Evaluating Methods of Preserving Aquatic Invertebrates for Microbiome Analysis

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Ecology
• Zoology

Background:

• Animal microbiome research has grown significantly.
• Microbial analyses of aquatic invertebrates are gaining interest.
• Standardized storage methods for aquatic invertebrates are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of ethanol preservation and freezing on invertebrate microbiomes.
• To determine optimal storage methods for aquatic invertebrate microbiome studies.

Main Methods:

• Crayfish and dragonfly nymphs were collected from natural and aquarium environments.
• Samples were stored using two methods: 95% ethanol and freezing (-20 °C).
• Bacterial microbiomes of gut and exoskeleton were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Bacterial communities in field-collected crayfish (gut and exoskeleton) were conserved with both storage methods.
• Aquarium crayfish gut microbiomes were conserved, but exoskeletons showed differences between storage methods.
• Dragonfly nymph gut microbiomes varied by species but were conserved across storage methods.

Conclusions:

• 95% ethanol is a suitable method for preserving aquatic invertebrate gut microbiomes from field samples.
• Ethanol preservation is less reliable for analyzing exoskeleton microbiomes.
• Standardization of storage methods is crucial for reliable microbiome research.