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Science 8 April 1983:
Vol. 220. no. 4593, pp. 208 - 210
DOI: 10.1126/science.220.4593.208
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Articles

Mycoplasma-Like Organisms: Occurrence with the Larvae and Adults of a Marine Bryozoan

RUSSEL L. ZIMMER 1 and ROBERT M. WOOLLACOTT 2

1 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089
2 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Larvae and adults of the marine bryozoan Watersipora cucullata invariably possess numerous extracellular mycoplasma-like, organisms. Mesodermally encapsulated groups of these atypical bacteria occur in the visceral coeloms of all colony members. In contrast, thousands of the symbionts are externally attached to each larva along a unique superficial groove; the microorganisms are internalized during the complex metamorphosis, thus inoculating the incipient colony. The consequences to the bryozoan of this association are not known.

Submitted on October 12, 1982


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Evolutionary Relationships of "Candidatus Endobugula" Bacterial Symbionts and Their Bugula Bryozoan Hosts.
G. E. Lim-Fong, L. A. Regali, and M. G. Haygood (2008)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 74, 3605-3609
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
{alpha}-Proteobacterial Symbionts of Marine Bryozoans in the Genus Watersipora.
C. M. Anderson and M. G. Haygood (2007)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 73, 303-311
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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