Vertical transmission of microbial symbionts is interpreted as all offspring within a clutch being provided a similar number of symbionts irrespective of reproductive output (fecundity). This interpretation, however, stems primarily from oviparous insects and, thus, has yet to consider other major reproductive strategies. We used the viviparous sponge Halichondria panicea and its obligate symbiont Candidatus Halichondribacter symbioticus to test the hypothesis that offspring receive quantitatively similar numbers of its obligate symbiont. This quantitative strategy of vertical transmission was not observed. Instead, we find that H. panicea has a maternal pool of Ca. H. symbioticus that is partitioned proportionally to reproductive output and allometrically by offspring size. Moreover, Ca. H. symbioticus could not be experimentally reduced in larvae by antibiotics, while the total bacterial community could be depleted. The ability to undergo metamorphosis was unaffected by this perturbation. Together, this demonstrates that the obligate symbiont Ca. H. symbioticus is maternally provisioned and, thus, provides an additional strategy for how microbes can be vertically transmitted.
The transmission of microbes from mother to offspring is an ancient, advantageous, and widespread feature of metazoan life history. Despite this, little is known about the quantitative strategies taken to maintain symbioses across generations. The quantity of maternal microbes that is provided to each offspring through vertical transmission could theoretically be stochastic (no trend), consistent (an optimal range is allocated), or provisioned (a trade‐off with fecundity). Examples currently come from animals that release free‐living eggs (oviparous) and suggest that offspring are provided a consistent quantity of symbionts. The quantity of maternal microbes that is vertically transmitted in other major reproductive strategies has yet to be assessed. We used the brooding (viviparous) sponge Halichondria panicea to test whether offspring receive quantitatively similar numbers of maternal microbes. We observed that H . panicea has a maternal pool of the obligate symbiont Candidatus Halichondribacter symbioticus and that this maternal pool is provisioned proportionally to reproductive output and allometrically by offspring size. This pattern was not observed for the total bacterial community. Experimental perturbation by antibiotics could not reduce the abundance of Ca. H. symbioticus in larvae, while the total bacterial community could be reduced without affecting the ability of larvae to undergo metamorphosis. A trade‐off between offspring size and number is, by definition, maternal provisioning and parallel differences in Ca. H. symbioticus abundance would suggest that this obligate symbiont is also provisioned.
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