Over a decade has passed since Rudwick (1965b, 1970) and Ager (1967) reviewed the ecology of brachiopods, a hiatus partially filled by Brunton (1975) and Steele-Petrovic (1979). With the widespread use of SCUBA, we are finally beginning to learn about these dominantly subtidal (both Recent and fossil) organisms in their proper environment. A renaissance of ecologic interest in the phylum has produced much, and promises more. Already many text-book dogmas have been refuted and others questioned.