Coastal ecosystems are populated by many organisms that produce and even secrete toxic compounds. These compounds are often repellents, used to deter predators. But, regardless of the function the naturally-occurring toxins present a problem to organisms living in benthic ecosystems. Amphitrite ornata is a small tube worm that feeds through antennae that protrude at the surface. A. ornata has apparently evolved to degrade a number of toxic compounds found in its environment. Since A. ornata cannot move it is a reasonable adaptation to degrade certain of the toxic compounds that are found in the ecosystem where A. ornata resides.

Enzymatic degradation of toxins

Benthic ecosystems / pdf