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URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bmuzk6x6

Authors: April Hill, Ivy Nguyen, Malcolm Hill

Summary: A variety of green algal species form intracellular symbioses with freshwater sponges. These sponges and their algal symbionts play important roles in freshwater ecosystems and provide a model for asking questions about freshwater endosymbioses involving heterotrophic animal hosts in mutalistic relationships with photosynthesizing algae. The freshwater sponge Ephydatia muelleri, for example, has a fully sequenced chromosomal level genome as well as many features that make it ammenable to cellular and molecular studies. Here, we provide a simple protocol for isolating green algae from freshwater sponge host tissues. In most cases, microalgae can be cultured outside of the host in commericially available algal medium and on agar substrates. We also describe methods for infecting algal-free sponges hatched from gemmules to establish stable symbioses in juvenile sponges.

Affiliations: Department of Biology, Bates College, ME, USA, Department of Biology, Bates College, ME, USA, Department of Biology, Bates College, ME, USA

Version: 1

Publication Date: 2020

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