Gut Bacteriomes and Ecological Niche Divergence: An Example of Two Cryptic Gastropod Species.

ABSTRACT: Symbiotic microorganisms may provide their hosts with abilities critical to their occupation of microhabitats. Gut (intestinal) bacterial communities aid animals to digest substrates that are either innutritious or toxic, as well as support their development and physiology. The role of microbial communities associated with sibling species in the hosts' adaptation remains largely unexplored. In this study, we examined the composition and plasticity of the bacteriomes in two sibling intertidal gastropod species, Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata, which are sympatric but differ in microhabitats. We applied 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and shotgun sequencing to describe associated microbial communities and their spatial and temporal variation. A significant drop in the intestinal

SUBMITTER: Gafarova E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10740740 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature