From Prokaryota to Eumetazoa: Symbiotic Associations in Fossil and Recent Bryozoans

Abstract: The life of sedentary organisms faces strong competition for space against neighboring epibionts, and the impact of predators. The emergence of various adaptations to cope these problems includes establishing various interactions with other members of benthic communities. Various symbiotic (commensal, mutualistic, and even parasitic) relationships presented in multiple variations allow not only to succeed in the competition for free space, but also provide other equally important advantages for survival. Being one of the most abundant groups of colonial invertebrates in marine benthic ecosystems, bryozoans are not an exception. This group demonstrates both common and unique symbiotic associations. This article provides an overview of all known forms of symbiosis in Bryozoa, fossil and modern, and discusses the consequences of such relationships.