THE IMPACT OF SYMBIOTIC MICROBES ON MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

How do symbionts influence host ecology and evolution?
How do symbionts participate directly in ecosystem-level processes?

Marine microbes critically influence global primary productivity, biogeochemical cycling, and oceanic food webs. Today, we also recognize that the overwhelming majority of eukaryotic organisms

are symbiotically associated with microbes.

Research in the Beinart Lab unites these two important ideas.

Our research aims to describe the mechanistic links among

symbiont physiology, ecological and evolutionary processes, and biogeochemical cycles,

with the ultimate goal of advancing knowledge of the function and significance of microbes in marine ecosystems.

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We employ a unique integrative approach, bringing together insights

from physiological experiments, molecular-based ‘omics tools,

physico-chemical measurements, and community surveys.