Matters Microbial #105: Snails Farming Bacteria in the Deep Sea

August 29, 2025

Let’s take a deep dive into chemoautotrophy!  Today, Dr. Roxanne Beinart, Associate Professor of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how some marine creatures use bacterial symbioses to provide organic compounds for growth and reproduction. 

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Roxanne Beinart

Download MM105 (38 MB MP3, 62 mins)

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  • An appreciation of the late Dr. Moselio (Elio) Schaechter from his friends at the blog “Small Things Considered.”
  • A video from This Week in Microbiology appreciating Elio Schaechter.
  • A video describing deep sea symbioses.
  • A video by the great Dr. Colleen Cavanaugh about chemoautotrophy/chemosynthesis.
  • An overview of chemoautotrophic strategies in the ocean.
  • An overview of hydrothermal vents.
  • A video review of  thiotrophic (sulfur based) symbiotic associations.
  • A video about hydrothermal vent exploration.
  • A review of hydrothermal vent communities.
  • Alvinella, the extremophilic bristleworm discussed in this episode (includes videos).
  • An article by Dr. Beinart and colleagues, describing how a hydrothermal vent community is disrupted by a volcanic eruption.
  • A report on the 2020 submarine volcano eruption discussed in this episode.
  • An interesting article about studying deep sea symbioses, coauthored by Dr. Beinart. 
  • A great video by Dr. Beinart about her research. 
  • Dr. Beinart’s research team website.
  • Dr. Beinart’s faculty webpage.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

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