: Amgueddfeydd

Deep beneath the ocean surface, where no sunlight can penetrate, there are areas so hot, volatile and toxic that it's hard to believe life can exist...but it does, and often in abundance. It is exactly this kind of hostile environment that one of our most recent natural history acquisitions came from, a spectacular marine snail called the 'scaly-foot gastropod', or for those of you who like Greek and Latin, Chrysomallon squamiferum Chen, Linse, Copley & Rogers, 2015 (fig. 1). It comes from depths of 2785m, living on the edge of hydrothermal vents and black smokers that reach temperatures of 300-400°C. This is certainly not your average snail...

Under armour and ready for battle

It was in 2000 that the first hydrothermal vent field was discovered in the Indian Ocean, known as Kairei field, and a year on that Woods Hole surveyed the area in the RV Knorr 162-13 and encountered this new species. It was immediately obvious that something unique had been discovered. The 'foot' of this snail, which is the fleshy soft part that snails move around on, displayed hundreds of hardened tags, almost like an armour. These tags are called sclerites; fleshy in the centre and hard on the exterior due to a layer of conchiolin (a protein secreted as a part of shell formation) covered by a layer of iron sulphide that gives it a black metallic appearance (fig. 2). The iron sulphide exists in two forms in the snail: greigite, which is highly magnetic, and pyrite, which is commonly known as fool's gold. The presence of the metallic sclerites is not totally understood but Suzuki et al. at the Extremobiosphere Research Center in Japan suggest the snail may control the mineralization of the iron sulphides for protection from crab predation or perhaps for detoxification purposes.

Completely unique is that the iron sulphide is also found in the snails' shell, so this was the first discovery of an animal with iron sulphide in its skeleton (fig. 3). Underneath the metallic exterior there is a thick but softer organic layer which covers the hard calcium carbonate shell that most marine snails have. So unusual is this triple layering in the shell, in both its chemical make-up and mechanism, that some scientists consider it to offer extensive protection and think it may be used as inspiration for man-made armour in the future.

New vent fields, new discoveries

The iron and sulphide found in the scaly-foot gastropods at the Kairei field comes from the mineral rich waters expelled from the hydrothermal vents and black smokers. Different vents do, however, have different mineral compositions. Nevertheless, it was still of great surprise when in 2009 the Solitaire field was discovered in the Indian Ocean and living on it was a different colour form of the scaly-foot gastropod; this time displaying a brown shell and cream coloured sclerites, both completely lacking the iron sulphide coating. Genetic testing by Nakamura et al. at the Precambrian Ecosystem Laboratory in Japan confirmed in 2012 that they are the same species and also that the sclerites of the iron-lacking form were in fact mechanically stronger. Then, in 2011, yet another population of the black scaly-foot gastropod was found in great abundance at the Longqi field, another new discovery for the Indian Ocean, and this is where the two specimens deposited at this museum came from. Figure 4 shows snails from the three different vent populations.

The heart of a dragon

The external features of this snail are certainly spectacular and strange, but taking a look inside shows that the theme continues there. It is of no surprise that this snail has special adaptations to live in such a toxic and harsh environment; survival in such a place certainly requires an evolutionary helping hand. Similarly to other species living on black smokers and close to vent effluents it has evolved a symbiotic relationship with bacteria living inside its body. These bacteria supply the snail with most of its nutrition and to accommodate them the snail has developed a massive oesophageal gland, taking up over 9% of its body mass! In turn the snail needs to keep the bacteria alive and so has also developed a huge circulatory system, including a supersized heart, to supply the oesophageal gland with enough oxygen. It's a win-win situation, or perhaps a deal made in Hell!

What's in a name?

Although it was discovered 14 years ago it is only this year that the scaly-foot gastropod was officially christened Chrysomallon squamiferum by Chong Chen of Oxford University and his associates. This snail is so different to any others known that Chen et al. needed to describe a new genus to put this new species in. The genus name Chrysomallon means 'golden fleece', giving reference to the metallic coating often containing fool's gold. The species name squamiferum means 'scale-bearing', making obvious reference to the sclerites covering the foot of the snail. The process of describing new species also means that a specimen (holotype) or a series of specimens (holotype and paratypes) need to be selected as representatives of the species and placed in museum collections, and that is where we come in! The two specimens we have been donated are a part of this incredibly important 'type' series. They even came with a note telling us to store them in 100% alcohol as any water in the preservative would cause them to rust over time. Rusting is certainly not a conservation issue we usually have to consider with our mollusc collections!

Back at the museum

This is not the first addition of molluscs from deep sea hydrothermal vents to our collections. With resident bivalve researchers working here we already house material that has been described by our experts from such environments, in addition to other extreme marine environments. Some are from the oil seeps off Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, the mud volcanoes in the Gulf of Cadiz or methane seeps off Chile. Others are from hydrothermal vents on the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge and hydrothermal springs in the Cascadia Basin of the NE Pacific. Perhaps the strangest place that one of our new species was described from was the wreck of the sunken ship Francois Vieljeux which contained organic cargo containing sacks of beans, sunflower seeds and bales of sisal twine. Over time the rotting cargo produced a sulphur rich environment that attracted animals able to exploit it, including the bivalve Spinaxinus sentosus Oliver & Holmes (fig. 5). Amazing.

When you think that only 160 years ago much of the scientific community embraced Edward Forbe's 'azoic theory', that life could not exist beyond 550m, our knowledge and understanding of the sea has really come on a very long way. Nevertheless, there will always be more waiting to be discovered.

If you want to learn more about our collections follow us on Twitter @CardiffCurator

References:

Chen, C., Copley, J. T., Linse, K., Rogers, A. D. and Sigwart, J. (2014). Abstract from Seventh Congress of the European Malacological Societies. Edited by White, T. S.

Chen, C., Linse, K., Copley, J. T. and Rogers, A. D. (2015). The 'scaly-foot gastropod': a new genus and species of hydrothermal vent-endemic gastropod (Neomphalina: Peltospiridae) from the Indian Ocean. Journal of Molluscan Studies. 81(3): 1-13. doi:10.1093/mollus/eyv013

Nakamura, K, Watanabe, H, Miyazaki, J, Takai, K, Kawagucci, S, et al. (2012). Discovery of New Hydrothermal Activity and Chemosynthetic Fauna on the Central Indian Ridge at 18u-20uS. PLoS ONE 7(3): e32965. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032965

Oliver, P. G. & Holmes, A. M. (2006). New species of Thyasiridae (Bivalvia) from chemosynthetic communities in the Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Conchology. 39(2): 175-183; figs 1-32.

Suzuki, Y. et al. (2006). Sclerite formation in the hydrothermal-vent 'scaly-foot' gastropod - possible control of iron sulphide biomineralization by the animal. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 242. 39-50.

Yao, H. et al. (2010). Protection mechanisms of the iron-plated armor of a deep-sea hydrothermal vent gastropod. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107.3 (2010): 987-992. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0912988107

Astudiaeth newid hinsawdd ar dir eich ysgol!
Daearyddiaeth & Gwyddoniaeth (CA2)

Defnyddiwch eich dosbarth awyr agored! Ymunwch â'r 175 o ysgolion sy'n cymryd rhan yn yr arbrawf arbennig hwn!

Mae Bylbiau'r Gwanwyn i Ysgolion yn rhoi cyfle i ddisgyblion cynradd fabwysiadu, astudio a chofnodi datblygiad bylbiau'r gwanwyn fel rhan o rwydwaith gwylio'r gwanwyn. Caiff pob disgybl fwlb Cennin Pedr Dinbych, Crocws ac photyn gardd er mwyn cofnodi'r tyfiant a'r amserau blodeuo.

Trwy gasglu a chymharu data mae disgyblion yn darganfod sut mae'r newid yn ein hinsawdd yn effeithio ar ein tymhorau, a beth mae hyn yn ei olygu i ni ac i'r natur o'n cwmpas. Mae disgyblion yn cymryd rhan yn Her Athro'r Ardd i gael tystysgrif gwyddonydd gwych.

Gall ysgolion ledled Cymru gymryd rhan gan bod y canlyniadau yn cael eu casglu drwy'r we (neu'r post os oes rhaid). Mae'r prosiect yn un parhaus a gall ysgolion gymryd rhan yn flynyddol.

Er mwyn gwneud cais i gymryd rhan yn Bylbiau’r Gwanwyn i Ysgolion 2015-2016 llenwch y ffurflen gais ar-lein drwy ddilyn y ddolen isod.

Ceisiadau nawr ar agor ond mae niferoedd yn gyfyngedig felly wnewch gais yn fuan i sicrhau eich lle ar y prosiect! Ceisiadau ar agor i ysgolion yng Nghymru yn unig. Mae’r dyddiad cau wedi pasio ar gyfer ysgolion o’r Alban a Lloegr ond mae croeso i chi gysylltu ag Ymddiriedolaeth Edina am wybodaeth ar sut i gymryd rhan yn y project yn 2016-2017.

Bylbiau’r Gwanwyn i Ysgolion – Ffurflen Gais.

E-bost SCAN

Mae'r blog yma'n dilyn blog Marsli Owen.

Pan benderfynom ni wneud digwyddiad o’r enw ‘Trwy’r Twll Clo’ meddyliais am y gwahanol bethau y buaswn yn gallu dangos i bobl yn adeiladau hanesyddol Sain Ffagan. Roeddwn i eisiau rhywbeth oedd yn cysylltu’r gorffennol a’r presennol, felly dewisais hanes yfed te a lleoli fy hun yn y parlwr yn ffermdy Kennixton.

Mae’r parlwr yn Kennixton wedi ei addurno yn steil y 1750au - efallai eich bod yn ei adnabod fel tŷ Capten Blamey oddi ar y gyfres deledu ddiweddar Poldark. Penderfynais fod mewn gwisg ar gyfer y digwyddiad er mwyn ceisio dod a’r tŷ yn fyw, a gosod y bwrdd ar gyfer te fel y buasent nhw wedi gwneud yn y 18fed ganrif.  

Mae gan de hanes gyffroes iawn yn ysbrydoli ffasiynau, ffortiynau, chwyldroadau a throseddau. Daeth i Brydain yn 1657 gyda Catrin o Fracança, gwraig Siarl yr 2il o Bortiwgal. Daeth yn ddiod ffasiynol iawn yn sydyn, ychydig fel y ‘Kate-effect’ heddiw,

Fel llawer o bethau poblogaidd, rhoddwyd treth uchel arno gan y llywodraeth. Roedd rhai delwyr diegwyddor yn ceisio gwneud i’r te fynd ychydig pellach gan ei amhuro gyda dail y ddraenen wen neu hyd yn oed baw defaid! Er mwyn goresgyn y dreth uchel ar de, buasai llawer o bobl yng Nghymru wedi prynu eu te gan smyglwyr. Mae’n bosib y buasai preswylwyr Kennixton wedi cael gafael ar de yn yr un ffordd. Roedd yn wreiddiol wedi ei adeiladu ar arfordir Gŵyr a buasai te wedi ei smyglo wedi bod ar gael yn hawdd. 

NId y Cymry’n unig oedd yn gwrthwynebu talu treth mor uchel ar de; doedd yr Americanwyr ddim yn gweld pam y dylen nhw chwaith. Er mwyn dangos eu teimladau, taflon nhw de Prydeinig i mewn i'r harbwr yn Boston - y Boston Tea Party - gicdaniodd Rhyfel Annibyniaeth America yn 1775.

Carais wneud y digwyddiad yma, a chynhyrchiodd rai sgyrsiau diddorol iawn gydag ymwelwyr. Roedd yn dŷ yn teimlo llawer mwy fel cartref wrth wneud ychydig o weithgareddau dydd i ddydd. Ond mae’n rhaid i mi gyfaddef, mi oeddwn i’n falch iawn o ddod allan o’r ffrog ar ddiwedd y dydd - roedd y sgert fawr a llewys tynn yn gyfyngedig iawn. Gorffennais y dydd yn gwisgo jeans cyfforddus a’n mwynhau paned o de yn dorch ar y sofa!

Bydd blog arall wythnos nesaf gan Heulwen, a fydd yn trafod y Prefab.

Dros y Pasg, cynhaliwyd gweithgaredd o’r enw ‘Trwy’r Twll Clo' yn Sain Ffagan. Y syniad oedd i aelodau o’r Adran Addysg fod yn yr adeiladau hanesyddol yn dehongli a dangos gwrthrychau i’n hymwelwyr, er mwyn denu sylw at hanes yr adeilad neu agwedd wedi ei gysylltu â fo. Yn ystod yr wythnos bydd 3 blog gan 3 aelod o staff a gynhaliodd y digwyddiad yma.

Roedd hi’n ben set arna i fi braidd yn penderfynu pa adeilad i ddefnyddio. Felly dyma fi’n penderfynu tro ‘mha, i lynu at rywbeth dwi’n nabod reit dda yn barod, sef Siop Gwalia. Dwi’n cynnal sesiynau addysg ffurfiol (hefo grwpiau plant ysgol) yma’n barod felly mae gen i syniad reit dda o’i hanes a beth allai wneud yna, ac mae gen i wisg yn barod i fynd!

Mi oni wedi herwa’r archif er mwyn cael lluniau o’r siop yn ei leoliad gwreiddiol, ac roedd gen i goffi ffres a ffa coffi er mwyn dangos y peiriant malu ffa. Defnyddiol hefyd i ddod a ‘chydig o aroglau yn ôl i’r siop a fysa’n llawn aroglau pan oedd ar agor yn gwerthu’r holl gaws, ffrwythau sych, cig, te, coffi a bob math o bethau.

Un o’r lluniau a greodd yr ymateb fwya’ oedd ‘ Gorwyl House’ ar ben y bryn uwch Cwm Ogwr, tŷ adeiladodd Wiliam Llywelyn pan wnaeth ddigon o ffortiwn i symud allan o fod uwchben y siop. Mae’r gwrthgyferbyniad rhwng y tai eraill a lleoliad y ‘mansion’ fel gelwid y tŷ yn lleol, yn neges glir o statws uchel y teulu Llywelyn ar anterth Siop Gwalia yng Nghwm Ogwr.

Roedd yn brofiad braf bod yn y siop a chael cyfle i allu adrodd ei hanes, sy’n adlewyrchol o hanes y cymoedd yn gyffredinol. Ond hefyd siarad gyda’r ymwelwyr am ba mor wahanol oedd y profiad o fynd i siop tua 100 mlynedd yn ôl, pa mor gymdeithasol yn enwedig.

Roedd y staff yn cael eu hyfforddi am flynyddoedd ac roedd yn swydd uchel iawn ei barch, ac roedd y siopau gwir yn ganolbwynt i’r gymdeithas. Braf iawn oedd hefyd cyfarfod rhai o gyn-gwsmeriaid y siop yn hel atgofion yno, daeth mwy nag un i mewn yn cofio’r siop yn ei leoliad gwreiddiol. Disgrifiodd un ddynes y bwlch oedd yng Nghwm Ogwr yn ei le dros y ffordd i’r orsaf drên, ac wrth drafod ac edrych nôl mae colli profiad siopa fel hyn wedi gadael bylchau mawr ar draws Gymru

Bydd y blog nesaf yn dilyn cyn bo hir yn trafod y gweithgaredd wedi ei leoli yn un o’r adeiladau hanesyddol eraill.

Ecuador at last! Josemir Camara and I have now arrived in Quito, after a long dog-legging flight from Manaus up to Panama City and back down to Ecuador. While we arrange the logistics of our onward travels, we have a little time to explore some of the sights of the world’s highest capital city and to visit the insect collections at the museum of Quito’s Catholic University. The collections of museums around the World house a vast treasure-trove of knowledge and visits between curators of different museums can be significant in unlocking this knowledge for wider appreciation and usefulness.

Specialists such as myself and my Brazilian colleagues José Albertino Rafael and Josenir Câmara are able to provide insight into the significance of these collections, promote wider recognition of their value and significance as well as provide pointers to how their importance may be communicated to their own nationals. Of course we have a vested interest too - we get to see specimens of animals we have only ever dreamed of!

Sometimes we can arrange loans between our institutions to support our own research or to facilitate contact with others who have something to contribute to the understanding or interpretation of the collections. While it is certainly true that most of insect biodiversity has never been seen (or knowingly seen) by a human being, it is also true that a proportion of that unknown diversity is represented in museum collections and people like me and my Brazilian colleagues are in the very special situation of being able to recognize its importance.