Host-associated microbiomes are often adapted toward certain nutritional inputs. The microbial community hosted by S. purpurea plants specializes on certain types of captured insects depending on the location of the plant population.  This experiment tested the effect of natural and artificially selected prey on microbial community composition and function, along with changes in higher level food web dynamics.

Collaborators: Jessica Bernandin, Sarah M. Gray, Leonora Bittleston

Funding: Redfield grant (BSU), National Science Foundation through an Understanding the Rules of Life-Microbiome Theory and Mechanisms 2 collaborative grant, and by an award from the Simons Foundation.

The results are now published!

Bernardin, J. R., Gray, S.M.*, & Bittleston, L.S.* Arthropod prey type drives decomposition rates and microbial community processes. Applied and environmental microbiology, e0039424. (2024).