Abstract
The microbial diversity of Lobatus gigas has not been thoroughly studied despite of them is a specie endangered. Knowledge of microbiota may help to improve the conservation and cultivation of this species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bacterial populationsassociated with the gonad and the gut compartments of the wild endangered L. gigas from the Caribbean Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, using microbiological methods and culture-independent molecular tools. The genetic profiles of the bacterial populations were generated and Temporal Temperature Gradient Electrophoresis (TTGE) was used to compare them with total DNA. A genetic and statistical analysis of the bacterial communities revealed a low level of diversity in gonad tissue based on the number of bands detected using TTGE. In addition, statistical differences in bacterial community structure were found between the foregut and hindgut tissue of L. gigas. The dominant phylogenetic affiliations of the gonad bacteria, as determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, belong to Ralstonia (50%). The possible involvement of this genus in the reproduction and development of the conch is discussed. On the other hand, the bacterial phylotypes from foregut and hindgut included members of Alphaproteobactera (12.5%), Betaproteobacteria (12.5%), Gammaproteobacteria (12.5%), Bacilli (31.25%), Clostridia (6.25%), Actinobacteria (6.25%), Mollicutes (6.25%) and Deinococci (6.25%) classes. Knowing the composition of the gonad and foregut and hindgut bacteria of L. gigas is the first step toward exploring the proper management of this species, as well as provides useful information to future researches that allow a better understanding of the role of these bacterial populations in the health and reproductive rate of L. gigas.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.