms are grown commercially as biological pest control agents which can be used as an alternative to pesticides ; their use
1760-477: Is abundant in the deep sea around hydrothermal vents . Large deep sea communities of marine life have been discovered around black and white smokers – vents emitting chemicals toxic to humans and most vertebrates . This marine life receives its energy both from the extreme temperature difference (typically a drop of 150 degrees) and from chemosynthesis by bacteria . Brine pools are another seabed feature, usually connected to cold seeps . In shallow areas,
1848-533: Is also the only place in the nematode body that contains cilia , which are all nonmotile and with a sensory function. The bodies of nematodes are covered in numerous sensory bristles and papillae that together provide a sense of touch. Behind the sensory bristles on the head lie two small pits, or ' amphids '. These are well supplied with nerve cells and are probably chemoreception organs. A few aquatic nematodes possess what appear to be pigmented eye-spots, but whether or not these are actually sensory in nature
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#17327764250821936-560: Is considered very safe. Plant-parasitic nematodes include several groups causing severe crop losses, taking 10% of crops worldwide every year. The most common genera are Aphelenchoides ( foliar nematodes ), Ditylenchus , Globodera (potato cyst nematodes), Heterodera (soybean cyst nematodes), Longidorus , Meloidogyne ( root-knot nematodes ), Nacobbus , Pratylenchus (lesion nematodes), Trichodorus , and Xiphinema (dagger nematodes). Several phytoparasitic nematode species cause histological damages to roots, including
2024-590: Is controversial. Environmental advocacy groups such as Greenpeace and the Deep Sea Mining Campaign claimed that seabed mining has the potential to damage deep sea ecosystems and spread pollution from heavy metal-laden plumes. Critics have called for moratoria or permanent bans. Opposition campaigns enlisted the support of some industry figures, including firms reliant on the target metals. Individual countries with significant deposits within their exclusive economic zones (EEZ's) are exploring
2112-447: Is divided into layers or zones, each with typical features of salinity, pressure, temperature and marine life , according to their depth. Lying along the top of the abyssal plain is the abyssal zone , whose lower boundary lies at about 6,000 m (20,000 ft). The hadal zone – which includes the oceanic trenches, lies between 6,000 and 11,000 metres (20,000–36,000 ft) and is the deepest oceanic zone. Depth below seafloor
2200-461: Is estimated that the global ocean floor holds more than 120 million tons of cobalt, five times the amount found in terrestrial reserves. As of July 2024 , only exploratory licenses have been issued, with no commercial-scale deep sea mining operations yet. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates all mineral-related activities in international waters and has granted 31 exploration licenses so far: 19 for polymetallic nodules, mostly in
2288-414: Is not moving so quickly. This means that larger grains of sediment may come together in higher energy conditions and smaller grains in lower energy conditions. Benthos (from Ancient Greek βένθος ( bénthos ) 'the depths [of the sea]'), also known as benthon, is the community of organisms that live on, in, or near the bottom of a sea, river , lake , or stream , also known as
2376-460: Is often found at the tip of the tail. The epidermis is either a syncytium or a single layer of cells, and is covered by a thick collagenous cuticle . The cuticle is often of a complex structure and may have two or three distinct layers. Underneath the epidermis lies a layer of longitudinal muscle cells. The relatively rigid cuticle works with the muscles to create a hydroskeleton, as nematodes lack circumferential muscles. Projections run from
2464-447: Is often ornamented with ridges, rings, bristles, or other distinctive structures. The head of a nematode is relatively distinct. Whereas the rest of the body is bilaterally symmetrical, the head is radially symmetrical, with sensory bristles and, in many cases, solid 'head-shields' radiating outwards around the mouth. The mouth has either three or six lips, which often bear a series of teeth on their inner edges. An adhesive 'caudal gland'
2552-402: Is present, with the pharynx connecting directly to a muscleless intestine that forms the main length of the gut. This produces further enzymes and also absorbs nutrients through its single-cell-thick lining. The last portion of the intestine is lined by a cuticle, forming a rectum , which expels waste through the anus just below and in front of the tip of the tail. The movement of food through
2640-480: Is the next most abundant material on the seafloor. Biogenous sediments are biologically produced by living creatures. Sediments made up of at least 30% biogenous material are called "oozes." There are two types of oozes: Calcareous oozes and Siliceous oozes. Plankton grow in ocean waters and create the materials that become oozes on the seabed. Calcareous oozes are predominantly composed of calcium shells found in phytoplankton such as coccolithophores and zooplankton like
2728-561: Is through their descriptive classification. These sediments vary in size, anywhere from 1/4096 of a mm to greater than 256 mm. The different types are: boulder, cobble, pebble, granule, sand, silt, and clay, each type becoming finer in grain. The grain size indicates the type of sediment and the environment in which it was created. Larger grains sink faster and can only be pushed by rapid flowing water (high energy environment) whereas small grains sink very slowly and can be suspended by slight water movement, accumulating in conditions where water
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2816-455: Is unclear. Most nematode species are dioecious , with separate male and female individuals, though some, such as Caenorhabditis elegans , are androdioecious , consisting of hermaphrodites and rare males. Both sexes possess one or two tubular gonads . In males, the sperm are produced at the end of the gonad and migrate along its length as they mature. The testis opens into a relatively wide seminal vesicle and then during intercourse into
2904-546: The Moltrasio Formation , and the Rhynie chert , where the earliest known fossils are known from. Nematodes are very small, slender worms: typically about 5 to 100 μm thick, and 0.1 to 2.5 mm long. The smallest nematodes are microscopic, while free-living species can reach as much as 5 cm (2 in), and some parasitic species are larger still, reaching over 1 m (3 ft) in length. The body
2992-867: The Monhysterida representing a very ancient minor group of nematodes. Among the Secernentea, the Diplogasteria may need to be united with the Rhabditia , while the Tylenchia might be paraphyletic with the Rhabditia. The understanding of roundworm systematics and phylogeny as of 2002 is summarised below: Phylum Nematoda Later work has suggested the presence of 12 clades. The Secernentea—a group that includes virtually all major animal and plant 'nematode' parasites—apparently arose from within
3080-539: The Vermes . The name of the group Nematoda, informally called "nematodes", came from Nematoidea , originally defined by Karl Rudolphi (1808), from Ancient Greek νῆμα ( nêma, nêmatos , 'thread') and -ειδἠς ( -eidēs , 'species'). It was treated as family Nematodes by Burmeister (1837). At its origin, the "Nematoidea" erroneously included Nematodes and Nematomorpha , attributed by von Siebold (1843). Along with Acanthocephala , Trematoda , and Cestoidea , it formed
3168-437: The abyssal plain regions of the ocean are relatively flat and covered in many layers of sediments. Sediments in these flat areas come from various sources, including but not limited to: land erosion sediments from rivers, chemically precipitated sediments from hydrothermal vents, Microorganism activity, sea currents eroding the seabed and transporting sediments to the deeper ocean, and phytoplankton shell materials. Where
3256-453: The benthic zone . This community lives in or near marine or freshwater sedimentary environments , from tidal pools along the foreshore , out to the continental shelf , and then down to the abyssal depths . Many organisms adapted to deep-water pressure cannot survive in the upper parts of the water column . The pressure difference can be very significant (approximately one atmosphere for every 10 metres of water depth). Because light
3344-459: The clades Ascaridina, Spirurina, and Trichocephalida have been discovered in coprolites from the Oligocene -aged Tremembé Formation, which represented a palaeolake in present-day São Paulo with a diverse fossil assemblage of birds, fish, and arthropods that lent itself to fostering high nematode diversity. Nematodes have also been found in various lagerstätten , such as Burmese amber ,
3432-520: The mega journal Zootaxa puts this figure at over 25,000. Estimates of the total number of extant species are subject to even greater variation. A widely referenced article published in 1993 estimated there may be over 1 million species of nematode. A subsequent publication challenged this claim, estimating the figure to be at least 40,000 species. Although the highest estimates (up to 100 million species) have since been deprecated, estimates supported by rarefaction curves , together with
3520-651: The meiobenthos . They play an important role in the decomposition process, aid in recycling of nutrients in marine environments, and are sensitive to changes in the environment caused by pollution. One roundworm of note, C. elegans , lives in the soil and has found much use as a model organism . C. elegans has had its entire genome sequenced, the developmental fate of every cell determined, and every neuron mapped. Nematodes that commonly parasitise humans include ascarids ( Ascaris ), filarias , hookworms , pinworms ( Enterobius ), and whipworms ( Trichuris trichiura ). The species Trichinella spiralis , commonly known as
3608-413: The uterus until they hatch. The juvenile nematodes then ingest the parent nematode. This process is significantly promoted in environments with a low food supply. The nematode model species C. elegans , C. briggsae , and Pristionchus pacificus , among other species, exhibit androdioecy , which is otherwise very rare among animals. The single genus Meloidogyne (root-knot nematodes) exhibits
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3696-565: The Adenophorea were not in a uniform group. Initial studies of incomplete DNA sequences suggested the existence of five clades : The Secernentea seem to be a natural group of close relatives, while the "Adenophorea" appear to be a paraphyletic assemblage of roundworms that retain a good number of ancestral traits . The old Enoplia do not seem to be monophyletic, either, but do contain two distinct lineages. The old group " Chromadoria " seems to be another paraphyletic assemblage, with
3784-459: The Adenophorea. In 2019, a study identified one conserved signature indel (CSI) found exclusively in members of the phylum Nematoda through comparative genetic analyses. The CSI consists of a single amino acid insertion within a conserved region of a Na(+)/H(+) exchange regulatory factor protein NRFL-1 and is a molecular marker that distinguishes the phylum from other species. A major effort by
3872-809: The CCZ; 7 for polymetallic sulphides in mid-ocean ridges ; and 5 for cobalt-rich crusts in the Western Pacific Ocean . There is a push for deep sea mining to commence by 2025, when regulations by the ISA are expected to be completed. Deep sea mining is also possible in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of countries, such as Norway , where it has been approved. In 2022, the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) granted three exploration licenses for cobalt-rich polymetallic nodules within their EEZ. Papua New Guinea
3960-491: The Earth's lithosphere , even at great depths, 0.9–3.6 km (3,000–12,000 ft) below the surface of the Earth in gold mines in South Africa. They represent 90% of all animals on the ocean floor . In total, 4.4 × 10 nematodes inhabit the Earth's topsoil, or approximately 60 billion for each human, with the highest densities observed in tundra and boreal forests. Their numerical dominance, often exceeding
4048-605: The Introverta—depending on the validity of the former—are often ranked as a superphylum . For an up-to-date view (as of 2022), see Phylogenomic Analysis of the Phylum Nematoda: Conflicts and Congruences With Morphology, 18S rRNA, and Mitogenomes . Due to the lack of knowledge regarding many nematodes, their systematics is contentious. An early and influential classification was proposed by Chitwood and Chitwood —later revised by Chitwood —who divided
4136-696: The Nematoda has always been considered to be well resolved. Morphological characters and molecular phylogenies agree with placement of the roundworms as a sister taxon to the parasitic Nematomorpha ; together, they make up the Nematoida . Along with the Scalidophora (formerly Cephalorhyncha), the Nematoida form the clade Cycloneuralia , but much disagreement occurs both between and among the available morphological and molecular data. The Cycloneuralia or
4224-536: The amount of plastic thought – per Jambeck et al., 2015 – to currently enter the oceans annually. Deep sea mining is the extraction of minerals from the seabed of the deep sea . The main ores of commercial interest are polymetallic nodules , which are found at depths of 4–6 km (2.5–3.7 mi) primarily on the abyssal plain . The Clarion–Clipperton zone (CCZ) alone contains over 21 billion metric tons of these nodules, with minerals such as copper , nickel , and cobalt making up 2.5% of their weight. It
4312-408: The animal can thrust into its prey. In some species, the style is hollow and can be used to suck liquids from plants or animals. The oral cavity opens into a muscular, sucking pharynx , also lined with cuticle. Digestive glands are found in this region of the gut, producing enzymes that start to break down the food. In stylet-bearing species, these may even be injected into the prey. No stomach
4400-485: The balance between sedimentary processes and hydrodynamics however, anthropogenic influences can impact the natural system more than any physical driver. Marine topographies include coastal and oceanic landforms ranging from coastal estuaries and shorelines to continental shelves and coral reefs . Further out in the open ocean, they include underwater and deep sea features such as ocean rises and seamounts . The submerged surface has mountainous features, including
4488-465: The bee less active, thus less effective in pollen collection. Depending on its species, a nematode may be beneficial or detrimental to plant health. From agricultural and horticulture perspectives, the two categories of nematodes are the predatory ones, which kill garden pests; and the pest nematodes, which attack plants, or act as vectors spreading plant viruses between crop plants. Predatory nematodes include Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita which
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#17327764250824576-430: The center line of major ocean basins, where the seabed is slightly shallower than the surrounding abyssal plain. From the abyssal plain, the seabed slopes upward toward the continents and becomes, in order from deep to shallow, the continental rise , slope , and shelf . The depth within the seabed itself, such as the depth down through a sediment core , is known as the "depth below seafloor". The ecological environment of
4664-450: The cold sea water they precipitate from the cooling water. Known as manganese nodules , they are composed of layers of different metals like manganese, iron, nickel, cobalt, and copper, and they are always found on the surface of the ocean floor. Cosmogenous sediments are the remains of space debris such as comets and asteroids, made up of silicates and various metals that have impacted the Earth. Another way that sediments are described
4752-465: The continental slope and the abyssal plain usually has a more gradual descent, and is called the continental rise , which is caused by sediment cascading down the continental slope. The mid-ocean ridge , as its name implies, is a mountainous rise through the middle of all the oceans, between the continents. Typically a rift runs along the edge of this ridge. Along tectonic plate edges there are typically oceanic trenches – deep valleys, created by
4840-495: The digestive system is the result of the body movements of the worm. The intestine has valves or sphincters at either end to help control food movement through the body. Nitrogenous waste is excreted in the form of ammonia through the body wall, and is not associated with any specific organs. However, the structures for excreting salt to maintain osmoregulation are typically more complex. In many marine nematodes, one or two unicellular ' renette glands ' excrete salt through
4928-445: The eggshell is complicated and includes several layers; a detailed anatomical and terminological framework has been proposed for these layers in 2023. Nematodes as a whole possess a wide range of modes of reproduction. Some nematodes, such as Heterorhabditis spp., undergo a process called endotokia matricida : intrauterine birth causing maternal death. Some nematodes are hermaphroditic , and keep their self-fertilized eggs inside
5016-426: The female, meaning their fertilized eggs may not yet be developed. A few species are known to be ovoviviparous . The eggs are protected by an outer shell, secreted by the uterus. In free-living roundworms, the eggs hatch into larvae , which appear essentially identical to the adults, except for an underdeveloped reproductive system; in parasitic roundworms, the lifecycle is often much more complicated. The structure of
5104-400: The first used term in case of synonyms. The phylogenetic relationships of the nematodes and their close relatives among the protostomian Metazoa are unresolved. Traditionally, they were held to be a lineage of their own, but in the 1990s, they were proposed to form the group Ecdysozoa together with moulting animals, such as arthropods . The identity of the closest living relatives of
5192-416: The foraminiferans. These calcareous oozes are never found deeper than about 4,000 to 5,000 meters because at further depths the calcium dissolves. Similarly, Siliceous oozes are dominated by the siliceous shells of phytoplankton like diatoms and zooplankton such as radiolarians. Depending on the productivity of these planktonic organisms, the shell material that collects when these organisms die may build up at
5280-490: The formation of visible galls (e.g. by root-knot nematodes), which are useful characters for their diagnostic in the field. Some nematode species transmit plant viruses through their feeding activity on roots. One of them is Xiphinema index , vector of grapevine fanleaf virus , an important disease of grapes, another one is Xiphinema diversicaudatum , vector of arabis mosaic virus . Other nematodes attack bark and forest trees. The most important representative of this group
5368-473: The genera occur as parasites of vertebrates ; about 35 nematode species occur in humans. The word nematode comes from the Modern Latin compound of nemat- 'thread' (from Greek nema , genitive nematos 'thread', from the stem nein 'to spin'; cf. needle ) + -odes 'like, of the nature of' (cf. -oid ). In 1758, Linnaeus described some nematode genera (e.g., Ascaris ), then included in
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#17327764250825456-450: The infected ants for berries, and eat them. Parasite eggs passed in the bird's feces are subsequently collected by foraging C. atratus and are fed to their larvae , thus completing the lifecycle of M. neotropicum . Similarly, multiple varieties of nematodes have been found in the abdominal cavities of the primitively social sweat bee, Lasioglossum zephyrus . Inside the female body, the nematode hinders ovarian development and renders
5544-418: The inner surface of muscle cells towards the nerve cords ; this is a unique arrangement in the animal kingdom, in which nerve cells normally extend fibers into the muscles rather than vice versa . The oral cavity is lined with cuticles, which are often strengthened with structures, such as ridges, especially in carnivorous species, which may bear several teeth. The mouth often includes a sharp stylet , which
5632-444: The mantle circulation movement from the mid-ocean mountain ridge to the oceanic trench. Hotspot volcanic island ridges are created by volcanic activity, erupting periodically, as the tectonic plates pass over a hotspot. In areas with volcanic activity and in the oceanic trenches there are hydrothermal vents – releasing high pressure and extremely hot water and chemicals into the typically freezing water around it. Deep ocean water
5720-437: The name the same. Despite Potts' classification being equivalent to Cobbs', both names have been used (and are still used today) and Nematode became a popular term in zoological science. Since Cobb was the first to include nematodes in a particular phylum separated from Nematomorpha, some researchers consider the valid taxon name to be Nemates or Nemata, rather than Nematoda, because of the zoological rule that gives priority to
5808-465: The nemas and gordiids was realized by Vejdovsky when he named a group to contain the horsehair worms the order Nematomorpha. In 1919, Nathan Cobb proposed that nematodes should be recognized alone as a phylum. He argued they should be called "nema" in English rather than "nematodes" and defined the taxon Nemates (later emended as Nemata, Latin plural of nema ), listing Nematoidea sensu restricto as
5896-411: The obsolete group Entozoa , created by Rudolphi (1808). They were also classed along with Acanthocephala in the obsolete phylum Nemathelminthes by Gegenbaur (1859). In 1861, K. M. Diesing treated the group as order Nematoda. In 1877, the taxon Nematoidea, including the family Gordiidae (horsehair worms), was promoted to the rank of phylum by Ray Lankester . The first clear distinction between
5984-448: The oceans have a common structure, created by common physical phenomena, mainly from tectonic movement, and sediment from various sources. The structure of the oceans, starting with the continents, begins usually with a continental shelf , continues to the continental slope – which is a steep descent into the ocean, until reaching the abyssal plain – a topographic plain , the beginning of the seabed, and its main area. The border between
6072-491: The ovum to begin dividing, but because no fusion of the cells occurs, the male contributes no genetic material to the offspring, which are essentially clones of the female. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is often used as a model organism for studying aging at the molecular level. For example, in C. elegans aging negatively impacts DNA repair , and mutants of C. elegans that are long-lived were shown to have increased DNA repair capability. These findings suggest
6160-422: The phylum into two classes— Aphasmidia and Phasmidia . These were later renamed Adenophorea (gland bearers) and Secernentea (secretors), respectively. The Secernentea share several characteristics, including the presence of phasmids , a pair of sensory organs located in the lateral posterior region, and this was used as the basis for this division. This scheme was adhered to in many later classifications, though
6248-537: The sea water itself, including some from outer space. There are four basic types of sediment of the sea floor: Terrigenous sediment is the most abundant sediment found on the seafloor. Terrigenous sediments come from the continents. These materials are eroded from continents and transported by wind and water to the ocean. Fluvial sediments are transported from land by rivers and glaciers, such as clay, silt, mud, and glacial flour. Aeolian sediments are transported by wind, such as dust and volcanic ash. Biogenous sediment
6336-488: The seabed , and these satellite-derived maps are used extensively in the study and exploration of the ocean floor. In 2020 scientists created what may be the first scientific estimate of how much microplastic currently resides in Earth's seafloor , after investigating six areas of ~3 km depth ~300 km off the Australian coast. They found the highly variable microplastic counts to be proportionate to plastic on
6424-612: The seabed and the deepest waters are collectively known, as a habitat for creatures, as the " benthos ". Most of the seabed throughout the world's oceans is covered in layers of marine sediments . Categorized by where the materials come from or composition, these sediments are classified as either: from land ( terrigenous ), from biological organisms (biogenous), from chemical reactions (hydrogenous), and from space (cosmogenous). Categorized by size, these sediments range from very small particles called clays and silts , known as mud, to larger particles from sand to boulders . Features of
6512-468: The seabed are governed by the physics of sediment transport and by the biology of the creatures living in the seabed and in the ocean waters above. Physically, seabed sediments often come from the erosion of material on land and from other rarer sources, such as volcanic ash . Sea currents transport sediments, especially in shallow waters where tidal energy and wave energy cause resuspension of seabed sediments. Biologically, microorganisms living within
6600-440: The seabed can host sediments created by marine life such as corals, fish, algae, crabs, marine plants and other organisms. The seabed has been explored by submersibles such as Alvin and, to some extent, scuba divers with special equipment. Hydrothermal vents were discovered in 1977 by researchers using an underwater camera platform. In recent years satellite measurements of ocean surface topography show very clear maps of
6688-404: The seabed has typical features such as common sediment composition, typical topography, salinity of water layers above it, marine life, magnetic direction of rocks, and sedimentation . Some features of the seabed include flat abyssal plains , mid-ocean ridges , deep trenches , and hydrothermal vents . Seabed topography is flat where layers of sediments cover the tectonic features. For example,
6776-501: The seabed sediments change seabed chemistry. Marine organisms create sediments, both within the seabed and in the water above. For example, phytoplankton with silicate or calcium carbonate shells grow in abundance in the upper ocean, and when they die, their shells sink to the seafloor to become seabed sediments. Human impacts on the seabed are diverse. Examples of human effects on the seabed include exploration, plastic pollution, and exploitation by mining and dredging operations. To map
6864-592: The seabed, ships use acoustic technology to map water depths throughout the world. Submersible vehicles help researchers study unique seabed ecosystems such as hydrothermal vents . Plastic pollution is a global phenomenon, and because the ocean is the ultimate destination for global waterways, much of the world's plastic ends up in the ocean and some sinks to the seabed. Exploitation of the seabed involves extracting valuable minerals from sulfide deposits via deep sea mining, as well as dredging sand from shallow environments for construction and beach nourishment . Most of
6952-411: The seafloor is actively spreading and sedimentation is relatively light, such as in the northern and eastern Atlantic Ocean , the original tectonic activity can be clearly seen as straight line "cracks" or "vents" thousands of kilometers long. These underwater mountain ranges are known as mid-ocean ridges . Other seabed environments include hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and shallow areas. Marine life
7040-410: The shape of the land ( topography ) when it interfaces with the ocean. These shapes are obvious along coastlines, but they occur also in significant ways underwater. The effectiveness of marine habitats is partially defined by these shapes, including the way they interact with and shape ocean currents , and the way sunlight diminishes when these landforms occupy increasing depths. Tidal networks depend on
7128-533: The subject. Some children's play songs include elements such as "There's a hole at the bottom of the sea", or "A sailor went to sea... but all that he could see was the bottom of the deep blue sea". On and under the seabed are archaeological sites of historic interest, such as shipwrecks and sunken towns. This underwater cultural heritage is protected by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of
7216-412: The surface and the angle of the seafloor slope. By averaging the microplastic mass per cm , they estimated that Earth's seafloor contains ~14 million tons of microplastic – about double the amount they estimated based on data from earlier studies – despite calling both estimates "conservative" as coastal areas are known to contain much more microplastic pollution . These estimates are about one to two times
7304-414: The trichina worm, occurs in rats, pigs, bears, and humans, and is responsible for the disease trichinosis . Baylisascaris usually infests wild animals, but can be deadly to humans, as well. Dirofilaria immitis is known for causing heartworm disease by inhabiting the hearts, arteries, and lungs of dogs and some cats. Haemonchus contortus is one of the most abundant infectious agents in sheep around
7392-641: The use of DNA barcoding and the increasing acknowledgment of widespread cryptic species among nematodes, have placed the figure closer to 1 million species. Nematodes have successfully adapted to nearly every ecosystem : from marine (salt) to fresh water, soils, from the polar regions to the tropics, as well as the highest to the lowest of elevations. They are ubiquitous in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments, where they often outnumber other animals in both individual and species counts, and are found in locations as diverse as mountains, deserts, and oceanic trenches . They are found in every part of
7480-452: The wasp, and their offspring await the birth of the next generation of wasps as the fig ripens. A parasitic tetradonematid nematode discovered in 2005, Myrmeconema neotropicum , induces fruit mimicry in the tropical ant Cephalotes atratus . Infected ants develop bright red gasters (abdomens), tend to be more sluggish, and walk with their gasters in a conspicuous elevated position. These changes likely cause frugivorous birds to confuse
7568-403: The water column. Related technologies include robotic mining machines, as surface ships, and offshore and onshore metal refineries. Wind farms, solar energy, electric vehicles , and battery technologies use many of the deep-sea metals. Electric vehicle batteries are the main driver of the critical metals demand that incentivizes deep sea mining. The environmental impact of deep sea mining
7656-432: The world, causing great economic damage to sheep. In contrast, entomopathogenic nematodes parasitize insects and are mostly considered beneficial by humans, but some attack beneficial insects. One form of nematode is entirely dependent upon fig wasps , which are the sole source of fig fertilization. They prey upon the wasps, riding them from the ripe fig of the wasp's birth to the fig flower of its death, where they kill
7744-516: Was the first country to approve a deep sea mining permit for the Solwara 1 project, despite three independent reviews highlighting significant gaps and flaws in the environmental impact statement. The most common commercial model of deep sea mining proposed involves a caterpillar-track hydraulic collector and a riser lift system bringing the harvested ore to a production support vessel with dynamic positioning , and then depositing extra discharge down
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