Microbiomes and Specific Symbionts of Social Spiders: Compositional Patterns in Host Species, Populations, and Nests.

ABSTRACT: Social spiders have remarkably low species-wide genetic diversities, potentially increasing the relative importance of microbial symbionts for host fitness. Here we explore the bacterial microbiomes of three species of social Stegodyphus (S. dumicola, S. mimosarum, and S. sarasinorum), within and between populations, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The microbiomes of the three spider species were distinct but shared similarities in membership and structure. This included low overall diversity (Shannon index 0.5-1.7), strong dominance of single symbionts in individual spiders (McNaughton's dominance index 0.68-0.93), and a core microbiome (>50% prevalence) consisting of 5-7 specific symbionts. The most abundant and prevalent symbionts were classified as

SUBMITTER: Busck MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7412444 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature