Live together or die trying: diversity in host symbiont communities

Abstract

Many biological communities are founded on mutualistic associations between a relatively large host and a diverse community of symbionts. But how does the diversity and organization of these symbionts affect: 1.) symbiont interactions with each other? and 2.) mutualism function? Corals, which can host more than four algal endosymbionts simultaneously, provide an exceptional opportunity to explore these questions. Using the latest techniques in genetics and stable isotope analysis, our research is exploring the potential for competition and cooperation among symbionts in a changing ocean.