Microbiomes of bioeroding sponges (family Clionaidae)

We assessed and compared prokaryote communities from five sponge species belonging to the Clionaidae family that harbor or are free of Symbiodinium cells. Sponges samples and the surrounding seawater were collected at Looe Key, an offshore reef, and at Summerland Key, an inshore flat reef (Florida Keys, FL, USA). Here, we provide the first detailed description of the microbial community of multiple bioeroding sponges. We sought to answer the following questions: 1) How is the diversity and microbial community composition associated to tropical Clionaidae sponges, compared to the surrounding seawater and with regard to the presence of dinoflagellate symbionts? 2) Is there a core-microbiome associated to them? 3) Are these communities host-specific or do they vary between offshore and inshore reefs?