Host-Bacterial Associations in Marine Organisms

Dear Colleagues,

Marine environments cover 90% of the earth’s biosphere, and represent half of the primary production. Most of our knowledge about host-bacterial associations, however, is derived from organism living in terrestrial environments. Due to fundamental differences in trophic interactions, environmental conditions, and dispersal barriers, knowledge about terrestrial host-bacterial associations cannot be directly transferred to marine systems. This particularly relates dispersal and tropic levels. In contrast to terrestrial environments, there are few dispersal barriers in marine environment, with the potential of global dispersal. The marine biomass is also heavily shifted towards consumers, rather than producers as in terrestrial environments. Furthermore, marine ecosystems have more tropic levels (longer food chains) than terrestrial systems. These issues, among others, influence how microorganisms associate differently with hosts in marine –, as compared to in terrestrial environments.

The focus of this special issue will therefore be to collect the current knowledge on mechanisms for host-bacterial associations in marine organisms. Papers related to all macroscopic marine organisms are welcome, including fish and invertebrates. Impact of host-bacterial associations in aquaculture are also covered.

Prof. Knut Rudi
Prof. Ingrid Bakke
Prof. Olav Vadstein
Guest Editors

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