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Łopucki R, Sajnaga E, Kalwasińska A, Klich D, Kitowski I, Stępień-Pyśniak D, Christensen H. Green spaces contribute to structural resilience of the gut microbiota in urban mammals. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15508. [PMID: 38969657 PMCID: PMC11226671 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66209-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome of wild animals is subject to various environmental influences, including those associated with human-induced alterations to the environment. We investigated how the gut microbiota of a synurbic rodent species, the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), change in cities of varying sizes, seeking the urban microbiota signature for this species. Fecal samples for analysis were collected from animals living in non-urbanized areas and green spaces of different-sized cities (Poland). Metagenomic 16S rRNA gene sequencing and further bioinformatics analyses were conducted. Significant differences in the composition of gut microbiomes among the studied populations were found. However, the observed changes were dependent on local habitat conditions, without strong evidence of a correlation with the size of the urbanized area. The results suggest that ecological detachment from a more natural, non-urban environment does not automatically lead to the development of an "urban microbiome" model in the studied rodent. The exposure to the natural environment in green spaces may serve as a catalyst for microbiome transformations, providing a previously underestimated contribution to the maintenance of native gut microbial communities in urban mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Łopucki
- Department of Biomedicine and Environmental Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Ewa Sajnaga
- Department of Biomedicine and Environmental Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708, Lublin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kalwasińska
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Daniel Klich
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ignacy Kitowski
- University College of Applied Sciences in Chełm, Pocztowa 54, 22-100, Chełm, Poland
| | - Dagmara Stępień-Pyśniak
- Department of Veterinary Prevention and Avian Diseases, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Głęboka 30, 20-612, Lublin, Poland
| | - Henrik Christensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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2
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Khairulmunir M, Gani M, Mohd-Ridwan AR, Karuppannan KV, Abdul-Latiff MAB, Md-Zain BM. Alteration of the gut microbial composition of critically endangered Malayan tigers (Panthera tigris jacksoni) in captivity during enrichment phase. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:742. [PMID: 38874703 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09642-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enrichment activities may influence the microbiomes of captive tigers', affecting their health, digestion, and behavior. Currently, there are few studies that address the impact of enrichment activity on tigers' health. This study aimed to determine the diversity of the gut microbiome in captive Malayan tigers at Zoo Melaka and Night Safari during the environmental enrichment phase using a metabarcoding approach. METHODS AND RESULTS This study utilized different enrichment activities which catered for food, sensory, and cognitive enrichment. Eleven fresh fecal samples from captive Malayan tigers at Zoo Melaka and Night Safari were collected under different conditions. All samples were extracted and 16S rRNA V3-V4 region amplicon sequencing was used to characterize the gut microbiome of captive Malayan tigers subjected to various enrichment activities. Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Fusobacteriota were the dominant phyla observed in the gut microbiome of captive Malayan tigers during enrichment activities. This study revealed β-diversity significantly varied between normal and enrichment phase, however no significant differences were observed in α-diversity. This study demonstrates that environmental enrichment improves the gut microbiome of Malayan tigers because gut microbes such as Lachnoclostridium, which has anti-inflammatory effects and helps maintain homeostasis, and Romboutsia, which has a probiotic effect on the gut microbiome. CONCLUSIONS This study provides valuable insights into the effects of enrichment activities on the gut microbiome of captive Malayan tigers, offering guidance for enhancing captive management practices aimed at promoting the health and well-being of Malayan tiger in captivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Khairulmunir
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Millawati Gani
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
- National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory (NWFL), Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia, KM 10 Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, 56100, Malaysia
| | - Abd Rahman Mohd-Ridwan
- Centre for Pre-University Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, 94300, Malaysia
| | - Kayal Vizi Karuppannan
- National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory (NWFL), Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia, KM 10 Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, 56100, Malaysia
| | | | - Badrul Munir Md-Zain
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia.
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3
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Scholier T, Lavrinienko A, Kallio ER, Watts PC, Mappes T. Effects of past and present habitat on the gut microbiota of a wild rodent. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232531. [PMID: 38320610 PMCID: PMC10846943 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The response of the gut microbiota to changes in the host environment can be influenced by both the host's past and present habitats. To quantify their contributions for two different life stages, we studied the gut microbiota of wild bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) by performing a reciprocal transfer experiment with adults and their newborn offspring between urban and rural forests in a boreal ecosystem. Here, we show that the post-transfer gut microbiota in adults did not shift to resemble the post-transfer gut microbiota of animals 'native' to the present habitat. Instead, their gut microbiota appear to be structured by both their past and present habitat, with some features of the adult gut microbiota still determined by the past living environment (e.g. alpha diversity, compositional turnover). By contrast, we did not find evidence of the maternal past habitat (maternal effects) affecting the post-transfer gut microbiota of the juvenile offspring, and only a weak effect of the present habitat. Our results show that both the contemporary living environment and the past environment of the host organism can structure the gut microbiota communities, especially in adult individuals. These data are relevant for decision-making in the field of conservation and wildlife translocations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Scholier
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
| | - Anton Lavrinienko
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
- Laboratory of Food Systems Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Eva R. Kallio
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
| | - Phillip C. Watts
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
| | - Tapio Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
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4
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Lam IPY, Fong JJ. Are fecal samples an appropriate proxy for amphibian intestinal microbiota? Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10862. [PMID: 38304268 PMCID: PMC10828907 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The intestinal microbiota, an invisible organ supporting a host's survival, has essential roles in metabolism, immunity, growth, and development. Since intestinal microbiota influences a host's biology, application of such data to wildlife conservation has gained interest. There are standard protocols for studying the human intestinal microbiota, but no equivalent for wildlife. A major challenge is sampling the intestinal microbiota in an effective, unbiased way. Fecal samples are a popular proxy for intestinal microbiota because collection is non-invasive and allows for longitudinal sampling. Yet it is unclear whether the fecal microbiota is representative of the intestinal microbiota. In wildlife studies, research on the sampling methodology is limited. In this study focusing on amphibians, we characterize and compare the microbiota (small intestine, large intestine, and feces) of two Hong Kong stream-dwelling frog species: Lesser Spiny Frog (Quasipaa exilispinosa) and Hong Kong Cascade Frog (Amolops hongkongensis). We found that the microbiota of both species are similar at the level of phylum and family, but diverge at the level of genus. When we assessed the performance of fecal microbiota in representing the intestinal microbiota in these two species, we found that (1) the microbiota of the small and large intestine differs significantly, (2) feces are not an appropriate proxy of either intestinal sections, and (3) a set of microbial taxa significantly differs between sample types. Our findings raise caution equating fecal and intestinal microbiota in stream-dwelling frogs. Sampling feces can avoid sacrifice of an animal, but researchers should avoid over-extrapolation and interpret results carefully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan P. Y. Lam
- School of Biological ScienceThe University of Hong KongHong KongChina
- Science UnitLingnan UniversityHong KongChina
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5
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Turko AJ, Firth BL, Craig PM, Eliason EJ, Raby GD, Borowiec BG. Physiological differences between wild and captive animals: a century-old dilemma. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb246037. [PMID: 38031957 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory-based research dominates the fields of comparative physiology and biomechanics. The power of lab work has long been recognized by experimental biologists. For example, in 1932, Georgy Gause published an influential paper in Journal of Experimental Biology describing a series of clever lab experiments that provided the first empirical test of competitive exclusion theory, laying the foundation for a field that remains active today. At the time, Gause wrestled with the dilemma of conducting experiments in the lab or the field, ultimately deciding that progress could be best achieved by taking advantage of the high level of control offered by lab experiments. However, physiological experiments often yield different, and even contradictory, results when conducted in lab versus field settings. This is especially concerning in the Anthropocene, as standard laboratory techniques are increasingly relied upon to predict how wild animals will respond to environmental disturbances to inform decisions in conservation and management. In this Commentary, we discuss several hypothesized mechanisms that could explain disparities between experimental biology in the lab and in the field. We propose strategies for understanding why these differences occur and how we can use these results to improve our understanding of the physiology of wild animals. Nearly a century beyond Gause's work, we still know remarkably little about what makes captive animals different from wild ones. Discovering these mechanisms should be an important goal for experimental biologists in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy J Turko
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3C5
| | - Britney L Firth
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Paul M Craig
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
| | - Erika J Eliason
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Goleta, CA 93117, USA
| | - Graham D Raby
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada, K9L 0G2
| | - Brittney G Borowiec
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1
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6
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Korpita TM, Muths EL, Watry MK, McKenzie VJ. Captivity, Reintroductions, and the Rewilding of Amphibian-associated Bacterial Communities. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:2271-2281. [PMID: 37222806 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02229-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have noted differences in microbes associated with animals reared in captivity compared to their wild counterparts, but few studies have examined how microbes change when animals are reintroduced to the wild after captive rearing. As captive assurance populations and reintroduction programs increase, a better understanding of how microbial symbionts respond during animal translocations is critical. We examined changes in microbes associated with boreal toads (Anaxyrus boreas), a threatened amphibian, after reintroduction to the wild following captive rearing. Previous studies demonstrate that developmental life stage is an important factor in amphibian microbiomes. We collected 16S marker-gene sequencing datasets to investigate: (i) comparisons of the skin, mouth, and fecal bacteria of boreal toads across four developmental life stages in captivity and the wild, (ii) tadpole skin bacteria before and after reintroduction to the wild, and (iii) adult skin bacteria during reintroduction to the wild. We demonstrated that differences occur across skin, fecal, and mouth bacterial communities in captive versus wild boreal toads, and that the degree of difference depends on developmental stage. Skin bacterial communities from captive tadpoles were more similar to their wild counterparts than captive post-metamorphic individuals were to their wild counterparts. When captive-reared tadpoles were introduced to a wild site, their skin bacteria changed rapidly to resemble wild tadpoles. Similarly, the skin bacterial communities of reintroduced adult boreal toads also shifted to resemble those of wild toads. Our results indicate that a clear microbial signature of captivity in amphibians does not persist after release into natural habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Korpita
- Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Erin L Muths
- United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Ave. Bldg C, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Mary Kay Watry
- National Park Service, Rocky Mountain National Park, 1000 US Highway 36, Estes Park, CO, 80517, USA
| | - Valerie J McKenzie
- Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
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7
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Dallas JW, Warne RW. Captivity and Animal Microbiomes: Potential Roles of Microbiota for Influencing Animal Conservation. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:820-838. [PMID: 35316343 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-01991-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
During the ongoing biodiversity crisis, captive conservation and breeding programs offer a refuge for species to persist and provide source populations for reintroduction efforts. Unfortunately, captive animals are at a higher disease risk and reintroduction efforts remain largely unsuccessful. One potential factor in these outcomes is the host microbiota which includes a large diversity and abundance of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that play an essential role in host physiology. Relative to wild populations, the generalized pattern of gut and skin microbiomes in captivity are reduced alpha diversity and they exhibit a significant shift in community composition and/or structure which often correlates with various physiological maladies. Many conditions of captivity (antibiotic exposure, altered diet composition, homogenous environment, increased stress, and altered intraspecific interactions) likely lead to changes in the host-associated microbiome. To minimize the problems arising from captivity, efforts can be taken to manipulate microbial diversity and composition to be comparable with wild populations through methods such as increasing dietary diversity, exposure to natural environmental reservoirs, or probiotics. For individuals destined for reintroduction, these strategies can prime the microbiota to buffer against novel pathogens and changes in diet and improve reintroduction success. The microbiome is a critical component of animal physiology and its role in species conservation should be expanded and included in the repertoire of future management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason W Dallas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA.
| | - Robin W Warne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
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8
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Fieschi-Méric L, van Leeuwen P, Denoël M, Lesbarrères D. Encouraging news for in situ conservation: Translocation of salamander larvae has limited impacts on their skin microbiota. Mol Ecol 2023. [PMID: 36872055 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
The key role of symbiotic skin bacteria communities in amphibian resistance to emerging pathogens is well recognized, but factors leading to their dysbiosis are not fully understood. In particular, the potential effects of population translocations on the composition and diversity of hosts' skin microbiota have received little attention, although such transfers are widely carried out as a strategy for amphibian conservation. To characterize the potential reorganization of the microbiota over such a sudden environmental change, we conducted a common-garden experiment simulating reciprocal translocations of yellow-spotted salamander larvae across three lakes. We sequenced skin microbiota samples collected before and 15 days after the transfer. Using a database of antifungal isolates, we identified symbionts with known function against the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a major driver of amphibian declines. Our results indicate an important reorganization of bacterial assemblages throughout ontogeny, with strong changes in composition, diversity and structure of the skin microbiota in both control and translocated individuals over the 15 days of monitoring. Unexpectedly, the diversity and community structure of the microbiota were not significantly affected by the translocation event, thus suggesting a strong resilience of skin bacterial communities to environmental change-at least across the time-window studied here. A few phylotypes were more abundant in the microbiota of translocated larvae, but no differences were found among pathogen-inhibiting symbionts. Taken together, our results support amphibian translocations as a promising strategy for this endangered animal class, with limited impact on their skin microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Fieschi-Méric
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians (LECA), Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium.,Biology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pauline van Leeuwen
- Biology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.,Conservation Genetics Laboratory, University de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Mathieu Denoël
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Amphibians (LECA), Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS), Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - David Lesbarrères
- Biology Department, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.,Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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9
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Diaz J, Redford KH, Reese AT. Captive and urban environments are associated with distinct gut microbiota in deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus). Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220547. [PMID: 36883780 PMCID: PMC9994099 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Animals in captive and urban environments encounter evolutionarily novel conditions shaped by humans, such as altered diets, exposure to human-associated bacteria, and, potentially, medical interventions. Captive and urban environments have been demonstrated to affect gut microbial composition and diversity independently but have not yet been studied together. By sequencing the gut microbiota of deer mice living in laboratory, zoo, urban and natural settings, we sought to identify (i) whether captive deer mouse gut microbiota have similar composition regardless of husbandry conditions and (ii) whether captive and urban deer mice have similar gut microbial composition. We found that the gut microbiota of captive deer mice were distinct from those of free-living deer mice, indicating captivity has a consistent effect on the deer mouse microbiota regardless of location, lineage or husbandry conditions for a population. Additionally, the gut microbial composition, diversity and bacterial load of free-living urban mice were distinct from those of all other environment types. Together, these results indicate that gut microbiota associated with captivity and urbanization are likely not a shared response to increased exposure to humans but rather are shaped by environmental features intrinsic to captive and urban conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Diaz
- Department of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kent H Redford
- Archipelago Consulting, Portland, ME 04112, USA.,School of Marine and Environmental Programs, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 2350, USA
| | - Aspen T Reese
- Department of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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10
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A microbial tale of farming, invasion and conservation: on the gut bacteria of European and American mink in Western Europe. Biol Invasions 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-023-03007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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11
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Hu D, Wang C, Ente M, Zhang K, Zhang D, Li X, Li K, Chu H. Assessment of Adaptation Status of Reintroduced Equus Przewalskii Based on Comparative Analysis of Fecal Bacteria with Those of Captive E. Przewalskii, Domestic Horse and Mongolian Wild Ass. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202874. [PMID: 36290262 PMCID: PMC9598124 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal microbiota play an important role in the survival of the host. However, no study to date has elucidated the adjustment of intestinal microbiota of the host during rewilding. Thus, this study aims to describe the intestinal bacterial community of reintroduced Przewalski’s horse (RPH) after being released into their original habitat for approximately 20 years in comparison with that of captive Przewalski’s horse (CPH), sympatric domestic horse (DH) and Mongolian wild ass (MWA) by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that the prevalent bacterial communities were different among CPHs, RPHs, DHs and MWAs at the family level. NMDS and ANOSIM analysis showed that the pattern of bacterial community composition in captive equines was distinct from that in the wild groups. It is shown that some bacteria had significant differences among different taxa (p < 0.001), such as Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Armatimonadetes, Clostrida, Bacteroidia, Clostridiales, Bacteroidales, Rikenellaceae and Bacteroidales_UCG-001. These bacteria were associated with the transition from in captive to in the wild (CPH and RPH), which reflected the change of environmental conditions. Meanwhile, Proteobacteria, Clostridia, Bacilli, Negativicutes, Gammaproteobacteria, Clostridiales, Bacillales, Selenomonadales, Pseudomonadales and Planococcaceae were the changed groups among RPHs, MWAs and DHs, which are related to feeding habits and diseases. Our results clearly showed the differences between intestinal microbiota in reintroduced animals and wild animals and led us to understand the survival state of reintroduced animals in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dini Hu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road No.35, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Xinjiang Kalamaili Ungulate Nature Reserve Management Center, Changji 831100, China
| | - Make Ente
- Xinjiang Research Centre for Breeding Przewalski’s Horse, Urumqi 831700, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road No.35, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road No.35, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- Xinjiang Research Centre for Breeding Przewalski’s Horse, Urumqi 831700, China
| | - Kai Li
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Qinghua East Road No.35, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence: (K.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Hongjun Chu
- Institute of Forest Ecology, Xinjiang Academy of Forestry, Urumqi 830063, China
- Correspondence: (K.L.); (H.C.)
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12
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Kuthyar S, Watson K, Huang S, Brent LJN, Platt M, Horvath J, Gonzalez-Martinez J, Martínez M, Godoy-Vitorino F, Knight R, Dominguez-Bello MG, Amato KR. Limited microbiome differences in captive and semi-wild primate populations consuming similar diets. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:fiac098. [PMID: 36047944 PMCID: PMC9528791 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbial communities are shaped by a myriad of extrinsic factors, including diet and the environment. Although distinct human populations consistently exhibit different gut microbiome compositions, variation in diet and environmental factors are almost always coupled, making it difficult to disentangle their relative contributions to shaping the gut microbiota. Data from discrete animal populations with similar diets can help reduce confounds. Here, we assessed the gut microbiota of free-ranging and captive rhesus macaques with at least 80% diet similarity to test the hypothesis that hosts in difference environments will have different gut microbiomes despite a shared diet. Although we found that location was a significant predictor of gut microbial composition, the magnitude of observed differences was relatively small. These patterns suggest that a shared diet may limit the typical influence of environmental microbial exposure on the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahana Kuthyar
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University 1810 Hinman Avenue Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Karli Watson
- Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder 1777 Exposition Drive Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Shi Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Lauren J N Brent
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter Stocker Rd, Exeter EX4 4PY, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Blvd Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, 425 S. University Ave Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6018, USA
- Department of Marketing, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, 3620 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104, PA, USA
| | - Julie Horvath
- Research and Collections, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, USA
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department, North Carolina Central University, 1801 Fayetteville St, Durham, NC, 27707, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, 104 Biological Sciences Campus Box 90383 Durham, NC, 27708, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, 3510 Thomas Hall Campus Box 7614 Raleigh, NC, USA 27695, USA
| | - Janis Gonzalez-Martinez
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico Cayo Santiago, Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico, Humacao 00741, Puerto Rico
| | - Melween Martínez
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico Cayo Santiago, Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico, Humacao 00741, Puerto Rico
| | - Filipa Godoy-Vitorino
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO BOX 365067 San Juan, PR 00936-5067, Puerto Rico
| | - Rob Knight
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Dr, New Brunswick, NJ, USA 08901, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA 1810, USA
| | - Katherine R Amato
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University 1810 Hinman Avenue Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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13
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The gut microbiome of exudivorous marmosets in the wild and captivity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5049. [PMID: 35322053 PMCID: PMC8942988 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08797-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian captive dietary specialists like folivores are prone to gastrointestinal distress and primate dietary specialists suffer the greatest gut microbiome diversity losses in captivity compared to the wild. Marmosets represent another group of dietary specialists, exudivores that eat plant exudates, but whose microbiome remains relatively less studied. The common occurrence of gastrointestinal distress in captive marmosets prompted us to study the Callithrix gut microbiome composition and predictive function through bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA V4 region sequencing. We sampled 59 wild and captive Callithrix across four species and their hybrids. Host environment had a stronger effect on the gut microbiome than host taxon. Wild Callithrix gut microbiomes were enriched for Bifidobacterium, which process host-indigestible carbohydrates. Captive marmoset guts were enriched for Enterobacteriaceae, a family containing pathogenic bacteria. While gut microbiome function was similar across marmosets, Enterobacteriaceae seem to carry out most functional activities in captive host guts. More diverse bacterial taxa seem to perform gut functions in wild marmosets, with Bifidobacterium being important for carbohydrate metabolism. Captive marmosets showed gut microbiome composition aspects seen in human gastrointestinal diseases. Thus, captivity may perturb the exudivore gut microbiome, which raises implications for captive exudivore welfare and calls for husbandry modifications.
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14
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Diaz J, Reese AT. Possibilities and limits for using the gut microbiome to improve captive animal health. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:89. [PMID: 34965885 PMCID: PMC8715647 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00155-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of its potential to modulate host health, the gut microbiome of captive animals has become an increasingly important area of research. In this paper, we review the current literature comparing the gut microbiomes of wild and captive animals, as well as experiments tracking the microbiome when animals are moved between wild and captive environments. As a whole, these studies report highly idiosyncratic results with significant differences in the effect of captivity on the gut microbiome between host species. While a few studies have analyzed the functional capacity of captive microbiomes, there has been little research directly addressing the health consequences of captive microbiomes. Therefore, the current body of literature cannot broadly answer what costs, if any, arise from having a captive microbiome in captivity. Addressing this outstanding question will be critical to determining whether it is worth pursuing microbial manipulations as a conservation tool. To stimulate the next wave of research which can tie the captive microbiome to functional and health impacts, we outline a wide range of tools that can be used to manipulate the microbiome in captivity and suggest a variety of methods for measuring the impact of such manipulation preceding therapeutic use. Altogether, we caution researchers against generalizing results between host species given the variability in gut community responses to captivity and highlight the need to understand what role the gut microbiome plays in captive animal health before putting microbiome manipulations broadly into practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Diaz
- Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Aspen T Reese
- Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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15
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Comizzoli P, Power ML, Bornbusch SL, Muletz-Wolz CR. Interactions between reproductive biology and microbiomes in wild animal species. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:87. [PMID: 34949226 PMCID: PMC8697499 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00156-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many parts of the animal body harbor microbial communities, known as animal-associated microbiomes, that affect the regulation of physiological functions. Studies in human and animal models have demonstrated that the reproductive biology and such microbiomes also interact. However, this concept is poorly studied in wild animal species and little is known about the implications to fertility, parental/offspring health, and survival in natural habitats. The objective of this review is to (1) specify the interactions between animals' reproductive biology, including reproductive signaling, pregnancy, and offspring development, and their microbiomes, with an emphasis on wild species and (2) identify important research gaps as well as areas for further studies. While microbiomes present in the reproductive tract play the most direct role, other bodily microbiomes may also contribute to facilitating reproduction. In fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, endogenous processes related to the host physiology and behavior (visual and olfactory reproductive signals, copulation) can both influence and be influenced by the structure and function of microbial communities. In addition, exposures to maternal microbiomes in mammals (through vagina, skin, and milk) shape the offspring microbiomes, which, in turn, affects health later in life. Importantly, for all wild animal species, host-associated microbiomes are also influenced by environmental variations. There is still limited literature on wild animals compared to the large body of research on model species and humans. However, the few studies in wild species clearly highlight the necessity of increased research in rare and endangered animals to optimize conservation efforts in situ and ex situ. Thus, the link between microbiomes and reproduction is an emerging and critical component in wild animal conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Comizzoli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Veterinary Hospital MRC5502, PO Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013 USA
| | - Michael L. Power
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Veterinary Hospital MRC5502, PO Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013 USA
| | - Sally L. Bornbusch
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Veterinary Hospital MRC5502, PO Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013 USA
| | - Carly R. Muletz-Wolz
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Veterinary Hospital MRC5502, PO Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013 USA
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16
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Zhu L, Wang J, Bahrndorff S. Editorial: The Wildlife Gut Microbiome and Its Implication for Conservation Biology. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:697499. [PMID: 34234768 PMCID: PMC8256134 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.697499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lifeng Zhu
- Colleges of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianjun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Simon Bahrndorff
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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17
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Lavrinienko A, Hämäläinen A, Hindström R, Tukalenko E, Boratyński Z, Kivisaari K, Mousseau TA, Watts PC, Mappes T. Comparable response of wild rodent gut microbiome to anthropogenic habitat contamination. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:3485-3499. [PMID: 33955637 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Species identity is thought to dominate over environment in shaping wild rodent gut microbiota, but it remains unknown whether the responses of host gut microbiota to shared anthropogenic habitat impacts are species-specific or if the general gut microbiota response is similar across host species. Here, we compare the influence of exposure to radionuclide contamination on the gut microbiota of four wild mouse species: Apodemus flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, A. speciosus and A. argenteus. Building on the evidence that radiation impacts bank vole (Myodes glareolus) gut microbiota, we hypothesized that radiation exposure has a general impact on rodent gut microbiota. Because we sampled (n = 288) two species pairs of Apodemus mice that occur in sympatry in habitats affected by the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents, these comparisons provide an opportunity for a general assessment of the effects of exposure to environmental contamination (radionuclides) on gut microbiota across host phylogeny and geographical areas. In general agreement with our hypothesis, analyses of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that radiation exposure alters the gut microbiota composition and structure in three of the four species of Apodemus mice. The notable lack of an association between the gut microbiota and soil radionuclide contamination in one mouse species from Fukushima (A. argenteus) probably reflects host "radiation escape" through its unique tree-dwelling lifestyle. The finding that host ecology can modulate effects of radiation exposure offers an interesting counterpoint for future analyses into effects of radiation or any other toxic exposure on host and its associated microbiota. Our data show that exposure to radionuclide contamination is linked to comparable gut microbiota responses across multiple species of rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Lavrinienko
- Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Anni Hämäläinen
- Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.,Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Eugene Tukalenko
- Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,National Research Center for Radiation Medicine of the National Academy of Medical Science, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Zbyszek Boratyński
- CIBIO-InBIO Associate Laboratory, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Kati Kivisaari
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Timothy A Mousseau
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.,SURA/LASSO/NASA, ISS Utilization and Life Sciences Division, Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
| | - Phillip C Watts
- Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tapio Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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18
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Funosas G, Triadó-Margarit X, Castro F, Villafuerte R, Delibes-Mateos M, Rouco C, Casamayor EO. Individual fate and gut microbiome composition in the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Sci Rep 2021; 11:766. [PMID: 33436896 PMCID: PMC7804928 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80782-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies connecting microbiome composition and functional performance in wildlife have received little attention and understanding their connections with wildlife physical condition are sorely needed. We studied the variation in gut microbiota (hard fecal pellets) between allopatric subspecies of the European wild rabbit in wild populations and in captured individuals studied under captivity. We evaluated the influence of environmental and host-specific factors. The microbiome of wild rabbit populations reduced its heterogeneity under controlled conditions. None of the host-specific factors tested correlated with the microbiota composition. We only observed significant intra-group dispersion for the age factor. The most diverse microbiomes were rich in Ruminococcaceae potentially holding an enriched functional profile with dominance of cellulases and xylanases, and suggesting higher efficiency in the digestion of fiber-rich food. Conversely, low diversity gut microbiomes showed dominance of Enterobacteriaceae potentially rich in amylases. We preliminary noticed geographical variations in field populations with higher dominance of Ruminococcaceae in south-western than in north-eastern Spain. Spatial differences appeared not to be subspecies driven, since they were lost in captivity, but environmentally driven, although differences in social structure and behavior may also play a role that deserve further investigations. A marginally significant relationship between the Ruminococcaceae/Enterobacteriaceae ratio and potential life expectancy was observed in captive rabbits. We hypothesize that the gut microbiome may determine the efficiency of feeding resource exploitation, and can also be a potential proxy for life expectancy, with potential applications for the management of declining wild herbivorous populations. Such hypotheses remain to be explored in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Funosas
- Microbial Community Ecology, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes-Spanish Council for Research CEAB-CSIC, Accés Cala St Francesc, 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - Xavier Triadó-Margarit
- Microbial Community Ecology, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes-Spanish Council for Research CEAB-CSIC, Accés Cala St Francesc, 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain
| | - Francisca Castro
- Departamento de Didácticas Específicas, Universidad de Córdoba, Sociedad, Ecología y Gestión del Medio Ambiente, UCO-IESA, Unidad Asociada al CSIC, 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Rafael Villafuerte
- Institute of Advanced Social Studies-Spanish Council for Research (IESA-CSIC), 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Miguel Delibes-Mateos
- Institute of Advanced Social Studies-Spanish Council for Research (IESA-CSIC), 14004, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Ecology Area, Faculty of Science, University of Cordoba, Sociedad, Ecología y Gestión del Medio Ambiente, UCO-IESA, Unidad Asociada al CSIC, 14071, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Emilio O Casamayor
- Microbial Community Ecology, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes-Spanish Council for Research CEAB-CSIC, Accés Cala St Francesc, 14, 17300, Blanes, Spain.
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19
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Oral and vaginal microbiota in selected field mice of the genus Apodemus: a wild population study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13246. [PMID: 32764739 PMCID: PMC7413396 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70249-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal-associated microbiota is expected to impose crucial effects on the host's fitness-related performance, including reproduction. Most research to date has focused on interactions between the host with its gut microbiota; however, there remain considerable gaps in knowledge regarding microbial consortia in other organs, including interspecific divergence, temporal stability, variation drivers, and their effects on the host. To fill these gaps, we examined oral and vaginal microbiota composition in four free-living mouse species of the genus Apodemus, each varying in the degree of female promiscuity. To assess temporal stability and microbiota resistance to environmental change, we exposed one of the species, Apodemus uralensis, to standardized captive conditions and analyzed longitudinal changes in its microbiota structure. Our results revealed the existence of a "core" oral microbiota that was not only shared among all four species but also persisted almost unchanged in captivity. On the other hand, vaginal microbiota appears to be more plastic in captive conditions and less species-specific in comparison with oral microbiota. This study is amongst the first to describe oral microbiota dynamics. Furthermore, the vaginal microbiota results are especially surprising in light of the well-known role of stable vaginal microbiota as a defense against pathogens. The results indicate the existence of diverse mechanisms that shape each microbiota. On the other hand, our data provides somewhat ambiguous support for the systematic effect of phylogeny and social system on both oral and vaginal microbiota structures.
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