To the Land and Beyond: Crab Microbiomes as a Paradigm for the Evolution of Terrestrialization.

摘要: The transition to terrestrial environments by formerly aquatic species has occurred repeatedly in many animal phyla and lead the vast diversity of extant species. differences between habitats are enormous involved remarkable morphological physiological changes. Convergent evolution various traits is evident among phylogenetically distant taxa, but almost no information available about role symbiotic microbiota such transition. Here, we suggest that intertidal brachyuran crabs a perfect model study evolutionary pathways ecological animal-microbiome symbioses, since their land happening right now, through number independent lineages. microorganisms colonizing gut expected play major conquer land, reducing water losses permitting utilization novel food sources. Indeed, it been shown microbiomes hosted digestive system isopods critical digest plant items, nothing known present truly crabs. Other important regulations could be facilitated nitrogen excretion osmoregulation new environment. We also advocate for advances comparative functional genomics uncover aspects these ongoing processes. think multidisciplinary associated with will shed completely light on biological processes sea-land