Diversity, structure and convergent evolution of the global sponge microbiome

Torsten Thomas, Lucas Moitinho-Silva, Miguel Lurgi, Johannes R. Björk, Cole Easson, Carmen Astudillo-García, Julie B. Olson, Patrick M. Erwin, Susanna López-Legentil, Heidi Luter, Andia Chaves-Fonnegra, Rodrigo Costa, Peter J. Schupp, Laura Steindler, Dirk Erpenbeck, Jack Gilbert, Rob Knight, Gail Ackermann, Jose Victor Lopez, Michael W. TaylorRobert W. Thacker, Jose M. Montoya, Ute Hentschel, Nicole S. Webster

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sponges (phylum Porifera) are early-diverging metazoa renowned for establishing complex microbial symbioses. Here we present a global Porifera microbiome survey, set out to establish the ecological and evolutionary drivers of these host-microbe interactions. We show that sponges are a reservoir of exceptional microbial diversity and major contributors to the total microbial diversity of the world's oceans. Little commonality in species composition or structure is evident across the phylum, although symbiont communities are characterized by specialists and generalists rather than opportunists. Core sponge microbiomes are stable and characterized by generalist symbionts exhibiting amensal and/or commensal interactions. Symbionts that are phylogenetically unique to sponges do not disproportionally contribute to the core microbiome, and host phylogeny impacts complexity rather than composition of the symbiont community. Our findings support a model of independent assembly and evolution in symbiont communities across the entire host phylum, with convergent forces resulting in analogous community organization and interactions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number11870
JournalNature Communications
Volume7
DOIs
StatePublished - 16 Jun 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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