Thermal stress disrupts microbial symbiosis and host activity in the model sponge Ianthella basta

Abstract

Climate change is threatening coral reef ecosystems around the world, causing significant declines in reef organisms, including sponges. The health of sponges is intimately linked to their symbiosis with microorganisms, yet little is known about their integrated response to ocean warming. Here, we present a comprehensive view of the effect of elevated sea surface temperatures (SST) on the model sponge Ianthella basta. I. basta individuals were exposed to temperatures up to 32 {degrees}C, 2-3 {degrees}C above the mean annual maxima. Host gene expression profiles showed an initial response to heat stress after 2 days, and a decreased expression of genes involved in maintaining tissue integrity, pumping capacity, vitamin transport, and stable symbioses after 4 to 8 days. Congruently, heat stressed samples started to show tissue regression and a reduced abundance of the dominant symbionts after 4 days. A significant loss of the symbionts occurred after 8 days, together with a reduction in microbially driven nitrogen cycling and amino-acid transport and an introduction of opportunistic microbes, which could lead to nutrient imbalance and further destabilisation of the holobiont. Together, this work provides important insights into the avenues through which future SST can impact host-microbe interactions in coral reef sponges.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@misc{engelberts2026thermal,
  title = {{Thermal stress disrupts microbial symbiosis and host activity in the model sponge Ianthella basta}},
  author = {J. P. Engelberts and L. Rix and H. M. Luter and B. Glasl and N. Jehmlich and K. Kitzinger and I. Cooke and A. Legin and C. W. Herbold and M. Marini and K. A. Dougan and S. J. Robbins and M. Wagner and N. S. Webster},
  howpublished = {bioRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.64898/2026.10.01.756110},
  url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.756110v1},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}

RIS

TY  - UNPB
TI  - Thermal stress disrupts microbial symbiosis and host activity in the model sponge Ianthella basta
AU  - J. P. Engelberts
AU  - L. Rix
AU  - H. M. Luter
AU  - B. Glasl
AU  - N. Jehmlich
AU  - K. Kitzinger
AU  - I. Cooke
AU  - A. Legin
AU  - C. W. Herbold
AU  - M. Marini
AU  - K. A. Dougan
AU  - S. J. Robbins
AU  - M. Wagner
AU  - N. S. Webster
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
PB  - bioRxiv
DO  - 10.64898/2026.10.01.756110
UR  - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.01.756110v1
AB  - Climate change is threatening coral reef ecosystems around the world, causing significant declines in reef organisms, including sponges. The health of sponges is intimately linked to their symbiosis with microorganisms, yet little is known about their integrated response to ocean warming. Here, we present a comprehensive view of the effect of elevated sea surface temperatures (SST) on the model sponge Ianthella basta. I. basta individuals were exposed to temperatures up to 32 {degrees}C, 2-3 {degrees}C above the mean annual maxima. Host gene expression profiles showed an initial response to heat stress after 2 days, and a decreased expression of genes involved in maintaining tissue integrity, pumping capacity, vitamin transport, and stable symbioses after 4 to 8 days. Congruently, heat stressed samples started to show tissue regression and a reduced abundance of the dominant symbionts after 4 days. A significant loss of the symbionts occurred after 8 days, together with a reduction in microbially driven nitrogen cycling and amino-acid transport and an introduction of opportunistic microbes, which could lead to nutrient imbalance and further destabilisation of the holobiont. Together, this work provides important insights into the avenues through which future SST can impact host-microbe interactions in coral reef sponges.
ER  -

Abstract

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