Gut Microbiomes of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) Are Taxonomically and Phylogenetically Variable across Years but Remain Functionally Stable
Freshwater mussels perform essential ecosystem functions, yet we have no information on how their microbiomes fluctuate over time. In this study, we examined temporal variation in the microbiome of six mussel species (<i>Lampsilis ornata</i>, <i>Obovaria unicolor</i>, <i&g...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/411 |
| _version_ | 1797396358475284480 |
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| author | Mark McCauley Marlène Chiarello Carla L. Atkinson Colin R. Jackson |
| author_facet | Mark McCauley Marlène Chiarello Carla L. Atkinson Colin R. Jackson |
| author_sort | Mark McCauley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Freshwater mussels perform essential ecosystem functions, yet we have no information on how their microbiomes fluctuate over time. In this study, we examined temporal variation in the microbiome of six mussel species (<i>Lampsilis ornata</i>, <i>Obovaria unicolor</i>, <i>Elliptio arca</i>, <i>Fusconaia cerina</i>, <i>Cyclonaias asperata</i>, and <i>Tritogonia verrucosa</i>) sampled from the same river in 2016 and 2019. We examined the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and inferred functional (from 16S rRNA sequences) facets of their microbiome diversity. Significant differences between the two years were identified in five of the six species sampled. However, not all species that exhibited a temporally variable microbiome were functionally distinct across years, indicating functional redundancy within the mussel gut microbiome. Inferred biosynthesis pathways showed temporal variation in pathways involved in degradation, while pathways involved in cellular metabolism were stable. There was no evidence for phylosymbiosis across any facet of microbiome biodiversity. These results indicate that temporal variation is an important factor in the assembly of the gut microbiomes of freshwater mussels and provides further support that the mussel gut microbiome is involved in host development and activity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:50:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8a7ea120dd14e7ab31e0edcd1b34700 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:50:06Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8a7ea120dd14e7ab31e0edcd1b347002023-12-11T17:18:47ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-02-019241110.3390/microorganisms9020411Gut Microbiomes of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) Are Taxonomically and Phylogenetically Variable across Years but Remain Functionally StableMark McCauley0Marlène Chiarello1Carla L. Atkinson2Colin R. Jackson3Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USADepartment of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USADepartment of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USAFreshwater mussels perform essential ecosystem functions, yet we have no information on how their microbiomes fluctuate over time. In this study, we examined temporal variation in the microbiome of six mussel species (<i>Lampsilis ornata</i>, <i>Obovaria unicolor</i>, <i>Elliptio arca</i>, <i>Fusconaia cerina</i>, <i>Cyclonaias asperata</i>, and <i>Tritogonia verrucosa</i>) sampled from the same river in 2016 and 2019. We examined the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and inferred functional (from 16S rRNA sequences) facets of their microbiome diversity. Significant differences between the two years were identified in five of the six species sampled. However, not all species that exhibited a temporally variable microbiome were functionally distinct across years, indicating functional redundancy within the mussel gut microbiome. Inferred biosynthesis pathways showed temporal variation in pathways involved in degradation, while pathways involved in cellular metabolism were stable. There was no evidence for phylosymbiosis across any facet of microbiome biodiversity. These results indicate that temporal variation is an important factor in the assembly of the gut microbiomes of freshwater mussels and provides further support that the mussel gut microbiome is involved in host development and activity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/411bivalvehost–microbe interactionspredicted metagenome function16S rRNA |
| spellingShingle | Mark McCauley Marlène Chiarello Carla L. Atkinson Colin R. Jackson Gut Microbiomes of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) Are Taxonomically and Phylogenetically Variable across Years but Remain Functionally Stable Microorganisms bivalve host–microbe interactions predicted metagenome function 16S rRNA |
| title | Gut Microbiomes of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) Are Taxonomically and Phylogenetically Variable across Years but Remain Functionally Stable |
| title_full | Gut Microbiomes of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) Are Taxonomically and Phylogenetically Variable across Years but Remain Functionally Stable |
| title_fullStr | Gut Microbiomes of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) Are Taxonomically and Phylogenetically Variable across Years but Remain Functionally Stable |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gut Microbiomes of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) Are Taxonomically and Phylogenetically Variable across Years but Remain Functionally Stable |
| title_short | Gut Microbiomes of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) Are Taxonomically and Phylogenetically Variable across Years but Remain Functionally Stable |
| title_sort | gut microbiomes of freshwater mussels unionidae are taxonomically and phylogenetically variable across years but remain functionally stable |
| topic | bivalve host–microbe interactions predicted metagenome function 16S rRNA |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/411 |
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