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Abstract
Shipworms (family Teredinidae) harbor specialized gill endosymbionts that enable wood digestion and nitrogen fixation. This study cultivated diverse symbiont strains from multiple shipworm species and revealed variation in cellulose degradation and nitrogen fixation capabilities. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with confocal microscopy demonstrated spatial segregation of symbionts within gill bacteriocytes based on metabolic traits and phylogeny. Digestive tissues contained few microbes in the caecum but a rich bacterial community in the intestines. These findings highlight the metabolic diversity and ecological roles of shipworm symbionts, underscoring their potential for bioactive compound discovery and biofuel applications.