Symbiosis as a driver for molluscan diversity
This hub will investigate how chemosymbiosis shapes the role of molluscs in many ecosystems, and how symbiotic associations act as a driver for some of the morphological adaptations and overall diversity encompassed by molluscs
Project Lead/s
Jillian Petersen, University of Vienna
Roxanne Beinart, University of Rhode Island
Julia Sigwart, Senckenberg Research Institute
Project Summary
Phylum Mollusca represents the second-largest animal group, and an unrivalled diversity of body forms. Their ecological diversity incorporates an extraordinary range of symbiotic associations with microbes. Yet, there are relatively few high-quality genome assemblies available for molluscs and their symbionts. This hub will investigate how chemosymbiosis shapes the role of molluscs in many ecosystems, and how symbiotic associations act as a driver for some of the morphological adaptations and overall diversity encompassed by molluscs.
Through a global collaboration, we have assembled a diverse set of mollusc-microbe symbioses, from deep-sea hydrothermal vent snails and mussels that gain their entire nutrition from endosymbiotic microbes, to clams that use a range of symbionts to colonise unusual habitats, to sea slugs with the ability to sequester cells and products from their food organisms. The genome library assembled here will contribute to a broader understanding of how environments drive symbioses, and how symbioses shape environments.