Microbiota Associated With Ototyphlonemertes Species (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea, Monostilifera, Ototyphlonemertidae) Reveal Evidence of Phylosymbiosis

ABSTRACT Phylosymbiosis, the association between the phylogenetic relatedness of hosts and the composition of their microbial communities, is a widespread phenomenon in diverse animal taxa. However, the generality of the existence of such a pattern has been questioned in many animals across the tree...

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Main Authors: Francesca Leasi, Ester M. Eckert, Jon L. Norenburg, W. Kelley Thomas, Joseph L. Sevigny, Jeffrey A. Hall, Herman H. Wirshing, Diego Fontaneto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70471
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author Francesca Leasi
Ester M. Eckert
Jon L. Norenburg
W. Kelley Thomas
Joseph L. Sevigny
Jeffrey A. Hall
Herman H. Wirshing
Diego Fontaneto
author_facet Francesca Leasi
Ester M. Eckert
Jon L. Norenburg
W. Kelley Thomas
Joseph L. Sevigny
Jeffrey A. Hall
Herman H. Wirshing
Diego Fontaneto
author_sort Francesca Leasi
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Phylosymbiosis, the association between the phylogenetic relatedness of hosts and the composition of their microbial communities, is a widespread phenomenon in diverse animal taxa. However, the generality of the existence of such a pattern has been questioned in many animals across the tree of life, including small‐sized aquatic invertebrates. This study aims to investigate the microbial communities associated with poorly known marine interstitial nemerteans to uncover their microbiota diversity and assess the occurrence of phylosymbiosis. Specimens from various Central American sites were analyzed using morphology‐based taxonomy and molecular techniques targeting the host 18S rRNA gene whereas their microbial association was analyzed by targeting the prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic and statistical analyses were conducted to examine the potential effects of host nemertean taxa and sampling locations on the host‐associated microbial communities. The results provide compelling evidence of phylosymbiosis in meiofaunal nemertean species, highlighting the significant impact of host genetic relatedness on microbiome diversity in small‐sized animals. This finding supports previous studies that demonstrate how certain nemertean species harbor distinct microbial communities with functional and ecological implications. Given the remarkable diversity of meiofaunal animals—spanning numerous phyla with varying lifestyles and co‐existing in the same habitat—combined with advancements in multi‐omics approaches, there is a promising opportunity to deepen our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological interactions between hosts and their microbiota throughout the animal tree of life.
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spelling doaj-art-6bcbc387052f4adcbdf7b45ec8902b062025-08-20T02:00:47ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-12-011412n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70471Microbiota Associated With Ototyphlonemertes Species (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea, Monostilifera, Ototyphlonemertidae) Reveal Evidence of PhylosymbiosisFrancesca Leasi0Ester M. Eckert1Jon L. Norenburg2W. Kelley Thomas3Joseph L. Sevigny4Jeffrey A. Hall5Herman H. Wirshing6Diego Fontaneto7Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga Tennessee USANational Research Council of Italy (CNR), water Research Institute (IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG) Verbania Pallanza ItalyNational Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC USAHubbard Center for Genome Studies University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USAHubbard Center for Genome Studies University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USAHubbard Center for Genome Studies University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USANational Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC USANational Research Council of Italy (CNR), water Research Institute (IRSA) Molecular Ecology Group (MEG) Verbania Pallanza ItalyABSTRACT Phylosymbiosis, the association between the phylogenetic relatedness of hosts and the composition of their microbial communities, is a widespread phenomenon in diverse animal taxa. However, the generality of the existence of such a pattern has been questioned in many animals across the tree of life, including small‐sized aquatic invertebrates. This study aims to investigate the microbial communities associated with poorly known marine interstitial nemerteans to uncover their microbiota diversity and assess the occurrence of phylosymbiosis. Specimens from various Central American sites were analyzed using morphology‐based taxonomy and molecular techniques targeting the host 18S rRNA gene whereas their microbial association was analyzed by targeting the prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic and statistical analyses were conducted to examine the potential effects of host nemertean taxa and sampling locations on the host‐associated microbial communities. The results provide compelling evidence of phylosymbiosis in meiofaunal nemertean species, highlighting the significant impact of host genetic relatedness on microbiome diversity in small‐sized animals. This finding supports previous studies that demonstrate how certain nemertean species harbor distinct microbial communities with functional and ecological implications. Given the remarkable diversity of meiofaunal animals—spanning numerous phyla with varying lifestyles and co‐existing in the same habitat—combined with advancements in multi‐omics approaches, there is a promising opportunity to deepen our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological interactions between hosts and their microbiota throughout the animal tree of life.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70471meiofaunamicrobiomemicrobiotaNemerteaphylosymbiosis
spellingShingle Francesca Leasi
Ester M. Eckert
Jon L. Norenburg
W. Kelley Thomas
Joseph L. Sevigny
Jeffrey A. Hall
Herman H. Wirshing
Diego Fontaneto
Microbiota Associated With Ototyphlonemertes Species (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea, Monostilifera, Ototyphlonemertidae) Reveal Evidence of Phylosymbiosis
Ecology and Evolution
meiofauna
microbiome
microbiota
Nemertea
phylosymbiosis
title Microbiota Associated With Ototyphlonemertes Species (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea, Monostilifera, Ototyphlonemertidae) Reveal Evidence of Phylosymbiosis
title_full Microbiota Associated With Ototyphlonemertes Species (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea, Monostilifera, Ototyphlonemertidae) Reveal Evidence of Phylosymbiosis
title_fullStr Microbiota Associated With Ototyphlonemertes Species (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea, Monostilifera, Ototyphlonemertidae) Reveal Evidence of Phylosymbiosis
title_full_unstemmed Microbiota Associated With Ototyphlonemertes Species (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea, Monostilifera, Ototyphlonemertidae) Reveal Evidence of Phylosymbiosis
title_short Microbiota Associated With Ototyphlonemertes Species (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea, Monostilifera, Ototyphlonemertidae) Reveal Evidence of Phylosymbiosis
title_sort microbiota associated with ototyphlonemertes species nemertea hoplonemertea monostilifera ototyphlonemertidae reveal evidence of phylosymbiosis
topic meiofauna
microbiome
microbiota
Nemertea
phylosymbiosis
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70471
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