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Updated: Mar 19, 2026

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Published on: October 4, 2024
Diversity, structure and convergent evolution of the global sponge microbiome
Torsten Thomas1, Lucas Moitinho-Silva1, Miguel Lurgi2
1School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
Sponges host diverse ocean microbes, acting as major reservoirs of microbial life. Their microbial communities assemble independently, showing stable core microbiomes with generalist symbionts.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Microbial ecology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Sponges (phylum Porifera) are ancient animals known for intricate microbial symbioses.
- Understanding the ecological and evolutionary factors shaping these host-microbe interactions is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a global survey of the Porifera microbiome.
- To identify the ecological and evolutionary drivers of sponge-microbe interactions.
Main Methods:
- Global microbiome survey of sponges (phylum Porifera).
- Analysis of microbial species composition and community structure.
- Investigation of host phylogeny's impact on symbiont communities.
Main Results:
- Sponges harbor exceptional microbial diversity, significantly contributing to oceanic microbial diversity.
- Little commonality in microbial species composition across the phylum; communities dominated by specialists and generalists.
- Core sponge microbiomes are stable, featuring generalist symbionts with amensal/commensal interactions.
- Host phylogeny influences symbiont community complexity, not composition.
- Symbionts unique to sponges do not disproportionately form the core microbiome.
Conclusions:
- Findings support a model of independent assembly and evolution of symbiont communities across the phylum Porifera.
- Convergent evolutionary forces lead to similar community organization and interactions in sponge microbiomes.
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