Host-specific symbioses and the microbial prey of a pelagic tunicate (Pyrosoma atlanticum).

ABSTRACT: Pyrosomes are widely distributed pelagic tunicates that have the potential to reshape marine food webs when they bloom. However, their grazing preferences and interactions with the background microbial community are poorly understood. This is the first study of the marine microorganisms associated with pyrosomes undertaken to improve the understanding of pyrosome biology, the impact of pyrosome blooms on marine microbial systems, and microbial symbioses with marine animals. The diversity, relative abundance, and taxonomy of pyrosome-associated microorganisms were compared to seawater during a Pyrosoma atlanticum bloom in the Northern California Current System using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, microscopy, and flow cytometry. We found that pyrosomes harbor a microbiome d

SUBMITTER: Thompson AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9723572 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature