Stochastic variation in gut bacterial community affects reproductive rates in the water flea Daphnia magna.

ABSTRACT: It is well-documented that perturbation of the gut bacterial community can influence the reproductive rates of the host. Less is known about how natural ecological processes can change the bacterial composition in the gut and how such changes influence the reproductive rate of the host. Here, we provide novel experimental insights into such processes using the clonally reproducing water flea, Daphnia magna. A total of 20 replicate cultures were reared for 5 weeks (Phase 1) to allow for divergence of bacterial communities through stochastic processes (i.e. drift, founder effects, and/or colonization). Duplicate cultures created from each of these were reared for 21 days (Phase 2) while recording reproductive rates. There was a significant repeatability in reproductive rates between these du

SUBMITTER: Obrestad K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9550005 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature