Microbiome acquisition during larval settlement of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides.

ABSTRACT: Barnacles are conspicuous members of rocky intertidal communities and settlement of the final larval stage, the cyprid, is influenced by the presence of biofilms. While modulation of cyprid settlement by biofilms has been studied extensively, the acquisition of a specific microbiome by the settling larva has not. This study investigated settlement in the field of Semibalanus balanoides in two consecutive years when the composition of the benthic bacterial community differed. In both years, settling cyprids adopted a specific sub-set of benthic bacteria that was distinct from the planktonic cyprid and the benthos. This microbiome was consistent, regardless of annual variability in the benthic community structure, and established within hours of settlement. The results imply that a natural p

SUBMITTER: Aldred N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6597511 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature