Microbiome species diversity and seasonal stability of two temperate marine sponges Hymeniacidon perlevis and Suberites massa

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMarine sponges are diverse and functionally important members of marine benthic systems, well known to harbour complex and abundant symbiotic microorganisms as part of their species-specific microbiome. Changes in the sponge microbiome have previously been observed in relation to natural environmental changes, including nutrient availability, temperature and light. With global climate change altering seasonal temperatures, this study aims to better understand the potential effects of natural seasonal fluctuations on the composition and functions of the sponge microbiome.ResultsMetataxonomic sequencing of two marine sponge species native to the U.K. (Hymeniacidon perlevis and Suberites massa) was performed at two different seasonal temperatures from the same estuary. A host-specific microbiome was observed in each species between both seasons. Detected diversity withinS. massawas dominated by one family,Terasakiellaceae, with remaining dominant families also being detected in the associated seawater.H. perlevisdemonstrated sponge specific bacterial families including aforementionedTerasakiellaceaeas well asSphingomonadaceaeandLeptospiraceaewith further sponge enriched families present.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, these results describe for the first time the microbial diversity of the temperate marine sponge speciesH. perlevisandS. massausing next generation sequencing. This analysis detected the presence of core sponge taxa identified in each sponge species was not changed by seasonal temperature alterations, however, there were shifts observed in overall community composition due to fluctuations in less abundant taxa, demonstrating that microbiome stability across seasons is likely to be host species specific.