Host taxonomy and temperature differentially shape gut microbiome assembly in tropical moths across an Andean-Amazonian Mountain gradient

Background Despite the ecological relevance of microbiomes for hymenopteran pollinators, the dynamics of their interaction with lepidopteran host species remain largely unexplored. Our study investigates the factors influencing gut microbiota assembly in adult moths along a full elevational gradient in the Peruvian Andes, spanning 3,350 meters. We chose six moth genera in two families that are widely distributed along the gradient: Eois, Eupithecia, Lomographa, Oxydia, Physocleora (Geometridae), and Agylla (Erebidae, Arctiinae). Results Our findings reveal that the composition of moth gut microbiota is predominantly influenced by host taxonomy, with Eois, Eupithecia , and Lomographa microbiomes being highly distinct from those of Physocleora and Agylla . Contrary to previous assumptions that diversity decreases with elevation, we observed a significant increase in microbial diversity at higher elevations, with Oxydia and Physocleora exhibiting slightly lower microbial diversity compared to the other host genera. Dissimilarity of sample increased with elevational distance in particular at higher temperatures. Conclusions Our results highlight that warming in tropical forests may rapidly impact host-microbial communities, further research is required to understand the ecological implications of these interactions in the context of climate change.