[Caribbean sponges - nanoSIMS] - NanoSIMS data from sponges collected in Summerland Key in Florida between July 27 - August 19, 2021 (Collaborative Research: Investigations into microbially mediated ecological diversification in sponges)

For example, variation in the abundance, diversity, and community composition of microbiomes across host species may drive niche partitioning due to differential assimilation and recycling of nutrients across sponge species. With Nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we evaluated the respective roles of host and microbial symbiont cells in the uptake and recycling of three resource pools (dissolved organic matter: DOM, particulate organic matter: POM, and inorganic nutrients: NaHCO3 and NaNO3) over 72 hr.

NanoSIMS analysis revealed enrichment of individual host and symbiont cells over time and highlighted the differing roles of host and symbiont cells in the uptake and recycling of diverse sources of carbon and nitrogen within two of these species. For instance, dissolved organic matter uptake was mediated by microbial symbionts in one species and by host cells in another species. Together , these results demonstrate that associations with microbial symbionts have facilitated niche partitioning by allowing host sponges to acquire and recycle diverse nutrient pools via unique mechanisms.