Food availability affects the strength of mutualistic host-microbiota interactions in Daphnia magna.

ABSTRACT: The symbiotic gut microbial community is generally known to have a strong impact on the fitness of its host. Nevertheless, it is less clear how the impact of symbiotic interactions on the hosts' fitness varies according to environmental circumstances such as changes in the diet. This study aims to get a better understanding of host-microbiota interactions under different levels of food availability. We conducted experiments with the invertebrate, experimental model organism Daphnia magna and compared growth, survival and reproduction of conventionalized symbiotic Daphnia with germ-free individuals given varying quantities of food. Our experiments revealed that the relative importance of the microbiota for the hosts' fitness varied according to dietary conditions. The presence of the microb

SUBMITTER: Callens M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4796930 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature