“Marine animals often harbour complex microbial communities that influence their physiology. However, strong evidence for resident microbiomes in marine bivalves is lacking, despite their contribution to estuarine habitats and coastal economies. We investigated whether marine bivalves harbour stable, resident microorganisms in specific tissues or if their microbiomes primarily consist of transient members reflecting the environmental microbial pool. … [Our] findings underscore the oyster host’s role in selecting its microbiome and highlight the importance of tissue-specific microbial communities in understanding bivalve-associated microbiomes.”

Find the paper and full list of authors in Environmental Biology.