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Williams CE, Fontaine SS. Commentary: The microbial dependence continuum: Towards a comparative physiology approach to understand host reliance on microbes. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2024; 296:111690. [PMID: 38964709 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2024.111690] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Comparative physiologists often compare physiological traits across organisms to understand the selective pressures influencing their evolution in different environments. Traditionally focused on the organisms themselves, comparative physiology has more recently incorporated studies of the microbiome-the communities of microbes living in and on animals that influence host physiology. In this commentary, we describe the utility of applying a comparative framework to study the microbiome, particularly in understanding how hosts vary in their dependence on microbial communities for physiological function, a concept we term the "microbial dependence continuum". This hypothesis suggests that hosts exist on a spectrum ranging from high to low reliance on their microbiota. Certain physiological traits may be highly dependent on microbes for proper function in some species but microbially independent in others. Comparative physiology can elucidate the selective pressures driving species along this continuum. Here, we discuss the microbial dependence continuum in detail and how comparative physiology can be useful to study it. Then, we discuss two example traits, herbivory and flight, where comparative physiology has helped reveal the selective pressures influencing host dependence on microbial communities. Lastly, we discuss useful experimental approaches for studying the microbial dependence continuum in a comparative physiology context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Williams
- University of Nevada, Department of Biology, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
| | - Samantha S Fontaine
- Kent State University, Department of Biological Sciences, 800 E Summit St, Kent, OH, USA. https://twitter.com/sammiefontaine
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2
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Fromm E, Zinger L, Pellerin F, Di Gesu L, Jacob S, Winandy L, Aguilée R, Parthuisot N, Iribar A, White J, Bestion E, Cote J. Warming effects on lizard gut microbiome depend on habitat connectivity. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240220. [PMID: 38654642 PMCID: PMC11040258 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0220] [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: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate warming and landscape fragmentation are both factors well known to threaten biodiversity and to generate species responses and adaptation. However, the impact of warming and fragmentation interplay on organismal responses remains largely under-explored, especially when it comes to gut symbionts, which may play a key role in essential host functions and traits by extending its functional and genetic repertoire. Here, we experimentally examined the combined effects of climate warming and habitat connectivity on the gut bacterial communities of the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) over three years. While the strength of effects varied over the years, we found that a 2°C warmer climate decreases lizard gut microbiome diversity in isolated habitats. However, enabling connectivity among habitats with warmer and cooler climates offset or even reversed warming effects. The warming effects and the association between host dispersal behaviour and microbiome diversity appear to be a potential driver of this interplay. This study suggests that preserving habitat connectivity will play a key role in mitigating climate change impacts, including the diversity of the gut microbiome, and calls for more studies combining multiple anthropogenic stressors when predicting the persistence of species and communities through global changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Fromm
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France
| | - Lucie Zinger
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Département de biologie, École normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
- Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Rua Boaventura da Silva 955, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Félix Pellerin
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France
| | - Lucie Di Gesu
- Station d'Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), UAR2029, CNRS, Moulis, France
| | - Staffan Jacob
- Station d'Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), UAR2029, CNRS, Moulis, France
| | - Laurane Winandy
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France
- High Fens Scientific Station, Freshwater and Oceanic Science Unit of Research (FOCUS), University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Robin Aguilée
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France
| | - Nathalie Parthuisot
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France
| | - Amaia Iribar
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France
| | - Joël White
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France
- École Nationale Supérieure de Formation de l'Enseignement Agricole, 2 Route de Narbonne, 31320 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Elvire Bestion
- Station d'Écologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), UAR2029, CNRS, Moulis, France
| | - Julien Cote
- Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement (CRBE), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD, Toulouse INP, Université Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier (UT3), Toulouse, France
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3
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Yang J, Liu W, Han X, Hao X, Yao Q, Du W. Gut microbiota modulation enhances the immune capacity of lizards under climate warming. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:37. [PMID: 38388458 PMCID: PMC10882899 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01736-2] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Host-microbial interactions are expected to affect species' adaptability to climate change but have rarely been explored in ectothermic animals. Some studies have shown that short-term warming reduced gut microbial diversity that could hamper host functional performance. RESULTS However, our longitudinal experiments in semi-natural conditions demonstrated that warming decreased gut microbiota diversity at 2 months, but increased diversity at 13 and 27 months in a desert lizard (Eremias multiocellata). Simultaneously, long-term warming significantly increased the antibacterial activity of serum, immune responses (higher expression of intestinal immune-related genes), and the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (thereby intestinal barrier and immunity) in the lizard. Fecal microbiota transplant experiments further revealed that increased diversity of gut microbiota significantly enhanced antibacterial activity and the immune response of lizards. More specifically, the enhanced immunity is likely due to the higher relative abundance of Bacteroides in warming lizards, given that the bacteria of Bacteroides fragilis regulated IFN-β expression to increase the immune response of lizards under a warming climate. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that gut microbiota can help ectotherms cope with climate warming by enhancing host immune response, and highlights the importance of long-term studies on host-microbial interactions and their biological impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Weiqiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xingzhi Han
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Wildlife and Protected Areas, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Xin Hao
- School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry (School of Agricultural and Rural, School of Rural Revitalization), Hainan University, Danzhou, 571737, China
| | - Qibin Yao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Weiguo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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4
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Alujević K, Bakewell L, Clifton IT, Cox CL, Frishkoff LO, Gangloff EJ, Garcia-Costoya G, Gifford ME, Glenwinkel M, Gulati SAK, Head A, Miles M, Pettit C, Watson CM, Wuthrich KL, Logan ML. 3D printed models are an accurate, cost-effective, and reproducible tool for quantifying terrestrial thermal environments. J Therm Biol 2024; 119:103762. [PMID: 38071898 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103762] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Predicting ecological responses to rapid environmental change has become one of the greatest challenges of modern biology. One of the major hurdles in forecasting these responses is accurately quantifying the thermal environments that organisms experience. The distribution of temperatures available within an organism's habitat is typically measured using data loggers called operative temperature models (OTMs) that are designed to mimic certain properties of heat exchange in the focal organism. The gold standard for OTM construction in studies of terrestrial ectotherms has been the use of copper electroforming which creates anatomically accurate models that equilibrate quickly to ambient thermal conditions. However, electroformed models require the use of caustic chemicals, are often brittle, and their production is expensive and time intensive. This has resulted in many researchers resorting to the use of simplified OTMs that can yield substantial measurement errors. 3D printing offers the prospect of robust, easily replicated, morphologically accurate, and cost-effective OTMs that capture the benefits but alleviate the problems associated with electroforming. Here, we validate the use of OTMs that were 3D printed using several materials across eight lizard species of different body sizes and living in habitats ranging from deserts to tropical forests. We show that 3D printed OTMs have low thermal inertia and predict the live animal's equilibration temperature with high accuracy across a wide range of body sizes and microhabitats. Finally, we developed a free online repository and database of 3D scans (https://www.3dotm.org/) to increase the accessibility of this tool to researchers around the world and facilitate ease of production of 3D printed models. 3D printing of OTMs is generalizable to taxa beyond lizards. If widely adopted, this approach promises greater accuracy and reproducibility in studies of terrestrial thermal ecology and should lead to improved forecasts of the biological impacts of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Alujević
- Department of Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
| | - Leah Bakewell
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute for the Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Ian T Clifton
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute for the Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA; Department of Biology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR, 72204, USA
| | - Christian L Cox
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute for the Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Luke O Frishkoff
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Eric J Gangloff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, 43015, USA
| | - Guillermo Garcia-Costoya
- Department of Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Matthew E Gifford
- Department of Biology, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR, 72035, USA
| | - Madison Glenwinkel
- Department of Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Samir A K Gulati
- Department of Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
| | - Alyssa Head
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, 43015, USA
| | - Monica Miles
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Ciara Pettit
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, 43015, USA
| | - Charles M Watson
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Kelly L Wuthrich
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute for the Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA
| | - Michael L Logan
- Department of Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
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Pirani RM, Arias CF, Charles K, Chung AK, Curlis JD, Nicholson DJ, Vargas M, Cox CL, McMillan WO, Logan ML. A high-quality genome for the slender anole (Anolis apletophallus): an emerging model for field studies of tropical ecology and evolution. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 14:jkad248. [PMID: 37875105 PMCID: PMC10755174 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad248] [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: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
The slender anole, Anolis apletophallus, is a small arboreal lizard of the rainforest understory of central and eastern Panama. This species has been the subject of numerous ecological and evolutionary studies over the past 60 years as a result of attributes that make it especially amenable to field and laboratory science. Slender anoles are highly abundant, short-lived (nearly 100% annual turnover), easy to manipulate in both the lab and field, and are ubiquitous in the forests surrounding the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, where researchers have access to high-quality laboratory facilities. Here, we present a high-quality genome for the slender anole, which is an important new resource for studying this model species. We assembled and annotated the slender anole genome by combining 3 technologies: Oxford Nanopore, 10× Genomics Linked-Reads, and Dovetail Omni-C. We compared this genome with the recently published brown anole (Anolis sagrei) and the canonical green anole (Anolis carolinensis) genomes. Our genome is the first assembled for an Anolis lizard from mainland Central or South America, the regions that host the majority of diversity in the genus. This new reference genome is one of the most complete genomes of any anole assembled to date and should facilitate deeper studies of slender anole evolution, as well as broader scale comparative genomic studies of both mainland and island species. In turn, such studies will further our understanding of the well-known adaptive radiation of Anolis lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata M Pirani
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
| | - Carlos F Arias
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
- Data Science Lab, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA
| | - Kristin Charles
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Albert K Chung
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-2016, USA
| | - John David Curlis
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1085, USA
| | - Daniel J Nicholson
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
- University of Texas, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Marta Vargas
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
| | - Christian L Cox
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - W Owen McMillan
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
| | - Michael L Logan
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City 0843-03092, Panama
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6
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Niu Y, Li X, Zhang H, Xu T, Wei D, An Z, Storey KB. Hepatic transcriptome and gut microbiome provide insights into freeze tolerance in the high-altitude frog, Nanorana parkeri. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2023; 48:101147. [PMID: 37797475 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Among amphibians, freeze tolerance is a low-temperature survival strategy that has been well studied in several species. One influence on animal health and survival under adverse conditions is the gut microbiome. Gut microbes can be greatly affected by temperature fluctuations but, to date, this has not been addressed in high-altitude species. Nanorana parkeri (Anura: Dicroglossidae) lives at high altitudes on the Tibetan plateau and shows a good freeze tolerance. In the present study, we addressed two goals: (1) analysis of the effects of whole body freezing on the liver transcriptome, and (2) assess modifications of the gut microbiome as a consequence of freezing. We found that up-regulated genes in liver were significantly enriched in lipid and fatty acid metabolism that could contribute to accumulating the cryoprotectant glycerol and raising levels of unsaturated fatty acids. The results suggest the crucial importance of membrane adaptations and fuel reserves for freezing survival of these frogs. Down-regulated genes were significantly enriched in the immune response and inflammatory response, suggesting that energy-consuming processes are inhibited to maintain metabolic depression during freezing. Moreover, freezing had a significant effect on intestinal microbiota. The abundance of bacteria in the family Lachnospiraceae was significantly increased after freezing exposure, which likely supports freezing survival of N. parkeri. The lower abundance of bacteria in the family Peptostreptococcaceae in frozen frogs may be associated with the hypometabolic state and decreased immune response. In summary, these findings provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms of freeze tolerance in a high-altitude amphibian at the level of gene expression and gut microbiome, and contribute to enhancing our understanding of the adaptations that support frog survival in high-altitude extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Niu
- Department of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China.
| | - Xiangyong Li
- Department of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China; Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, China
| | - Haiying Zhang
- Department of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Tisen Xu
- Department of Life Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, China
| | - Dengbang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Zhifang An
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Kenneth B Storey
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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7
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Williams CE, Brown AE, Williams CL. The role of diet and host species in shaping the seasonal dynamics of the gut microbiome. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad156. [PMID: 38070877 PMCID: PMC10750813 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad156] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome plays an important role in the health and fitness of hosts. While previous studies have characterized the importance of various ecological and evolutionary factors in shaping the composition of the gut microbiome, most studies have been cross-sectional in nature, ignoring temporal variation. Thus, it remains unknown how these same factors might affect the stability and dynamics of the gut microbiome over time, resulting in variation across the tree of life. Here, we used samples collected in each of four seasons for three taxa: the herbivorous southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum, n = 5); the carnivorous Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae, n = 5); and the red panda (Ailurus fulgens, n = 9), a herbivorous carnivore that underwent a diet shift in its evolutionary history from carnivory to a primarily bamboo-based diet. We characterize the variability of the gut microbiome among these three taxa across time to elucidate the influence of diet and host species on these dynamics. Altogether, we found that red pandas exhibit marked seasonal variation in their gut microbial communities, experiencing both high microbial community turnover and high variation in how individual red panda's gut microbiota respond to seasonal changes. Conversely, while the gut microbiota of rhinoceros change throughout the year, all individuals respond in the same way to seasonal changes. Tigers experience relatively low levels of turnover throughout the year, yet the ways in which individuals respond to seasonal transitions are highly varied. We highlight how the differences in microbiome richness and network connectivity between these three species may affect the level of temporal stability in the gut microbiota across the year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Williams
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, United States
| | - Ashli E Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, MS State, MS 39762, United States
| | - Candace L Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, MS State, MS 39762, United States
- Beckman Center for Conservation Science, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, CA 92027, United States
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8
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Risely A, Müller-Klein N, Schmid DW, Wilhelm K, Clutton-Brock TH, Manser MB, Sommer S. Climate change drives loss of bacterial gut mutualists at the expense of host survival in wild meerkats. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:5816-5828. [PMID: 37485753 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16877] [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: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and climate-driven increases in infectious disease threaten wildlife populations globally. Gut microbial responses are predicted to either buffer or exacerbate the negative impacts of these twin pressures on host populations. However, examples that document how gut microbial communities respond to long-term shifts in climate and associated disease risk, and the consequences for host survival, are rare. Over the past two decades, wild meerkats inhabiting the Kalahari have experienced rapidly rising temperatures, which is linked to the spread of tuberculosis (TB). We show that over the same period, the faecal microbiota of this population has become enriched in Bacteroidia and impoverished in lactic acid bacteria (LAB), a group of bacteria including Lactococcus and Lactobacillus that are considered gut mutualists. These shifts occurred within individuals yet were compounded over generations, and were better explained by mean maximum temperatures than mean rainfall over the previous year. Enriched Bacteroidia were additionally associated with TB exposure and disease, the dry season and poorer body condition, factors that were all directly linked to reduced future survival. Lastly, abundances of LAB taxa were independently and positively linked to future survival, while enriched taxa did not predict survival. Together, these results point towards extreme temperatures driving an expansion of a disease-associated pathobiome and loss of beneficial taxa. Our study provides the first evidence from a longitudinally sampled population that climate change is restructuring wildlife gut microbiota, and that these changes may amplify the negative impacts of climate change through the loss of gut mutualists. While the plastic response of host-associated microbiotas is key for host adaptation under normal environmental fluctuations, extreme temperature increases might lead to a breakdown of coevolved host-mutualist relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Risely
- Institute for Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- School of Science, Engineering, and the Environment, Salford University, Salford, UK
| | - Nadine Müller-Klein
- Institute for Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dominik W Schmid
- Institute for Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kerstin Wilhelm
- Institute for Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tim H Clutton-Brock
- Large Animal Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa
| | - Marta B Manser
- Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute for Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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9
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Williams CE, Williams CL, Logan ML. Climate change is not just global warming: Multidimensional impacts on animal gut microbiota. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:1736-1744. [PMID: 37247194 PMCID: PMC10443335 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change has rapidly altered many ecosystems, with detrimental effects for biodiversity across the globe. In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that the microorganisms that live in and on animals can substantially affect host health and physiology, and the structure and function of these microbial communities can be highly sensitive to environmental variables. To date, most studies have focused on the effects of increasing mean temperature on gut microbiota, yet other aspects of climate are also shifting, including temperature variation, seasonal dynamics, precipitation and the frequency of severe weather events. This array of environmental pressures might interact in complex and non-intuitive ways to impact gut microbiota and consequently alter animal fitness. Therefore, understanding the impacts of climate change on animals requires a consideration of multiple types of environmental stressors and their interactive effects on gut microbiota. Here, we present an overview of some of the major findings in research on climatic effects on microbial communities in the animal gut. Although ample evidence has now accumulated that shifts in mean temperature can have important effects on gut microbiota and their hosts, much less work has been conducted on the effects of other climatic variables and their interactions. We provide recommendations for additional research needed to mechanistically link climate change with shifts in animal gut microbiota and host fitness.
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10
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Gao W, Yang Y, Shi L. Seasonal dietary shifts alter the gut microbiota of a frugivorous lizard Teratoscincus roborowskii (Squamata, Sphaerodactylidae). Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10363. [PMID: 37546566 PMCID: PMC10396791 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10363] [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: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Seasonal dietary shifts in animals are important strategies for ecological adaptation. An increasing number of studies have shown that seasonal dietary shifts can influence or even determine the composition of gut microbiota. The Turpan wonder gecko, Teratoscincus roborowskii, lives in extreme desert environments and has a flexible dietary shift to fruit-eating in warm seasons. However, the effect of such shifts on the gut microbiota is poorly understood. In this study, 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS metabolomics were used to examine changes in the gut microbiota composition and metabolic patterns of T. roborowskii. The results demonstrated that the gut microbes of T. roborowskii underwent significant seasonal changes, and the abundance of phylum level in autumn was significantly higher than spring, but meanwhile, the diversity was lower. At the family level, the abundance and diversity of the gut microbiota were both higher in autumn. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were the dominant gut microbes of T. roborowskii. Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria exhibited dynamic ebb and flow patterns between spring and autumn. Metabolomic profiling also revealed differences mainly related to the formation of secondary bile acids. The pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, and lysine degradation pathways identified by KEGG enrichment symbolize the exuberant metabolic capacity of T. roborowskii. Furthermore, strong correlations were detected between metabolite types and bacteria, and this correlation may be an important adaptation of T. roborowskii to cope with dietary shifts and improve energy acquisition. Our study provides a theoretical basis for exploring the adaptive evolution of the special frugivorous behavior of T. roborowskii, which is an important progress in the study of gut microbes in desert lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei‐Zhen Gao
- College of Life SciencesXinjiang Agricultural UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Yi Yang
- College of Life SciencesXinjiang Agricultural UniversityUrumqiChina
| | - Lei Shi
- College of Life SciencesXinjiang Agricultural UniversityUrumqiChina
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