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Complete metamorphosis and microbiota turnover in insects.

Christin Manthey¹, Paul R Johnston^2,3,4, Shinichi Nakagawa⁵

¹Institut für Biologie, Evolutionary Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Molecular Ecology

|August 30, 2022

Summary

Complete metamorphosis in insects allows for significant gut microbiota changes between larval and adult stages, unlike incomplete metamorphosis. This microbial turnover may drive ecological niche shifts and explain the evolutionary success of holometabolous insects.

Keywords:

beta diversity evolution of metamorphosis gut microbiota holometaboly

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Area of Science:

Entomology
Microbiology
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Insects represent the majority of animal diversity, with most undergoing complete metamorphosis (holometaboly).
Gut microbiota reorganization during pupation in holometabolous insects presents a unique challenge and opportunity.
Hemimetabolous insects undergo incomplete metamorphosis without a pupal stage, thus lacking this gut replacement process.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare gut microbiota dynamics between holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects.
To investigate the impact of metamorphosis on microbial diversity (alpha and beta diversity).
To explore the potential role of gut microbiota shifts in facilitating ecological niche adaptation.

Main Methods:

Studied 18 herbivorous insect species across five holometabolous and three hemimetabolous orders.
Compared gut microbiota composition between larval and adult specimens.
Analyzed alpha and beta diversity metrics of the gut microbial communities.

Main Results:

Holometabolous insects exhibited significantly higher gut microbiota beta diversity (turnover) compared to hemimetabolous insects.
No significant differences in alpha diversity were observed between holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects.
Microbiota turnover was evident between larval and adult stages in holometabolous insects.

Conclusions:

Pupation in holometabolous insects provides a window for substantial gut microbiota alteration.
This microbial shift may facilitate adaptation to new ecological niches.
The ability to change gut microbiota could be a key selective advantage for the evolution of complete metamorphosis.