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Same, same but different: symbiotic bacterial associations in GBR sponges
N S Webster1, H M Luter, R M Soo
1Australian Institute of Marine Science Townsville, QLD, Australia.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|January 25, 2013
Summary
Marine sponge microbial communities are highly host-specific, with bacteria largely conserved within each species. This research identifies core microbial inhabitants in Great Barrier Reef sponges for future ecological studies.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Microbiology
- Ecology
Background:
- Marine sponges host diverse microbial communities crucial for their health and ecological roles.
- Understanding these symbiotic relationships is key to comprehending sponge holobiont functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the intra- and inter-species variation in bacterial symbiont composition within Great Barrier Reef (GBR) sponge species.
- To identify core microbial inhabitants and assess host specificity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Analyzed microbial communities from 13 taxonomically diverse GBR sponge species.
Main Results:
- Microbial communities showed high intra-species similarity (65-100%) and were dominated by Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Nitrospira, and Cyanobacteria.
- Bacterial symbionts were highly host-specific, with 91% of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) restricted to a single sponge species.
- Sponge-associated microbes were more closely related to other sponge-derived bacteria than to environmental communities.
Conclusions:
- Identified core microbial inhabitants across various GBR sponge species.
- Established a foundation for future research on sponge symbiotic functions and holobiont responses to environmental changes.
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