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Fountain-Jones NM, Giraud T, Zinger L, Bik H, Creer S, Videvall E. Molecular ecology of microbiomes in the wild: Common pitfalls, methodological advances and future directions. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17223. [PMID: 38014746 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The study of microbiomes across organisms and environments has become a prominent focus in molecular ecology. This perspective article explores common challenges, methodological advancements, and future directions in the field. Key research areas include understanding the drivers of microbiome community assembly, linking microbiome composition to host genetics, exploring microbial functions, transience and spatial partitioning, and disentangling non-bacterial components of the microbiome. Methodological advancements, such as quantifying absolute abundances, sequencing complete genomes, and utilizing novel statistical approaches, are also useful tools for understanding complex microbial diversity patterns. Our aims are to encourage robust practices in microbiome studies and inspire researchers to explore the next frontier of this rapidly changing field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tatiana Giraud
- Laboratoire Ecologie Systématique et Evolution, UMR 8079, Bâtiment 680, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lucie Zinger
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, Paris, France
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR5174, CNRS, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Holly Bik
- Department of Marine Sciences and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Simon Creer
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Elin Videvall
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Ochoa-Sánchez M, Acuña Gomez EP, Ramírez-Fenández L, Eguiarte LE, Souza V. Current knowledge of the Southern Hemisphere marine microbiome in eukaryotic hosts and the Strait of Magellan surface microbiome project. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15978. [PMID: 37810788 PMCID: PMC10557944 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-microbe interactions are ubiquitous and play important roles in host biology, ecology, and evolution. Yet, host-microbe research has focused on inland species, whereas marine hosts and their associated microbes remain largely unexplored, especially in developing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, we review the current knowledge of marine host microbiomes in the Southern Hemisphere. Our results revealed important biases in marine host species sampling for studies conducted in the Southern Hemisphere, where sponges and marine mammals have received the greatest attention. Sponge-associated microbes vary greatly across geographic regions and species. Nevertheless, besides taxonomic heterogeneity, sponge microbiomes have functional consistency, whereas geography and aging are important drivers of marine mammal microbiomes. Seabird and macroalgal microbiomes in the Southern Hemisphere were also common. Most seabird microbiome has focused on feces, whereas macroalgal microbiome has focused on the epibiotic community. Important drivers of seabird fecal microbiome are aging, sex, and species-specific factors. In contrast, host-derived deterministic factors drive the macroalgal epibiotic microbiome, in a process known as "microbial gardening". In turn, marine invertebrates (especially crustaceans) and fish microbiomes have received less attention in the Southern Hemisphere. In general, the predominant approach to study host marine microbiomes has been the sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Interestingly, there are some marine holobiont studies (i.e., studies that simultaneously analyze host (e.g., genomics, transcriptomics) and microbiome (e.g., 16S rRNA gene, metagenome) traits), but only in some marine invertebrates and macroalgae from Africa and Australia. Finally, we introduce an ongoing project on the surface microbiome of key species in the Strait of Magellan. This is an international project that will provide novel microbiome information of several species in the Strait of Magellan. In the short-term, the project will improve our knowledge about microbial diversity in the region, while long-term potential benefits include the use of these data to assess host-microbial responses to the Anthropocene derived climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Ochoa-Sánchez
- Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego, Patagonia y Antártica (CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Lia Ramírez-Fenández
- Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile
- Centro de Desarrollo de Biotecnología Industrial y Bioproductos, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Luis E. Eguiarte
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Valeria Souza
- Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego, Patagonia y Antártica (CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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3
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Pfau M, Degregori S, Johnson G, Tennenbaum SR, Barber PH, Philson CS, Blumstein DT. The social microbiome: gut microbiome diversity and abundance are negatively associated with sociality in a wild mammal. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:231305. [PMID: 37830026 PMCID: PMC10565414 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiome has a well-documented relationship with host fitness. Greater microbial diversity and abundance of specific microbes have been associated with improved fitness outcomes. Intestinal microbes also may be associated with patterns of social behaviour. However, these associations have been largely studied in captive animal models; we know less about microbiome composition as a potential driver of individual social behaviour and position in the wild. We used linear mixed models to quantify the relationship between fecal microbial composition, diversity and social network traits in a wild population of yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventer). We focused our analyses on microbes previously linked to sociability and neurobehavioural alterations in captive rodents, primates and humans. Using 5 years of data, we found microbial diversity (Shannon-Wiener and Faith's phylogenetic diversity) has a modest yet statistically significant negative relationship with the number of social interactions an individual engaged in. We also found a negative relationship between Streptococcus spp. relative abundance and two social network measures (clustering coefficient and embeddedness) that quantify an individual's position relative to others in their social group. These findings highlight a potentially consequential relationship between microbial composition and social behaviour in a wild social mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Pfau
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
| | - Sam Degregori
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
| | - Gina Johnson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
| | - Stavi R. Tennenbaum
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, PO Box 519, Crested Butte, CO 81224, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Paul H. Barber
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
| | - Conner S. Philson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, PO Box 519, Crested Butte, CO 81224, USA
| | - Daniel T. Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
- Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, PO Box 519, Crested Butte, CO 81224, USA
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4
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Murphy KM, Le SM, Wilson AE, Warner DA. The Microbiome as a Maternal Effect: A Systematic Review on Vertical Transmission of Microbiota. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:597-609. [PMID: 37218690 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbiome is an interactive and fluctuating community of microbes that colonize and develop across surfaces, including those associated with organismal hosts. A growing number of studies exploring how microbiomes vary in ecologically relevant contexts have recognized the importance of microbiomes in affecting organismal evolution. Thus, identifying the source and mechanism for microbial colonization in a host will provide insight into adaptation and other evolutionary processes. Vertical transmission of microbiota is hypothesized to be a source of variation in offspring phenotypes with important ecological and evolutionary implications. However, the life-history traits that govern vertical transmission are largely unexplored in the ecological literature. To increase research attention to this knowledge gap, we conducted a systematic review to address the following questions: (1) How often is vertical transmission assessed as a contributor to offspring microbiome colonization and development? (2) Do studies have the capacity to address how maternal transmission of microbes affects the offspring phenotype? (3) How do studies vary based on taxonomy and life history of the study organism, as well as the experimental, molecular, and statistical methods employed? Extensive literature searches reveal that many studies examining vertical transmission of microbiomes fail to collect whole microbiome samples from both maternal and offspring sources, particularly for oviparous vertebrates. Additionally, studies should sample functional diversity of microbes to provide a better understanding of mechanisms that influence host phenotypes rather than solely taxonomic variation. An ideal microbiome study incorporates host factors, microbe-microbe interactions, and environmental factors. As evolutionary biologists continue to merge microbiome science and ecology, examining vertical transmission of microbes across taxa can provide inferences on causal links between microbiome variation and phenotypic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M Murphy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Samantha M Le
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Alan E Wilson
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Daniel A Warner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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Ma R, Zheng W, Guo J, Hou R, Huang H, Xue F, Zhou Y, Wu W, Huang C, Gu J, Feng F, Yu X, Liu J, Li Z, Zhang L, Lan G, Chen C, Bi W, Dai Q, Owens JR, Yang H, Gu X, Yan QG, Qi D. Symbiotic microbiota and odor ensure mating in time for giant pandas. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1015513. [PMID: 36466630 PMCID: PMC9712809 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1015513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
To achieve reproduction, male solitary mammals need to locate females using chemical communication with high levels of precision. In the case of giant pandas, the total estrus period of females was usually 15 days each year, however, successful mating activity is finished within 3 days from respective home range. The mating pattern of giant pandas, where multiple males compete for each female requires females employ efficient systems to communicate their estrus phases. To verifying whether the scent secretions of giant pandas changes by gender and estrus progression, the microbiota and compounds in 29 anogenital gland samples from 14 individuals during estrus were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing and GC-MS. We show that the microbiota communities covary by gender with 4 particular compounds of scent secretions. Among 597 genera, 34 were identified as biomarkers that could be used to distinguish between different estrus phases. By bacterial-compounds co-analysis, 3 fatty ester acids and squalene compounds covaried with the development of estrus in the bacterial communities of female giant pandas. This study helps clarify how a large, solitary mammal expresses accurate information to improve the likelihood of successful reproduction by changing the composition of microbiota and odor compounds of anogenital glands during estrus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Junliang Guo
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Rong Hou
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - He Huang
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Fei Xue
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanshan Zhou
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Chong Huang
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiang Gu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Feifei Feng
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Yu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiabin Liu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Zusheng Li
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Long Zhang
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Guanwei Lan
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenlei Bi
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiang Dai
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Jacob R. Owens
- Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hong Yang
- Daxiangling Nature Reserve, Yaan, China
| | - Xiaodong Gu
- Sichuan Forestry and Grassland Bureau, Chengdu, China
| | - Qi-gui Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dunwu Qi
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, China
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6
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Intronic primers reveal unexpectedly high major histocompatibility complex diversity in Antarctic fur seals. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17933. [PMID: 36289307 PMCID: PMC9606363 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21658-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a group of genes comprising one of the most important components of the vertebrate immune system. Consequently, there has been much interest in characterising MHC variation and its relationship with fitness in a variety of species. Due to the exceptional polymorphism of MHC genes, careful PCR primer design is crucial for capturing all of the allelic variation present in a given species. We therefore developed intronic primers to amplify the full-length 267 bp protein-coding sequence of the MHC class II DQB exon 2 in the Antarctic fur seal. We then characterised patterns of MHC variation among mother-offspring pairs from two breeding colonies and detected 19 alleles among 771 clone sequences from 56 individuals. The distribution of alleles within and among individuals was consistent with a single-copy, classical DQB locus showing Mendelian inheritance. Amino acid similarity at the MHC was significantly associated with genome-wide relatedness, but no relationship was found between MHC heterozygosity and genome-wide heterozygosity. Finally, allelic diversity was several times higher than reported by a previous study based on partial exon sequences. This difference appears to be related to allele-specific amplification bias, implying that primer design can strongly impact the inference of MHC diversity.
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Watkins CA, Gaines T, Strathdee F, Baily JL, Watson E, Hall AJ, Free A, Dagleish MP. A comparative study of the fecal microbiota of gray seal pups and yearlings - a marine mammal sentinel species. Microbiologyopen 2022; 11:e1281. [PMID: 35765184 PMCID: PMC9126079 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) can act as sentinel species reflecting the condition of the environment they inhabit. Our previous research identified strains of pathogenic Campylobacter and Salmonella, originating from both human and agricultural animal hosts, on rectal swabs from live gray seal (H. grypus) pups and yearlings on the Isle of May, Scotland, UK. We examined rectal swabs from the same pup (n = 90) and yearling (n = 19) gray seals to gain further understanding into the effects of age-related changes (pup vs. yearling) and three different natal terrestrial habitats on seal pup fecal microbiota. DNA was extracted from a subset of rectal swabs (pups n = 23, yearlings n = 9) using an optimized procedure, and the V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was sequenced to identify each individual's microbiota. Diversity in pup samples was lower (3.92 ± 0.19) than yearlings (4.66 ± 0.39) although not significant at the p = 0.05 level (p = 0.062) but differences in the composition of the microbiota were (p < 0.001). Similarly, differences between the composition of the microbiota from pups from three different terrestrial habitats (Pilgrim's Haven [PH], Rona Rocks [RR], and Tarbet Slope [TS]) were highly significant (p < 0.001). Pairwise tests showed significant differences between all three habitats: PH versus TS (p = 0.019), PH versus RR (p = 0.042) and TS versus RR (p = 0.020). This preliminary study suggests a general trend, that seal microbiomes are modified by both age and, in pups, different terrestrial habitats. Furthermore, knowledge of the microbiota species present has the potential to be used in determining the environmental quality index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A Watkins
- Department of Vaccines and Diagnostics, Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, UK
| | - Taylor Gaines
- Department of Vaccines and Diagnostics, Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, UK
| | - Fiona Strathdee
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Johanna L Baily
- Department of Vaccines and Diagnostics, Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, UK
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Eleanor Watson
- Department of Vaccines and Diagnostics, Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, UK
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Andrew Free
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mark P Dagleish
- Department of Vaccines and Diagnostics, Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, UK
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Clavere-Graciette AG, McWhirt ME, Hoopes LA, Bassos-Hull K, Wilkinson KA, Stewart FJ, Pratte ZA. Microbiome differences between wild and aquarium whitespotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari). Anim Microbiome 2022; 4:34. [PMID: 35606841 PMCID: PMC9128078 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00187-8] [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: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Animal-associated microbiomes can be influenced by both host and environmental factors. Comparing wild animals to those in zoos or aquariums can help disentangle the effects of host versus environmental factors, while also testing whether managed conditions foster a ‘natural’ host microbiome. Focusing on an endangered elasmobranch species—the whitespotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari—we compared the skin, gill, and cloaca microbiomes of wild individuals to those at Georgia Aquarium. Whitespotted eagle ray microbiomes from Georgia Aquarium were also compared to those of cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) in the same exhibit, allowing us to explore the effect of host identity on the ray microbiome.
Results Long-term veterinary monitoring indicated that the rays in managed care did not have a history of disease and maintained health parameters consistent with those of wild individuals, with one exception. Aquarium whitespotted eagle rays were regularly treated to control parasite loads, but the effects on animal health were subclinical. Microbiome α- and β-diversity differed between wild versus aquarium whitespotted eagle rays at all body sites, with α-diversity significantly higher in wild individuals. β-diversity differences in wild versus aquarium whitespotted eagle rays were greater for skin and gill microbiomes compared to those of the cloaca. At each body site, we also detected microbial taxa shared between wild and aquarium eagle rays. Additionally, the cloaca, skin, and gill microbiomes of aquarium eagle rays differed from those of cownose rays in the same exhibit. Potentially pathogenic bacteria were at low abundance in all wild and aquarium rays.
Conclusion For whitespotted eagle rays, managed care was associated with a microbiome differing significantly from that of wild individuals. These differences were not absolute, as the microbiome of aquarium rays shared members with that of wild counterparts and was distinct from that of a cohabitating ray species. Eagle rays under managed care appear healthy, suggesting that their microbiomes are not associated with compromised host health. However, the ray microbiome is dynamic, differing with both environmental factors and host identity. Monitoring of aquarium ray microbiomes over time may identify taxonomic patterns that co-vary with host health. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42523-022-00187-8.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary E McWhirt
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lisa A Hoopes
- Department of Research and Conservation, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kim Bassos-Hull
- Sharks and Rays Conservation Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA.,Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - Krystan A Wilkinson
- Sharks and Rays Conservation Research Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA.,Chicago Zoological Society's Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - Frank J Stewart
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Zoe A Pratte
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
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9
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Davies CS, Worsley SF, Maher KH, Komdeur J, Burke T, Dugdale HL, Richardson DS. Immunogenetic variation shapes the gut microbiome in a natural vertebrate population. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:41. [PMID: 35256003 PMCID: PMC8903650 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01233-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiome (GM) can influence many biological processes in the host, impacting its health and survival, but the GM can also be influenced by the host's traits. In vertebrates, Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes play a pivotal role in combatting pathogens and are thought to shape the host's GM. Despite this-and the documented importance of both GM and MHC variation to individual fitness-few studies have investigated the association between the GM and MHC in the wild. RESULTS We characterised MHC class I (MHC-I), MHC class II (MHC-II) and GM variation in individuals within a natural population of the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). We determined how the diversity and composition of the GM varied with MHC characteristics, in addition to environmental factors and other host traits. Our results show that the presence of specific MHC alleles, but not MHC diversity, influences both the diversity and composition of the GM in this population. MHC-I alleles, rather than MHC-II alleles, had the greatest impact on the GM. GM diversity was negatively associated with the presence of three MHC-I alleles (Ase-ua3, Ase-ua4, Ase-ua5), and one MHC-II allele (Ase-dab4), while changes in GM composition were associated with the presence of four different MHC-I alleles (Ase-ua1, Ase-ua7, Ase-ua10, Ase-ua11). There were no associations between GM diversity and TLR3 genotype, but GM diversity was positively correlated with genome-wide heterozygosity and varied with host age and field period. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that components of the host's immune system play a role in shaping the GM of wild animals. Host genotype-specifically MHC-I and to a lesser degree MHC-II variation-can modulate the GM, although whether this occurs directly, or indirectly through effects on host health, is unclear. Importantly, if immune genes can regulate host health through modulation of the microbiome, then it is plausible that the microbiome could also influence selection on immune genes. As such, host-microbiome coevolution may play a role in maintaining functional immunogenetic variation within natural vertebrate populations. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charli S Davies
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK.
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Sarah F Worsley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Kathryn H Maher
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Terry Burke
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Hannah L Dugdale
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - David S Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK
- Nature Seychelles, Roche Caiman, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles
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10
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García‐Roa R, Domínguez‐Santos R, Pérez‐Brocal V, Moya A, Latorre A, Carazo P. Kin recognition in
Drosophila
: rearing environment and relatedness can modulate gut microbiota and cuticular hydrocarbon odour profiles. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto García‐Roa
- Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Inst. of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Valencia Valencia Spain
| | | | - Vicente Pérez‐Brocal
- Foundation for the Promotion of Sanitary and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region (FISABIO) – Public Health Valencia Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP) Madrid Spain
| | - Andrés Moya
- Inst. for Integrative Systems Biology, Univ. of Valencia – CSIC Valencia Spain
- Foundation for the Promotion of Sanitary and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region (FISABIO) – Public Health Valencia Spain
| | - Amparo Latorre
- Inst. for Integrative Systems Biology, Univ. of Valencia – CSIC Valencia Spain
- Foundation for the Promotion of Sanitary and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region (FISABIO) – Public Health Valencia Spain
| | - Pau Carazo
- Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Inst. of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Univ. of Valencia Valencia Spain
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11
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Bai S, Zhang P, Zhang C, Du J, Du X, Zhu C, Liu J, Xie P, Li S. Comparative Study of the Gut Microbiota Among Four Different Marine Mammals in an Aquarium. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:769012. [PMID: 34745077 PMCID: PMC8567075 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.769012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite an increasing appreciation in the importance of host–microbe interactions in ecological and evolutionary processes, information on the gut microbial communities of some marine mammals is still lacking. Moreover, whether diet, environment, or host phylogeny has the greatest impact on microbial community structure is still unknown. To fill part of this knowledge gap, we exploited a natural experiment provided by an aquarium with belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) affiliated with family Monodontidae, Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) and common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) affiliated with family Delphinidae, and Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) affiliated with family Otariidae. Results show significant differences in microbial community composition of whales, dolphins, and fur seals and indicate that host phylogeny (family level) plays the most important role in shaping the microbial communities, rather than food and environment. In general, the gut microbial communities of dolphins had significantly lower diversity compared to that of whales and fur seals. Overall, the gut microbial communities were mainly composed of Firmicutes and Gammaproteobacteria, together with some from Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Epsilonbacteraeota. However, specific bacterial lineages were differentially distributed among the marine mammal groups. For instance, Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Peptostreptococcaceae were the dominant bacterial lineages in the gut of belugas, while for Cape fur seals, Moraxellaceae and Bacteroidaceae were the main bacterial lineages. Moreover, gut microbial communities in both Pacific white-sided dolphins and common bottlenose dolphins were dominated by a number of pathogenic bacteria, including Clostridium perfringens, Vibrio fluvialis, and Morganella morganii, reflecting the poor health condition of these animals. Although there is a growing recognition of the role microorganisms play in the gut of marine mammals, current knowledge about these microbial communities is still severely lacking. Large-scale research studies should be undertaken to reveal the roles played by the gut microbiota of different marine mammal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijie Bai
- Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Peijun Zhang
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | | | - Jiang Du
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | | | - Chengwei Zhu
- Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Peiyu Xie
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Songhai Li
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
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12
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Toro‐Valdivieso C, Toro F, Stubbs S, Castro‐Nallar E, Blacklaws B. Patterns of the fecal microbiota in the Juan Fernández fur seal (Arctocephalus philippii). Microbiologyopen 2021; 10:e1215. [PMID: 34459554 PMCID: PMC8302013 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As apex predators, pinnipeds are considered to be useful bioindicators of marine and coastal environments. Endemic to a small archipelago in the South Pacific, the Juan Fernandez fur seal (JFFS) is one of the less-studied members of the pinniped family Otariidae. This study aimed to characterize the fecal microbiome of the JFFS for the first time, to establish a baseline for future studies of host-microbial-environment interactions and monitoring programs. During two consecutive reproductive seasons, 57 fecal samples were collected from seven different JFFS colonies within the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, Chile. Bacterial composition and abundance were characterized by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The overall microbiome composition was dominated by five phyla: Firmicutes (40% ±24), Fusobacteria (30% ±17), Bacteroidetes (22% ±10), Proteobacteria (6% ±4), and Actinobacteria (2% ±3). Alpha diversity was higher in Tierras Blancas. However, location was not found to be a dominant driver of microbial composition. Interestingly, the strongest signal in the data was a negative association between the genera Peptoclostridium and Fusobacterium, which explained 29.7% of the total microbial composition variability between samples. The genus Peptoclostridium has not been reported in other pinniped studies, and its role here is unclear, with interpretation challenging due to a lack of information regarding microbiome functionality in marine mammals. As a first insight into the JFFS fecal microbiome, these results contribute towards our understanding of the natural microbial diversity and composition in free-ranging pinnipeds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frederick Toro
- Facultad de Ciencias de la VidaUniversidad Andres BelloSantiagoChile
- Escuela de Medicina VeterinariaFacultad de Recursos Naturales y Medicina VeterinariaUniversidad Santo TomásViña del MarChile
- ONG PanthalassaRed de Estudios de Vertebrados Marinos en ChileSantiagoChile
- Ph.D. Program in Conservation MedicineFacultad de Ecología y Recursos NaturalesUniversidad Andrés BelloSantiagoChile
| | - Samuel Stubbs
- Department of Infectious Disease EpidemiologyLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Eduardo Castro‐Nallar
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative BiologyUniversidad Andres BelloSantiagoChile
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13
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Canova R, Budaszewski RF, Weber MN, da Silva MS, Puhl DE, Battisti LO, Soares JF, Wagner PG, Varela APM, Mayer FQ, Canal CW. Spleen and lung virome analysis of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) collected on the southern Brazilian coast. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 92:104862. [PMID: 33848685 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) are believed to reach the coast of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) through sea currents. They live in colonies and are frequently found resting on the beach. However, it is also common to find dead pinnipeds on beaches, sharing the environment with humans, domestic animals and other wild species on the coast and facilitating the transmission of pathogens. In the present study, a metagenomic approach was applied to evaluate the viral diversity in organs of fur seals found deceased along the coast of the state of RS, southern Brazil. The lungs and spleens of 29 animals were collected, macerated individually, pooled separately (one pool for lungs and another for spleens) and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Sequences more closely related to members of the Anelloviridae and Circoviridae families were detected. Nine putative new species of anellovirus and one putative new genus, named Nitorquevirus, were described. Additionally, the circovirus sequences found in the lungs of A. australis have a common ancestor with PCV3, a proposed swine pathogen. Our study expanded the knowledge about viral communities in pinnipeds and could be useful for monitoring new viruses and potential viral sharing among wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Canova
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - R F Budaszewski
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - M N Weber
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - M S da Silva
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - D E Puhl
- Laboratório de Virologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - L O Battisti
- Laboratório Protozoologia e Riquettsioses Vetoriais, Faculdade de Veterinária, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - J F Soares
- Laboratório Protozoologia e Riquettsioses Vetoriais, Faculdade de Veterinária, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - P G Wagner
- Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA), Brazil
| | - A P M Varela
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Irrigação do Rio Grande do Sul (SEAPI-RS), Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - F Q Mayer
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Irrigação do Rio Grande do Sul (SEAPI-RS), Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - C W Canal
- Laboratório de Virologia, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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14
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Stothart MR, Greuel RJ, Gavriliuc S, Henry A, Wilson AJ, McLoughlin PD, Poissant J. Bacterial dispersal and drift drive microbiome diversity patterns within a population of feral hindgut fermenters. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:555-571. [PMID: 33231332 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Studies of microbiome variation in wildlife often emphasize host physiology and diet as proximate selective pressures acting on host-associated microbiota. In contrast, microbial dispersal and ecological drift are more rarely considered. Using amplicon sequencing, we characterized the bacterial microbiome of adult female (n = 86) Sable Island horses (Nova Scotia, Canada) as part of a detailed individual-based study of this feral population. Using data on sampling date, horse location, age, parental status, and local habitat variables, we contrasted the ability of spatiotemporal, life history, and environmental factors to explain microbiome diversity among Sable Island horses. We extended inferences made from these analyses with both phylogeny-informed and phylogeny-independent null modelling approaches to identify deviations from stochastic expectations. Phylogeny-informed diversity measures were correlated with spatial and local habitat variables, but null modelling results suggested that heterogeneity in ecological drift, rather than differential selective pressures acting on the microbiome, was responsible for these correlations. Conversely, phylogeny-independent diversity measures were best explained by host spatial and social structure, suggesting that taxonomic composition of the microbiome was shaped most strongly by bacterial dispersal. Parental status was important but correlated with measures of β-dispersion rather than β-diversity (mares without foals had lower alpha diversity and more variable microbiomes than mares with foals). Our results suggest that between host microbiome variation within the Sable Island horse population is driven more strongly by bacterial dispersal and ecological drift than by differential selective pressures. These results emphasize the need to consider alternative ecological processes in the study of microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason R Stothart
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ruth J Greuel
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Stefan Gavriliuc
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Astrid Henry
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Alastair J Wilson
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | | | - Jocelyn Poissant
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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15
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Tebbe J, Humble E, Stoffel MA, Tewes LJ, Müller C, Forcada J, Caspers B, Hoffman JI. Chemical patterns of colony membership and mother-offspring similarity in Antarctic fur seals are reproducible. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10131. [PMID: 33133782 PMCID: PMC7580581 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10131] [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: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Replication studies are essential for evaluating the validity of previous research findings. However, it has proven challenging to reproduce the results of ecological and evolutionary studies, partly because of the complexity and lability of many of the phenomena being investigated, but also due to small sample sizes, low statistical power and publication bias. Additionally, replication is often considered too difficult in field settings where many factors are beyond the investigator’s control and where spatial and temporal dependencies may be strong. We investigated the feasibility of reproducing original research findings in the field of chemical ecology by performing an exact replication of a previous study of Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella). In the original study, skin swabs from 41 mother-offspring pairs from two adjacent breeding colonies on Bird Island, South Georgia, were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seals from the two colonies differed significantly in their chemical fingerprints, suggesting that colony membership may be chemically encoded, and mothers were also chemically similar to their pups, hinting at the possible involvement of phenotype matching in mother-offspring recognition. In the current study, we generated and analyzed chemical data from a non-overlapping sample of 50 mother-offspring pairs from the same two colonies 5 years later. The original results were corroborated in both hypothesis testing and estimation contexts, with p-values remaining highly significant and effect sizes, standardized between studies by bootstrapping the chemical data over individuals, being of comparable magnitude. However, exact replication studies are only capable of showing whether a given effect can be replicated in a specific setting. We therefore investigated whether chemical signatures are colony-specific in general by expanding the geographic coverage of our study to include pups from a total of six colonies around Bird Island. We detected significant chemical differences in all but a handful of pairwise comparisons between colonies. This finding adds weight to our original conclusion that colony membership is chemically encoded, and suggests that chemical patterns of colony membership not only persist over time but can also be generalized over space. Our study systematically confirms and extends our previous findings, while also implying more broadly that spatial and temporal heterogeneity need not necessarily negate the reproduction and generalization of ecological research findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Tebbe
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Emily Humble
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.,Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin Adam Stoffel
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.,Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lisa Johanna Tewes
- Department of Chemical Ecology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Caroline Müller
- Department of Chemical Ecology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | | | - Barbara Caspers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Joseph Ivan Hoffman
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.,British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
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16
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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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17
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Microbial transmission in animal social networks and the social microbiome. Nat Ecol Evol 2020; 4:1020-1035. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-1220-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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18
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Palmer R, Fleming GTA, Glaeser S, Semmler T, Flamm A, Ewers C, Kämpfer P, Budich O, Berrow S, O'Brien J, Siebert U, Collins E, Ruttledge M, Eisenberg T. Marine mammals are natural hosts of Oceanivirga salmonicida, a bacterial pathogen of Atlantic salmon. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2020; 139:161-174. [PMID: 32406871 DOI: 10.3354/dao03478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
During 1992 and 1993, a bacterial disease occurred in a seawater Atlantic salmon Salmo salar farm, causing serious mortalities. The causative agent was subsequently named as Oceanivirga salmonicida, a member of the Leptotrichiaceae. Searches of 16S rRNA gene sequence databases have shown sequence similarities between O. salmonicida and uncultured bacterial clones from the digestive tracts of marine mammals. In the current study, oral samples were taken from stranded dolphins (common dolphin Delphinus delphis, striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba) and healthy harbour seals Phoca vitulina. A bacterium with growth characteristics consistent with O. salmonicida was isolated from a common dolphin. The isolate was confirmed as O. salmonicida, by comparisons to the type strain, using 16S rRNA gene, gyrB, groEL, and recA sequence analyses, average nucleotide identity analysis, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Metagenomic analysis indicated that the genus Oceanivirga represented a significant component of the oral bacterial microbiomes of the dolphins and seals. However, sequences consistent with O. salmonicida were only found in the dolphin samples. Analyses of marine mammal microbiome studies in the NCBI databases showed sequences consistent with O. salmonicida from the common dolphin, striped dolphin, bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus, humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae, and harbour seal. Sequences from marine environmental studies in the NCBI databases showed no sequences consistent with O. salmonicida. The findings suggest that several species of marine mammals are natural hosts of O. salmonicida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Palmer
- Discipline of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91TK33, Ireland
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19
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Rojas CA, Holekamp KE, Winters AD, Theis KR. Body site-specific microbiota reflect sex and age-class among wild spotted hyenas. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 96:5700710. [PMID: 31926016 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-associated microbial communities, henceforth 'microbiota', can affect the physiology and behavior of their hosts. In mammals, host ecological, social and environmental variables are associated with variation in microbial communities. Within individuals in a given mammalian species, the microbiota also partitions by body site. Here, we build on this work and sequence the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to profile the microbiota at six distinct body sites (ear, nasal and oral cavities, prepuce, rectum and anal scent gland) in a population of wild spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), which are highly social, large African carnivores. We inquired whether microbiota at these body sites vary with host sex or social rank among juvenile hyenas, and whether they differ between juvenile females and adult females. We found that the scent gland microbiota differed between juvenile males and juvenile females, whereas the prepuce and rectal microbiota differed between adult females and juvenile females. Social rank, however, was not a significant predictor of microbiota profiles. Additionally, the microbiota varied considerably among the six sampled body sites and exhibited strong specificity among individual hyenas. Thus, our findings suggest that site-specific niche selection is a primary driver of microbiota structure in mammals, but endogenous host factors may also be influential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie A Rojas
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, 567 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, 293 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Kay E Holekamp
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, 567 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, 293 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Andrew D Winters
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 E Canfield St, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Kevin R Theis
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, 567 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 540 E Canfield St, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
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20
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DeCandia AL, Brenner LJ, King JL, vonHoldt BM. Ear mite infection is associated with altered microbial communities in genetically depauperate Santa Catalina Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis catalinae). Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1463-1475. [PMID: 31821650 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The host-associated microbiome is increasingly recognized as a critical player in health and immunity. Recent studies have shown that disruption of commensal microbial communities can contribute to disease pathogenesis and severity. Santa Catalina Island foxes (Urocyon littoralis catalinae) present a compelling system in which to examine microbial dynamics in wildlife due to their depauperate genomic structure and extremely high prevalence of ceruminous gland tumors. Although the precise cause is yet unknown, infection with ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) has been linked to chronic inflammation, which is associated with abnormal cell growth and tumor development. Given the paucity of genomic variation in these foxes, other dimensions of molecular diversity, such as commensal microbes, may be critical to host response and disease pathology. We characterized the host-associated microbiome across six body sites of Santa Catalina Island foxes, and performed differential abundance testing between healthy and mite-infected ear canals. We found that mite infection was significantly associated with reduced microbial diversity and evenness, with the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus pseudintermedius dominating the ear canal community. These results suggest that secondary bacterial infection may contribute to the sustained inflammation associated with tumor development. As the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains remains a concern of the medical, veterinary, and conservation communities, uncovering high relative abundance of S. pseudintermedius provides critical insight into the pathogenesis of this complex system. Through use of culture-independent sequencing techniques, this study contributes to the broader effort of applying a more inclusive understanding of molecular diversity to questions within wildlife disease ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L DeCandia
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | | | - Bridgett M vonHoldt
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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