Data from Gut bacteria reflects the adaptation of Diestrammena marmorata (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) to the cave

Gut bacteria reflects the adaptation of Diestrammena marmorata (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) to the cave Yiyi Dong1#, Qianquan Chen1#, Zheng Fang1, Qingshan Wu1, Lan Xiang2, Xiaojuan Niu1, Qiuping Liu1, Leitao Tan1, Qingbei Weng1,2* Gut microbiota is crucial importance for hosts’ nutrition, development, and adaptation.<em> Diestrammena marmorata</em>, a keystone species in karst cave in China, acts as a scavenger to provide indispensable energy inputs for cave ecosystems. It distributes in all regions of caves independent of light strength, however, its morphology and body color are dependent on light strength. Its gut bacteria reflect strategies to adapt the cave habitat remains unknown. Here we decoded the composition of its gut microbiota by 16S rRNA gene deep sequencing, and explored the contribution of gut bacteria to cave adaptation of <em>D. marmorata</em>. We found that gut bacterial communities were composed of 245 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to nine phyla, and Firmicutes is the top dominant phylum. Different food resources and light strengths may result in divergent composition and structure of gut bacterial community of <em>D. marmorata</em> in karst cave. Most of gut bacteria were probably involved in nutrition and provided essential amino acid to <em>D. marmorata</em>. In addition, gut bacteria may be involved in adaptation of body size <em>D. marmorata</em>. Unveiling the characteristics of gut bacterial community of <em>D. marmorata</em> would shed light on exploring the roles of gut bacteria in hosts’ adaption to karst cave environment.