Specific host-algae relationship, yet flexible bacterial microbiome, in diatom-bearing foraminifera

Science Advances, vol. 11, pp. eadx4098

Abstract

Whether the adaptive strategies of marine mixotrophs, organisms that combine heterotrophic and autotrophic nutrition, in response to global change are rooted in their symbiotic relationships is debated, especially for larger benthic foraminifera. Despite their importance in the ecosystem, there are controversial findings regarding the specificity of their algal endobionts, preventing a deeper understanding of their adaptive strategies. Using single-cell metabarcoding on 243 diatom-bearing foraminifera specimens from Indonesia, we found one highly dominant diatom strain in each foraminiferal host species bearing at least 90% of the reads in a majority of host species, whereas the bacterial community was very flexible, with only 25% of the variation explained by water depth, substrate type, location, and host species. Our results suggest that the adaptive strategy of the foraminiferal holobiont rather lies within its bacterial endobiome. Its dynamism likely facilitates the adaptive potential of foraminifera, supporting their proliferation across different environmental settings.

Authors 7

1. Elsa B. Girard corresponding Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center · University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   IBED, University of Amsterdam, Sciencepark 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands

2. Laura del Rio-Hortega Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center · Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

   Affiliation as printed

   Marine Holobiomics Lab, Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32 IFZ, 35392 Giessen, Germany

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands

3. Andi M. A. Pratama

   Hasanuddin University

   Affiliation as printed

   Marine Science Department, Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 10 Tamalenrea, Makassar 90245, Indonesia

4. Sophie Volkenandt Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands

5. Jan‐Niklas Macher Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Leiden University · Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300RA Leiden, Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands

6. Susanne Wilken

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   IBED, University of Amsterdam, Sciencepark 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, Netherlands

7. Willem Renema Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center · University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   IBED, University of Amsterdam, Sciencepark 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, Netherlands

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands