Biology subjects

Turon, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Turon, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Exploring taxonomic diversity in the genus Suberites Nardo, 1833: Insights from microbial, phylogenetic, and morphological analyses

Marine sponges (phylum Porifera) are a highly diverse and polymorphic group of marine invertebrates whose taxonomic delimitation is often challenging due to high intraspecific variability and the scarcity of diagnostic morphological characters. Their close association with microbial symbionts also makes them an important source of secondary metabolites, some of which may contribute to sponge colouration. Here, we use morphological characters, molecular phylogenetic markers, and 16S metabarcoding of the symbiont community to understand speciation in a common Mediterranean sponge lineage. We collected 43 specimens of the genus Suberites from the Mediterranean Sea and the North and South Atlantic Oceans, between 55-150 m depths, and sequenced two barcoding genes, cytochrome c oxidase I and 28S rDNA, as well as studied their spicular complements. We identified five closely-related species: S. domuncula, S. ficus/pagurorum, S. dandelenae, S. ambulodomus, and a new species of Suberites from the Balearic Islands, Suberites sp. nov. The latter represents a potential new pseudo-cryptic species closely related to S. domuncula, because of their strong morphological and molecular affinities. The potential new Mediterranean species exhibits six colour morphotypes (yellow, gray, orange, brown, red, and blue), and the microbiome analyses of the symbiotic communities revealed significant differences in bacterial community composition among colour morphotypes, specially of bacteria that produce different pigments which potentially give the sponge is colouration. These results provide valuable insights into species boundaries and evolutionary relationships within the genus Suberites and support a role for the microbiome in sponge colouration.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2026

Ocean depth modifies host-microbiome ecology and evolution

A major unsolved question in ecology and evolution is how similar free-living and symbiotic microbial communities are. In marine systems, depth homogenises free-living communities due to stronger dispersal and weaker environmental filtering compared to surface waters. We show that symbiotic communities of marine sponges follow a different pattern, with a subset of sponge species mirroring the increased similarity with depth seen in their free-living counterparts, while others remain highly host-specific both in shallow and deep waters. Moreover, in deep waters, more phylogenetically similar hosts harbor more similar microbiomes, yet host-symbiont cophylogeny nearly vanishes. This reveals two contrasting eco-evolutionary assembly rules: in more constant environments like the deep sea, community assembly is driven by host and environmental filtering with minimal signature of coevolution, whereas in variable environments, like shallow waters, host-symbiont coevolution is strong and key to maintain host-specific microbiomes.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

The archaeal class Nitrososphaeria is a key player of the reproductive microbiome in sponges during gametogenesis

Sponge-associated microbes play fundamental roles in regulating their hosts physiology, yet their contribution to sexual reproduction has been largely overlooked. Most studies have concentrated on the proportion of the microbiome transmitted from parents to offspring, providing little evidence of the putative microbial functions during gametogenesis in sponges. Here, we use 16S rRNA gene analysis to assess whether the microbial composition of five gonochoristic sponge species differs between reproductive and non-reproductive individuals and correlate these changes with their gametogenic stages. In sponges with mature oocytes, reproductive status did not influence either beta or alpha microbial diversity. Interestingly, in two of the studied species, Geodia macandrewii and Petrosia ficiformis, which presented oocytes at the previtellogenic stage, significant microbial composition changes were detected between reproductive and non-reproductive individuals. These disparities were primarily driven by differentially abundant taxa affiliated with the Nitrososphaeria archaeal class in both species. We speculate that the previtellogenic stages are more energetically demanding, leading to microbial changes due to the phagocytosis of microbes to meet nutritional demands during this period. Supporting our hypothesis, we observed significant transcriptomic differences in G. macandrewii, mainly associated with the immune system, indicating potential changes in the sponges recognition system. Overall, we provide the first insights into the possible roles of sponge microbiomes during reproductive periods, potentially uncovering critical interactions that support reproductive success.

microbiology↗