2
MARINE MOLLUSCS AS HOSTS FOR SYMBIOSES
paralleling the role of the medical bacteriologist of the previous two
decades. Like many modern-day bacteriologists, or microbiologists as
they prefer to be referred to today, increasingly more parasitologists
now realize that the subject of their speciality-parasitism-is
a
widely distributed phenomenon, a natural way of life among at least
half of the known species of animals, and need not always be associated
with diseases of man and domesticated animals. Furthermore, as is
now widely realized, if science is to enjoy a more complete picture of
symbiosis , including parasitism, it is insufficient that studies be confined
to the symbiont alone. Symbiosis has no meaning if the host organism
is artificially removed from the scene. The unique contribution a
symbiologist or parasitologist by his special training can make is to
uncover and explain the facts, mechanisms and eventually the principles
underlying the host-symbiont relationship.
Lest I be accused of belittling the practical scientist and technologist and claiming unwarranted glory for the generalist, I hasten to
state that applied and basic research do not differ, especially in this
era, in their tools or even in the ends that are sought in many instances,
but sometimes differences do exist in the basic philosophy of the
investigator. Good science, as has been reiterated many times, commences with the wise choice of a model from which observational and
experimental data can be extracted to support or reject a hypothesis.
In studying symbiosis, this rule is no exception. If the investigator
should find what he considers an ideal working model in some medically
or economically important host-parasite association, he should not be
prejudiced against the experimental animals. On the other hand,
experimental animals should not be rejected merely because they are
of no immediate practical importance.
It is from the viewpoint expressed in the previous two paragraphs
that I embarked on this review of our present knowledge concerning
symbionts and host-symbiont relationships involving marine molluscs.
Research concerned with this category of associations actually
comprises a hybrid as far as disciplinary boundaries are concerned, but
then so many aspects of modern biology are hybrids in this sense.
Investigation into this area involves competence in invertebrate
zoology, behavior biology, parasitology, coupled with an understanding
of marine biology, especially molluscan ecology and physiology, and
utilizes techniques hitherto considered to be the tools of the taxonomist.
morphologist, immunologist, physiologist and biochemist. Furthermore, this area of symbiology is somewhat unique since the ambient
environment is marine, and hence represents a portion of the discipline
concerned with the overall biotic activity in the sea.
MARINE MOLLUSCS AS HOSTS FOR SYMBIOSES
paralleling the role of the medical bacteriologist of the previous two
decades. Like many modern-day bacteriologists, or microbiologists as
they prefer to be referred to today, increasingly more parasitologists
now realize that the subject of their speciality-parasitism-is
a
widely distributed phenomenon, a natural way of life among at least
half of the known species of animals, and need not always be associated
with diseases of man and domesticated animals. Furthermore, as is
now widely realized, if science is to enjoy a more complete picture of
symbiosis , including parasitism, it is insufficient that studies be confined
to the symbiont alone. Symbiosis has no meaning if the host organism
is artificially removed from the scene. The unique contribution a
symbiologist or parasitologist by his special training can make is to
uncover and explain the facts, mechanisms and eventually the principles
underlying the host-symbiont relationship.
Lest I be accused of belittling the practical scientist and technologist and claiming unwarranted glory for the generalist, I hasten to
state that applied and basic research do not differ, especially in this
era, in their tools or even in the ends that are sought in many instances,
but sometimes differences do exist in the basic philosophy of the
investigator. Good science, as has been reiterated many times, commences with the wise choice of a model from which observational and
experimental data can be extracted to support or reject a hypothesis.
In studying symbiosis, this rule is no exception. If the investigator
should find what he considers an ideal working model in some medically
or economically important host-parasite association, he should not be
prejudiced against the experimental animals. On the other hand,
experimental animals should not be rejected merely because they are
of no immediate practical importance.
It is from the viewpoint expressed in the previous two paragraphs
that I embarked on this review of our present knowledge concerning
symbionts and host-symbiont relationships involving marine molluscs.
Research concerned with this category of associations actually
comprises a hybrid as far as disciplinary boundaries are concerned, but
then so many aspects of modern biology are hybrids in this sense.
Investigation into this area involves competence in invertebrate
zoology, behavior biology, parasitology, coupled with an understanding
of marine biology, especially molluscan ecology and physiology, and
utilizes techniques hitherto considered to be the tools of the taxonomist.
morphologist, immunologist, physiologist and biochemist. Furthermore, this area of symbiology is somewhat unique since the ambient
environment is marine, and hence represents a portion of the discipline
concerned with the overall biotic activity in the sea.