Cultivation of Sponge-Associated Bacteria from Agelas sventres and Xestospongia muta Collected from Different Depths

Abstract

Sponge-associated bacteria have been mostly cultured from shallow water (≤30 m) sponges, whereas only few studies targeted specimens from below 30 m. This study assessed the cultivability of bacteria from two marine sponges Xestospongia muta and Agelas sventres collected from shallow (<30 m), upper mesophotic (30–60 m), and lower mesophotic (60–90 m) reefs. Sponge-associated bacteria were cultivated on six different media, and replicate plates were used to pick individual colonies or to recover the entire biomass. Prokaryotic community analysis was conducted using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons. A total of 144 bacterial isolates were picked following a colony morphology coding scheme and subsequently identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Sponge individuals at each depth-range harboured specific cultivable bacteria that were not retrieved from specimens collected at other depths. However, there were substantial differences in the number of colonies obtained for replicate sponges of the same species. In addition, source of inoculum and cultivation medium had more impact on the cultured prokaryotic community than sample collection depth. This suggests that the “plate count anomaly” is larger than differences in sponge-associated prokaryotic community composition related to depth.

On giant shoulders: how a seamount affects the microbial community composition of seawater and sponges

“…In addition, a previous study on the sponge Xestospongia muta demonstrated that changing NO x concentrations over depth contribute to shaping the microbial community composition (Morrow et al, 2016). Furthermore, several studies have noted that depth is an important factor in structuring sponge-associated microbiomes (Indraningrat et al, 2019;Lesser et al, 2020;Steinert et al, 2016). This is, to our knowledge, the first study that explores the impact of seawater biogeochemistry on deep-sea sponge microbiomes.…”

“…Research records about seamount microbiology are sparse and comparably few studies have been conducted on deepsea sponge microbiomes in general (Borchert et al, 2017;Jackson et al, 2013;Kennedy et al, 2014;Reveillaud et al, 2014). Our main aim was to assess whether and via which potential mechanisms a seamount can affect the community structure of pelagic and benthos (sponge)-associated microbial communities, using the Schulz Bank seamount as an exemplary field site.…”

“…The dichotomy between HMA and LMA sponges is considered a main driver of the microbial community structure associated with shallow-water sponges (Moitinho-Silva et al, 2017). In comparison to shallow waters, few studies have been conducted on the microbiology of deep-sea sponges (Borchert et al, 2017;Jackson et al, 2013;Kennedy et al, 2014;Reveillaud et al, 2014;Steinert et al, 2020;Tian et al, 2016). However, for example for deep-sea sponges of the genus Geodia (G. barretti, G. macandrewii, G. phlegraei, G. atlantica), similar microbial phyla have been observed as in HMA shallow-water sponges, such as Acidobacteria, Poribacteria, and Chloroflexi (Luter et al, 2017;Radax et al, 2012;Schöttner et al, 2013).…”

On giant shoulders: How a seamount affects the microbial community composition of seawater and sponges

“…In addition, a previous study on the sponge Xestospongia muta demonstrated that changing NOx concentrations over depth contribute to shaping the microbial community composition (Morrow et al, 2016). Furthermore, several studies have noted that depth is an important factor in structuring sponge-associated microbiomes (Indraningrat et al, 2019;Lesser et al, 2019;Steinert et al, 2016).…”

Relationship between bacterial phylotype and specialized metabolite production in the culturable microbiome of two freshwater sponges

“…Marine sponges [1,2] contribute significantly to known chemical space [3], accounting for nearly 30% of all specialized metabolites (SMs) reported from the marine environment [1,4]. It is also increasingly apparent that microorganisms play an important role in shaping the chemical space of the sponge holobiont [5,6].…”