Analysis of bacterial communities of two Lake Baikal endemic sponge species

Research reveals distinct yet overlapping bacterial communities in two endemic Lake Baikal sponges, Lubomirskia baicalensis and Baikalospongia sp., highlighting unique microbial associations compared to the lake's bacterioplankton. Using 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments, scientists identified 426 and 428 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in each sponge species, respectively, with Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria dominating their microbial associations. The study underscores the specialized bacterial partnerships in these sponges, offering insights into their ecological adaptations within this UNESCO-listed freshwater ecosystem.

Gladkikh, A. S., Kalyuzhnaya, Ok. V., Belykh, O. I., Ahn, T. S., & Parfenova, V. V. (2014). Analysis of bacterial communities of two Lake Baikal endemic sponge species. Microbiology, 83(6), 787–797. https://doi.org/10.1134/s002626171406006x