The discovery of chemosynthetic ecosystems at deep-sea hydrothermal vents in 1977
changed our view of biology. Chemosynthetic bacteria and archaea form the foundation of …

Covering: through 2014 Many organisms team up with microbes for defense against
predators, parasites, parasitoids, or pathogens. Here we review the described protective …

Molluscs comprise the second largest phylum of animals (after arthropods), occurring in
virtually all habitats. Some are commercially important, a few are pests and some carry …

Biological materials are typically multifunctional but many have evolved to optimize a chief
mechanical function. These functions include impact or fracture resistance, armor and …

Uncovers the Key Role Microbes Play in the Transformation of Oxidizable and Reducible
MineralsMany areas of geomicrobial processes are receiving serious attention from …

Chemosynthetic symbioses between bacteria and marine invertebrates were discovered 30
years ago at hydrothermal vents on the Galapagos Rift. Remarkably, it took the discovery of …

The ε-proteobacteria have recently been recognized as globally ubiquitous in modern
marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and have had a significant role in biogeochemical and …

Greigite (Fe3S4) is an authigenic ferrimagnetic mineral that grows as a precursor to pyrite
during early diagenetic sedimentary sulfate reduction. It can also grow at any time when …

Abstract The Scaly-foot Snail, Chrysomallon squamiferum, presents a combination of
biomineralised features, reminiscent of enigmatic early fossil taxa with complex shells and …

Biological exoskeletons, in particular those with unusually robust and multifunctional
properties, hold enormous potential for the development of improved load-bearing and …