Response of the Sponge Microbiome to Nutrient Additions
Faculty Sponsor(s)
Jeremy Weisz
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Subject Area
Biology
Description
Marine sponges are known to host large and diverse microbial communities, with the composition of these communities remaining fairly stable across large spatial and temporal scales. Sponges inhabiting the coast of Oregon, USA host bacteria capable of numerous nitrogen transformations, so it is hypothesized that the bacterial community would change as ambient nutrient conditions change. To test this hypothesis, we placed nutrient addition devices (NAD) at Netarts Bay, Oregon for six weeks to increase the nutrient load. We assessed bacterial abundance and diversity within individuals of Haliclona sp. A, the dominant sponge at the site, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and microbiome analysis using illumina sequencing. We also collected ambient and exhalent water samples to assess the nutrient fluxes through the sponge. SEM results suggest that treated individuals had significant declines in their bacterial loads. DGGE and microbiome analysis confirm these decreases in bacterial load and show decreases in bacterial diversity. In addition, we found significant changes in nitrate and total nitrogen fluxes between control and NAD treated sponges, suggesting that bacterially-mediated nitrogen cycling was significantly modified by the nutrient addition. Thus, increased nutrient loads appear to detrimentally affect sponges and their associated microbial communities.
Recommended Citation
Denhart, Mariah H., "Response of the Sponge Microbiome to Nutrient Additions" (2015). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 6.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2015/all/6
Response of the Sponge Microbiome to Nutrient Additions
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Marine sponges are known to host large and diverse microbial communities, with the composition of these communities remaining fairly stable across large spatial and temporal scales. Sponges inhabiting the coast of Oregon, USA host bacteria capable of numerous nitrogen transformations, so it is hypothesized that the bacterial community would change as ambient nutrient conditions change. To test this hypothesis, we placed nutrient addition devices (NAD) at Netarts Bay, Oregon for six weeks to increase the nutrient load. We assessed bacterial abundance and diversity within individuals of Haliclona sp. A, the dominant sponge at the site, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and microbiome analysis using illumina sequencing. We also collected ambient and exhalent water samples to assess the nutrient fluxes through the sponge. SEM results suggest that treated individuals had significant declines in their bacterial loads. DGGE and microbiome analysis confirm these decreases in bacterial load and show decreases in bacterial diversity. In addition, we found significant changes in nitrate and total nitrogen fluxes between control and NAD treated sponges, suggesting that bacterially-mediated nitrogen cycling was significantly modified by the nutrient addition. Thus, increased nutrient loads appear to detrimentally affect sponges and their associated microbial communities.
