Environmental conditions affect activity and associated microorganisms of marine sponges

Abstract

Changes in environmental conditions can influence sponges and their holobionts. The present study investigated the effect of upwelling and anthropogenic pollution on the bioactivity of marine sponges, microbial communities and functional genes, and composition of their chemical compounds. The species Dysidea etheria, Darwinella sp., Hymeniacidon heliophila and Tedania ignis were collected from areas with distinct influence of upwelling and low anthropogenic impact and from areas without influence of upwelling but affected by sewage and the port. In most cases, the same sponge species collected from areas with distinct environmental conditions had a different chemical composition, antifouling activity, composition and diversity of associated microorganisms. Antimicrobial, quorum sensing inhibitory and anti-larval activities of sponge extracts were more pronounced in the area without upwelling showing higher level of anthropogenic pollution. This study suggests that upwelling and anthropogenic pollution affect the chemical activity and holobiome composition of sponges.

Keywords: Antifouling; Functional genes; Metagenome; Microbial community; Quorum sensing; Secondary metabolites; Sponge.