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. Taylor, Robert W. Thacker, Jose M. Montoya, Ute Hentschel and Nicole S. Webster
Additional contact information
Torsten Thomas: School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales
Lucas Moitinho-Silva: School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation and School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales
Miguel Lurgi: The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide
Johannes R. Björk: Ecological Networks and Global Change Group, Experimental and Theoretical Ecology Station, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Cole Easson: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Carmen Astudillo-García: School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland
Julie B. Olson: University of Alabama
Patrick M. Erwin: and Center for Marine Science. University of North Carolina Wilmington
Susanna López-Legentil: and Center for Marine Science. University of North Carolina Wilmington
Heidi Luter: NAMRA and the Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University
Andia Chaves-Fonnegra: Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Rodrigo Costa: Microbial Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Centre of Marine Sciences, Algarve University
Peter J. Schupp: Institute of Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, ICBM, University of Oldenburg
Laura Steindler: Leon Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa
Dirk Erpenbeck: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
Jack Gilbert: University of Chicago
Rob Knight: University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive
Gail Ackermann: University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive
Jose Victor Lopez: Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Michael W. Taylor: School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland
Robert W. Thacker: Stony Brook University
Jose M. Montoya: Ecological Networks and Global Change Group, Experimental and Theoretical Ecology Station, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Ute Hentschel: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Nicole S. Webster: Australian Institute of Marine Science

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11870

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