Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2022
Abstract
Plant-associated microbial communities can profoundly affect plant health and success, and research is still uncovering factors driving the assembly of these communities. Here, we examine how geography versus host species affects microbial community structure and differential abundances of individual taxa. We use metabarcoding to characterize the bacteria and eukaryotes associated with five, often co-occurring species of Sarracenia pitcher plants (Sarraceniaceae) and three natural hybrids along the longitudinal gradient of the U.S. Gulf Coast, as well as samples from S. purpurea in Massachusetts. To tease apart the effects of geography versus host species, we focus first on sites with co-occurring species and then on species located across different sites. Our analyses show that bacterial and eukaryotic community structures are clearly and consistently influenced by host species identity, with geographic factors also playing a role. Naturally occurring hybrids appear to also host unique communities, which are in some ways intermediate between their parent species. We see significant effects of geography (site and longitude), but these generally explain less of the variation among pitcher communities. Overall, in Sarracenia pitchers, host plant phenotype significantly affects the pitcher microbiomes and other associated organisms.
Copyright Statement
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article:
Heil, J.A., Wolock, C.J., Pierce, N.E., Pringle, A. & Bittleston, L.S. (2022). Sarracenia Pitcher Plant-Associated Microbial Communities Differ Primarily by Host Species Across a Longitudinal Gradient. Environmental Microbiology, 24(8), 3500-3516,
which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102323. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Publication Information
Heil, Jacob A.; Wolock, Charles J.; Pierce, Naomi E.; Pringle, Anne; and Bittleston, Leonora S.. (2022). "Sarracenia Pitcher Plant-Associated Microbial Communities Differ Primarily by Host Species Across a Longitudinal Gradient". Environmental Microbiology, 24(8), 3500-3516. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15993