tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441491750914005356.post3688950051942405753..comments2023-06-16T12:27:49.821+01:00Comments on Microbes Rule the Waves - 2013: Nephromyces, a beneficial apicomplexan symbiont in marine animals.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441491750914005356.post-77768206780056189812013-11-20T23:01:00.752+00:002013-11-20T23:01:00.752+00:00Have just had a bit of a look around - from what I...Have just had a bit of a look around - from what I've found the main thinking behind Nephromyces being a symbiont is because it's ubiquitous to Molgula species. However, after a bit of a read around I've seen that apparently some experiments were done and although Nephromyces is an obligate symbiont of molguids - some species of molguids (like M. manhattensis) can reach sexual maturity both in lab conditions and in semi-natural field conditions without Nephromyces! Ergo not a proper symbiont?<br /><br />But other experiences have shown that M. manhattensis produces more offspring when infected with Nephromyces. Also, in field conditions apparently juvenile M. manhattensis have shown slower growth, but greater survivor-ship then uninfected counterparts. So there is some benefit!<br /><br />Got this from a book called "Symbiosis as a Source of Evolutionary Innovation: Speciation and Morphogenesis" in case you were interested. Caroline Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15460295359876603812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8441491750914005356.post-71615525214528062272013-11-20T19:28:23.083+00:002013-11-20T19:28:23.083+00:00Have there been any studies on how Nephromyces ben...Have there been any studies on how Nephromyces benefits Molgula sea squirts? As your post describes it, only the apicomplexan seems to benefit from the symbiosis. This seems like it could easily be a very specific parasitism rather than a symbiosis.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14950879543695501526noreply@blogger.com