https://doi.org/10.25678/0008GD

Data for: Daphnia-associated bacterial communities correlate with diet quantity, environmental conditions and epidemic size across natural epidemics

Zooplankton-associated microbiomes play an important role for host health and contribute to ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling. Yet, few studies have assessed how environmental gradients and biotic interactions, including parasitism and diet, may shape the microbiome composition of wild zooplankton. Here, we analysed the microbiomes of water fleas from the Daphnia longispina species complex using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a long-term field dataset spanning six sampling events over 13 years. Sampling coincided with outbreaks of the virulent eukaryotic gut parasite Caullerya mesnili. Additionally, we explored how microbiome structure varied in relation to water parameters, phytoplankton density (i.e. Daphnia diet), and zooplankton density and community structure. Daphnia microbiomes displayed strong temporal variation, and comparatively small differences based on host infection status. Microbiome beta diversity correlated with phytoplankton density but not with its community composition, including green algae, protists and cyanobacteria. Environmental conditions, including temperature, dissolved oxygen and cyanobacterial abundance - previously found to drive Caullerya epidemics - were also associated with distinct microbiome structures. Importantly, microbiome beta diversity co-varied with infection prevalence, suggesting a link between microbiome shifts, epidemic size, and environmental conditions driving large epidemics. Dominant bacterial taxa correlated with Daphnia density, whereas the phylogenetic composition of rare taxa was associated with total zooplankton density. These findings demonstrate the dynamic nature of Daphnia microbiomes and suggest potential mechanisms by which they may mediate disease dynamics, particularly through associations with diet quantity, temperature, and host population density.

Dataset extent

Data and Resources

Citation

This Data Package

Rajarajan, A., Wolinska, J., Walser, J.-C., Tardent, N., Käser, S., Keller, E., & Spaak, P. (2023). Data for: Daphnia-associated bacterial communities correlate with diet quantity, environmental conditions and epidemic size across natural epidemics (Version 1.0). Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.25678/0008GD

The associated article

Rajarajan, A., Wolinska, J., Walser, J., Tardent, N., Käser, S., Keller, E., & Spaak, P. (2025). Daphnia‐associated bacterial communities correlate with diet quantity, environmental conditions, and epidemic size across natural outbreaks. Limnology and Oceanography. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.70103

Metadata

  Publication Data Package for:
Open Data Open Data (embargoed until 2025-06-15)
Long-term data Long-term data
Author
  • Rajarajan, Amruta
  • Wolinska, Justyna
  • Walser, Jean-Claude
  • Tardent, Nadine
  • Käser, Silvana
  • Keller, Esther
  • Spaak, Piet
Keywords microbiome,daphnia,caullerya,wild
Taxa (scientific names)
  • Caullerya mesnili
  • Daphnia galeata
  • Daphnia longispina
Organisms (generic terms)
  • Daphnia, Caullerya
Systems
  • lake
Timerange
  • 2007-10-10 TO 2020-11-10
Geographic Name(s)
  • Greifensee buoy
Review Level none
Curator Rajarajan, Amruta
Contact Spaak, Piet <Piet.Spaak@eawag.ch>
DOI 10.25678/0008GD