engleski

Changes in the microbiome along the invasion range of a successful freshwater invader

Invasive alien species (IAS) drive biodiversity loss and impair ecosystem services worldwide. Increasing evidence shows the important role of microbiome in biological invasions. Both microbes in the novel environment and microbes carried by IAS, especially those pathogenic, can affect host’s physiology, immune status, health and fitness. We have analyzed virome, bacteriome and mycobiome of one of the most successful freshwater invaders, the signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus. Using a metagenomic approach, we analyzed differences in microbiome of different tissues (exoskeleton, hemolymph, hepatopancreas, intestine) along invasion range of the signal crayfish. We compared the microbiome between individuals at the newly established populations (invasion fronts) of low crayfish density and long-established populations (invasion cores) of high crayfish density. Also, we studied differences in microbiome along different micro- environments, i.e., between individuals from upstream and downstream river segments. Surprisingly, we did not establish the presence of known crayfish pathogens in none of the analysed microbiome components (virome, bacteriome, mycobiome), but have recorded a high diversity of many previously unreported taxa for freshwater crayfish. We established differences in crayfish microbiomes both along invasion range and different river segments, indicating that both dispersal process and the environment shape microbiome structure and composition. Our findings offer an insight into microbiome changes during dispersal of a successful invader and present a baseline for assessment of their contribution to invader’s overall health and its further invasion success.

invasive species ; bacteriome ; virome ; mycobiome

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