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| Tears of the Virgin: a unique relationship between barnacle and bacterium by John Buckeridge, RMIT University (courtesy: New Scientist) |
At South-East of
Australia there are Sandstone blocks called the "tears of virgin". It
is an unique geological formation due to the symbiotic relationship between
crustaceans and bacteria.
“It is important
because it shows how organisms slowly modify their environment – even if the
environment seems ‘as solid as rock’,” says John Buckeridge at RMIT University
in Melbourne, Victoria. “What is cute here is the relationship between the
barnacle and the cyanobacteria that allows this to happen.” (As reported from
New Scientist)
To understand this
relationship Buckeridge surveyed the site and analyzed the samples in his
laboratory.
In a collaboration with
Bill Newman from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, California together found
that barnacles (Chthamalus antennatus) are surrounded by cyanobacteria (photosynthesizing
bacteria) which feed on their nitrogenious waste. This resulted in rounded eye
from which tears seem to fall. In return, cyanobacteria excrete organic acids
which is the major component of sandstone. The burrows created protect the
barnacles from sun's heat and materials thrown by thrashing water.
The characteristic
tears are formed by the cyanobacterial population surrounding the acid dribble
on the surface of the rock. The grooves are about 17cm long.
Researchers suggest
that this symbiotic relationship have started with opportunistic partnership.
It was long been unknown what these "tears of virgin" and who named
it. The furrow seem to be there for decades.
The findings were
presented at Integrative
Zoology.
Source: New
Scientist
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