Habitat

Odontosyllis phosphorea live in shallow coastal areas down near the benthic level of salt-water oceans (Deheyn and Latz, 2009). The benthic level of the ocean is defined as the bottom surface of an aquatic environment (Campbell G-4, 2008). Odontosyllis phosphorea have been found to live off the coast of California, Oregon, Washington, parts of British Columbia Canada and off the coasts of Panama (Figure 1.) ("Odontosyllis phosphorea," 2013). Odontosyllis live on hard surfaces such as rocks in sandy areas or in beds of sea grass (Siebert, 2009). Adult and juvenile worms create a half cylinder parchment-like tube on rocks or heavy solid surfaces (Jones and Wood, 2006). The rocks act as a weight for the O. phosphorea to stay down in the depths of the ocean (Pickett, 2012). The only time these worms leave the benthic level is to reproduce (Tsuji and Hill, 1983). More of the reproductive ritual is explained on the life cycle page.    

             Figure 1. Locations Odontosyllis phosphorea have been found. (Modified by Isaac Metzler, 2013)

Benthos describes the communities that live in the benthic level of the ocean (Figure 2.) (Campbell G-4, 2008). Odontosyllis phosphorea is considered to be in this group along with other animilia like sponges, cnidarians, bristlworns, molluscs, crustasceans and echinoderms (Valtýsson, n.d.). Take a look at, Mastocarpus Papillatus, Kryptophanaron alfredi  and Ophiopsila riisei  who all share the same benthic habitat as Odontosyllis phosphorea. These animilia have all adapted to many different niches and have many different adaptations for nutrient consumption and mobility (Valtýsson, n.d.). The benthic zone gives O. phosphorea plenty of bacteria and algae that make up the majority of its diet (Geggel, 2012). To learn a little bit more about Odontosyllis phorspore's diet check out our interactions page.

Some of the main differences between the different depths of the ocean are lack of light, change in water pressure and temperature changes (Kennedy, 2013). A characteristic of benthos animals is larger eyes so they can capture as much light as possible (Kennedy, 2013). But some animals other than O. phosphorea have adapted to no light and rely on other senses such as smell to navigate (Kennedy, 2013). Bioluminescence is also a characteristic of multiple benthos animilia (Kennedy, 2013). Many of the animals in this benthic zone have soft bodies without any excess space that would be affected by high levels of water pressure (Kennedy, 2013). Lastly temperature in the benthic zone can range from about 2-4 degrees Celsius (Kennedy, 2013).                                                              Figure 2. Marine zonation. Modified from Figure 52.15 b) Marine Zonation Campbell, 2008 page 1160. Illustrated by Mariah Schaut 12/07/13.

 A very interesting fact that Drs. Latz and Deheyn came across during many of their field studies was the fact that the Odontosyllis phosphorea do not return to their parchment-like tube homes in the winter. “The interesting thing is that they go away in the winter and [we] have no idea where they go!” Dr. Deheyn remarked. Multiple times both doctors have sifted through sediment of the areas at which O. phosphorea usually dwell, but in the winter months while they are not mating, there are no traces of the fireworms. Dr. Deheyn questions, “Do they dig down? Die off? Hibernate? …There is still a big mystery there.” In other places such as Panama, where O. phosphorea are also commonly found, Odontosyllis phosphorea can be found living in their “homes” or tubes all year round. In Panama, these organisms also mate all year round which could possibly have to do with why the O. phosphorea vanish. It is a very big mystery to both Drs. Latz and Deheyn where these amazing organisms go during the winter months of the locations with sub-tropical climate and why they don’t disappear in the other tropical locations as well (Pickett, 2012).    

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