Department of Marine Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
PLoS One. 2010 Aug 31;5(8):e9801. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009801.
Copepoda is one of the most prominent higher taxa with almost 80 described species at deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The unique copepod family Dirivultidae with currently 50 described species is the most species rich invertebrate family at hydrothermal vents.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We reviewed the literature of Dirivultidae and provide a complete key to species, and map geographical and habitat specific distribution. In addition we discuss the ecology and origin of this family.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Dirivultidae are only present at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and along the axial summit trough of midocean ridges, with the exception of Dirivultus dentaneus found associated with Lamellibrachia species at 1125 m depth off southern California. To our current knowledge Dirivultidae are unknown from shallow-water vents, seeps, whale falls, and wood falls. They are a prominent part of all communities at vents and in certain habitat types (like sulfide chimneys colonized by pompei worms) they are the most abundant animals. They are free-living on hard substrate, mostly found in aggregations of various foundation species (e.g. alvinellids, vestimentiferans, and bivalves). Most dirivultid species colonize more than one habitat type. Dirivultids have a world-wide distribution, but most genera and species are endemic to a single biogeographic region. Their origin is unclear yet, but immigration from other deep-sea chemosynthetic habitats (stepping stone hypothesis) or from the deep-sea sediments seems unlikely, since Dirivultidae are unknown from these environments. Dirivultidae is the most species rich family and thus can be considered the most successful taxon at deep-sea vents.
桡足类是最突出的高级分类群之一，在深海热液喷口已有近 80 种描述物种。目前有 50 种描述物种的独特桡足类家族 Dirivultidae 是热液喷口物种最丰富的无脊椎动物科。
方法/主要发现：我们回顾了 Dirivultidae 的文献，并提供了一个完整的物种关键，以及地理和栖息地特定分布的图谱。此外，我们还讨论了这个家族的生态学和起源。
结论/意义：Dirivultidae 仅存在于深海热液喷口和中洋脊轴向山顶槽，除了在加利福尼亚南部 1125 米深处发现与 Lamellibrachia 物种相关的 Dirivultus dentaneus 外。根据我们目前的知识，Dirivultidae 未知于浅水域喷口、渗漏、鲸落和木落。它们是所有喷口群落和某些栖息地类型（如被庞贝虫殖民的硫化物烟囱）的突出组成部分，它们是最丰富的动物。它们在硬底质上自由生活，主要发现于各种基础物种（如 Alvinellidae、Vestimentiferans 和双壳类动物）的聚集处。大多数 dirivultid 物种栖息于多种生境类型。Dirivultidae 分布于世界各地，但大多数属和种都局限于单一的生物地理区系。它们的起源尚不清楚，但从其他深海化学合成栖息地（踏脚石假说）或深海沉积物移民的可能性不大，因为 Dirivultidae 尚未在这些环境中被发现。Dirivultidae 是物种最丰富的科，因此可以被认为是深海喷口最成功的分类群。
