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Nutrient-imbalanced conditions shift the interplay between zooplankton and gut microbiota
Yingdong Li1, Zhimeng Xu1,2,3, Hongbin Liu4,5
1Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
BMC Genomics
|January 8, 2021
Summary
Zooplankton gut microbes help their hosts survive nutrient-limited diets by absorbing excess nutrients and aiding metabolism. This interaction benefits both the zooplankton and the microbial community.
Area of Science:
- Aquatic Ecology
- Microbial Ecology
- Zooplankton Nutrition
Background:
- Phytoplankton nutrient stoichiometry is influenced by anthropogenic activities and ecosystem dynamics, affecting zooplankton metabolism.
- The impact of nutrient-imbalanced diets on zooplankton gut microbiota interactions is not well understood.
- Investigating Daphnia magna's gut microbial responses to nutrient-limited algal diets is crucial for understanding aquatic food webs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interactions between Daphnia magna and its gut microbiota under nutrient-imbalanced algal diets.
- To elucidate the role of gut microbes in zooplankton nutrition and survival during periods of nutrient limitation.
- To understand how nutrient availability affects microbial community structure and function within the zooplankton gut.
Main Methods:
- Metatranscriptomic analysis to assess microbial gene expression.
- 16S rRNA amplicon-based neutral community model (NCM) to analyze microbial community composition.
- Experimental validation using Daphnia magna fed nutrient-imbalanced diets.
Main Results:
- Nutrient-depleted conditions stimulated microbial polyphosphate accumulation (phosphorus limitation) and ammonia assimilation (nitrogen limitation) in the zooplankton gut.
- Nitrogen and phosphorus limitation promoted microbial organic matter degradation genes while repressing anaerobic metabolism genes.
- Gut microbial communities showed a higher fit to the Neutral Community Model under nutrient limitation, indicating increased ambient-gut exchange due to compensatory feeding.
- Daphnia magna growth was supported by its gut microbiota even on a nutrient-imbalanced diet.
Conclusions:
- Zooplankton gut microbes adapt to nutrient-imbalanced diets by absorbing excess nutrients, benefiting themselves.
- Gut microbiota plays a vital role in supporting zooplankton survival and growth during nutrient limitation.
- The findings highlight a mutualistic relationship between zooplankton and their gut microbes under varying nutrient conditions.
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