Richness and diversity of the bacterial and fungal microbiome in seasons and throughout the life cycle
The bacterial ASVs richness and diversities were similar between the two seasons (p>0.05, Kruskal-Wallis, Fig. 3C); however, they change throughout the beetle’s life cycle. In the spring season, Simpson and Shannon’s bacterial diversities were significantly higher for larval and pupal samples than diversities of parental adult and teneral adult samples (p<0.05; Kruskal-Wallis). In the summer season, the bacterial richness and diversity indexes were rather similar throughout the beetle’s life cycle; however, ASVs richness (Ace and Chao1 index) was much lesser compared to intact phloem (p<0.02; Kruskal-Wallis). See also Supplementary Figure 2.
Overall fungal ASVs richness and Shannon diversity were higher in the spring season compared to the summer season (p < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis, Fig. 3C). Fungal richness and diversities fluctuated more throughout the life cycle than that of the bacterial microbiome (see Supplementary Figure 3). In both seasons, the richness of the fungal microbiome was higher in parental and teneral adults compared to larval and pupal samples, where pupae have the lowest ASVs richness. Simpson and Shannon’s indexes had a similar course. In the spring, they achieved the highest value in parental adult samples, then the values decreased in larval samples and were successively restored during pupal and teneral adult’s development. In summer, the highest diversity was achieved in parental samples. The diversities in larval, pupal and teneral adult samples were more or less similar. The Chao1 index had a similar course in both seasons. The parental adult and teneral adult samples had significantly higher values than larval and pupal samples. Species richness (ACE and Chao1) was the highest in intact phloem (p<0.05, Kruskal-Wallis).