Table 1.

Nutritional benefits in mutualistic marine symbioses

Partner	Nutrient accessibility	Nutritional functions
Symbionts	Acquisition of inorganic nutrients (carbon, nitrogen) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) Access to carbon‐ and nitrogen‐rich host waste products Acquisition of diazotrophic‐derived nitrogen Acquisition or synthesis of essential metals and vitamins	Provision of entire symbiotic association by photosynthetically or chemosynthetically fixed carbon Transformation of inorganic nitrogen and/or N2 into organic nitrogenous compounds Provision of vitamins and metals to the entire association
Host	Acquisition of particulate and/or organic nutrients by capture of prey	Digestion and provision to the entire symbiotic association of essential carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus compounds