Research
Who lives in a sponge under the sea? Tiny Caribbean fish and their microscopic neighbors
Phys.org ·
The Brief
- Two new studies involving Newcastle University marine scientist Dr. Theresa Rueger examine the tusked goby and its host sponge.
- The studies report that the goby's relationship with its sponge host shapes almost every aspect of the fish's life.
- The fish and its microscopic neighbours live in the Caribbean.
Why it matters
The findings show how a host sponge and its associated microbes can shape the biology of a resident animal, which is useful context for research on symbiosis and host-associate relationships.
Who’s affected
- marine biologists and ecologists studying symbiosis
- researchers interested in sponge-associated microbial communities
- #marine biology
- #symbiosis
- #sponges
- #microbiome
- #caribbean
Two new studies involving Newcastle University marine scientist Dr. Theresa Rueger have highlighted how the tusked goby's relationship with its host sponge shapes almost every aspect of its life. Rueger, a senior lecturer in tropical marine sciences at Newcastle University's…