Emergent community architecture despite distinct diversity in the global whale shark (Rhincodon typus) epidermal microbiome.

ABSTRACT: Microbiomes confer beneficial physiological traits to their host, but microbial diversity is inherently variable, challenging the relationship between microbes and their contribution to host health. Here, we compare the diversity and architectural complexity of the epidermal microbiome from 74 individual whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) across five aggregations globally to determine if network properties may be more indicative of the microbiome-host relationship. On the premise that microbes are expected to exhibit biogeographic patterns globally and that distantly related microbial groups can perform similar functions, we hypothesized that microbiome co-occurrence patterns would occur independently of diversity trends and that keystone microbes would vary across locations. We found that wha

SUBMITTER: Doane MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10406844 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature