MICROBIAL SYMBIOSIS - PATTERNS OF DIVERSITY IN THE MARINE-ENVIRONMENT

Symbiotic associations expand both the diversity of potential ecologic al niches and metabolic capabilities of the host-symbiont combinations . Symbioses can also be considered to have evolutionary potential in t hat the partnership can result in a ''new organism.'' Associations bet ween chemoautotrophic bacteria and marine invertebrates, discovered on ly 10 years ago, are now found widely in nature, in habitats ranging f rom deep-sea hydrothermal vents to coastal sediments. Here I review ch emoautotroph-invertebrate associations and discuss the benefits inferr ed for both partners with regard to the diversity of these symbioses i n nature.