Meeting Abstract
Phylosymbiosis describes the eco-evolutionary pattern whereby the similarities of host-associated microbial communities parallel the phylogeny of related host species. A number of studies have failed to uncover this pattern in animal groups in nature. However, we show that under highly controlled conditions, phylosymbiosis is a prevalent phenomenon to varying degrees across animal groups (Peromyscus mice, Drosophila flies, mosquitoes, Nasonia wasps). Specifically, intraspecific microbiota variation is consistently less than interspecific microbiota variation, and topological analyses of each group’s complete phylogeny and microbiota dendrogram reveal significant congruence. One could hypothesize that host-specific microbial communities should confer functional benefits to their hosts, while mismatching between hosts and microbes would result in decreased performance. We demonstrate this principle by conducting experimental transplants of autochthonous (intraspecific) versus allochthonous (interspecific) microbiota among closely related wasp species and more divergent mice species. Transplants across wasp species yielded reductions in host survival, and transplants across mouse species resulted in decreased digestive performance. Overall these findings indicate that the composition and functional effects of an animal’s microbial community can be closely allied with host evolution, even across wide-ranging timescales and diverse animal systems reared under controlled conditions. We will discuss the potential mechanisms driving observed patterns of phylosymbiosis and avenues for future research.
