Phenotypic and gut metabolomic data of Daphnia in response to fish predation risk

Predation is an important selective pressure shaping phenotypic plasticity in aquatic organisms. As the mediator between environmental changes and host physiology, gut microbiota and metabolism play key roles in regulating host fitness. Here, phenotypic assays, 16S rDNA sequencing, and metabolomic analyses revealed coordinated shifts in gut microbes and metabolites of Daphnia magna under fish kairomone exposure, which may be associated with D. magna’s morphological and reproductive defenses.