Carol and to others who are interested,
Chiara is correct about Sclerolinum. In general that particular group of siboglinids can live on decaying organic material such as wood and natural rope. Sclerolinum was also reported as co-ocurring with Xylophaga.
Schander, C., H.T. Rapp, K.M. Halanych, J.A. Kongsrud, J.A. Sneli, J.-A. 2010. An exceptional case of symbiosis or commensalism from a North-east Atlantic wood-fall. Journal of the Marine Biological Association Biodiversity Records 3: e43
However, Sclerolinum uses endosymbionts that are no doubt taking advantage of a redox boundary. The close association with Xylophaga is interesting as the Xylophaga filled there tubes with wood poop. It is pretty clear that Sclerolinum is no directly digesting or actively burrowing in to the wood. They are likely just following the trail others make in the wood.
Ken
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Kenneth M. Halanych
Schneller Chair, Alumni Professor
Curator of Marine Invertebrates
Biological Sciences Department
Life Sciences Bld. 101
Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
http://metazoan.auburn.edu/halanych/lab/index.html
Phone: (334)-844-3222
e-mail: ken from auburn.edu
Editor-In-Chief The Biological Bulletin
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/bbl/current
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