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Love AC, Tabb V, Youssef NH, Wilder SM, DuRant SE. Effect of dietary macronutrients and immune challenge on gut microbiota, physiology and feeding behaviour in zebra finches. Mol Ecol 2024:e17428. [PMID: 38837812 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Macronutrients play a vital role in host immunity and can influence host-pathogen dynamics, potentially through dietary effects on gut microbiota. To increase our understanding of how dietary macronutrients affect physiology and gut microbiota and investigate whether feeding behaviour is influenced by an immune threat, we conducted two experiments. First, we determined whether zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) exhibit shifts in physiology and gut microbiota when fed diets differing in macronutrient ratios. We found the type and amount of diet consumed affected gut microbiota alpha diversity, where microbial richness and Shannon diversity increased with caloric intake in birds fed a high-fat diet and decreased with caloric intake in birds fed a high protein diet. Diet macronutrient content did not affect physiological metrics, but lower caloric intake was associated with higher complement activity. In our second experiment, we simulated an infection in birds using the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and quantified feeding behaviour in immune challenged and control individuals, as well as birds housed near either a control pair (no immune threat), or birds housed near a pair given an immune challenge with LPS (social cue of heightened infection risk). We also examined whether social cues of infection alter physiological responses relevant to responding to an immune threat, an effect that could be mediated through shifts in feeding behaviour. LPS induced a reduction in caloric intake driven by a decrease in protein, but not fat consumption. No evidence was found for socially induced shifts in feeding behaviour, physiology or gut microbiota. Our findings carry implications for host health, as sickness-induced anorexia and diet-induced shifts in the microbiome could shape host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley C Love
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Victoria Tabb
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Noha H Youssef
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Shawn M Wilder
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Sarah E DuRant
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
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2
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Hu B, Wang JM, Zhang QX, Xu J, Xing YN, Wang B, Han SY, He HX. Enterococcus faecalis provides protection during scavenging in carrion crow ( Corvus corone). Zool Res 2024; 45:451-463. [PMID: 38583936 PMCID: PMC11188602 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.320] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota significantly influences host physiology and provides essential ecosystem services. While diet can affect the composition of the gut microbiota, the gut microbiota can also help the host adapt to specific dietary habits. The carrion crow ( Corvus corone), an urban facultative scavenger bird, hosts an abundance of pathogens due to its scavenging behavior. Despite this, carrion crows infrequently exhibit illness, a phenomenon related to their unique physiological adaptability. At present, however, the role of the gut microbiota remains incompletely understood. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technology to assess colonic content in carrion crows and 16 other bird species with different diets in Beijing, China. Our findings revealed that the dominant gut microbiota in carrion crows was primarily composed of Proteobacteria (75.51%) and Firmicutes (22.37%). Significant differences were observed in the relative abundance of Enterococcus faecalis among groups, highlighting its potential as a biomarker of facultative scavenging behavior in carrion crows. Subsequently, E. faecalis isolated from carrion crows was transplanted into model mice to explore the protective effects of this bacterial community against Salmonella enterica infection. Results showed that E. faecalis down-regulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), prevented S. enterica colonization, and regulated the composition of gut microbiota in mice, thereby modulating the host's immune regulatory capacity. Therefore, E. faecalis exerts immunoregulatory and anti-pathogenic functions in carrion crows engaged in scavenging behavior, offering a representative case of how the gut microbiota contributes to the protection of hosts with specialized diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jia-Min Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qing-Xun Zhang
- Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing 102600, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Beijing Capital International Airport Co., Ltd., Beijing 101300, China
| | - Ya-Nan Xing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bo Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shu-Yi Han
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong-Xuan He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. E-mail:
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3
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Dunbar A, Drigo B, Djordjevic SP, Donner E, Hoye BJ. Impacts of coprophagic foraging behaviour on the avian gut microbiome. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:582-597. [PMID: 38062990 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13036] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Avian gut microbial communities are complex and play a fundamental role in regulating biological functions within an individual. Although it is well established that diet can influence the structure and composition of the gut microbiota, foraging behaviour may also play a critical, yet unexplored role in shaping the composition, dynamics, and adaptive potential of avian gut microbiota. In this review, we examine the potential influence of coprophagic foraging behaviour on the establishment and adaptability of wild avian gut microbiomes. Coprophagy involves the ingestion of faeces, sourced from either self (autocoprophagy), conspecific animals (allocoprophagy), or heterospecific animals. Much like faecal transplant therapy, coprophagy may (i) support the establishment of the gut microbiota of young precocial species, (ii) directly and indirectly provide nutritional and energetic requirements, and (iii) represent a mechanism by which birds can rapidly adapt the microbiota to changing environments and diets. However, in certain contexts, coprophagy may also pose risks to wild birds, and their microbiomes, through increased exposure to chemical pollutants, pathogenic microbes, and antibiotic-resistant microbes, with deleterious effects on host health and performance. Given the potentially far-reaching consequences of coprophagy for avian microbiomes, and the dearth of literature directly investigating these links, we have developed a predictive framework for directing future research to understand better when and why wild birds engage in distinct types of coprophagy, and the consequences of this foraging behaviour. There is a need for comprehensive investigation into the influence of coprophagy on avian gut microbiotas and its effects on host health and performance throughout ontogeny and across a range of environmental perturbations. Future behavioural studies combined with metagenomic approaches are needed to provide insights into the function of this poorly understood behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Dunbar
- Future Industries Institute (FII), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, GPO Box 2471 5095, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Barbara Drigo
- Future Industries Institute (FII), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, GPO Box 2471 5095, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia
| | - Steven P Djordjevic
- Australian Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Ultimo, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
- Australian Centre for Genomic Epidemiological Microbiology, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Ultimo, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - Erica Donner
- Future Industries Institute (FII), University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, GPO Box 2471 5095, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food, and Environments (CRC SAAFE), University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471 5095, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Bethany J Hoye
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia
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4
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Ruuskanen S. Early-life environmental effects on birds: epigenetics and microbiome as mechanisms underlying long-lasting phenotypic changes. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246024. [PMID: 38449325 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246024] [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] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Although the long-lasting effects of variation in early-life environment have been well documented across organisms, the underlying causal mechanisms are only recently starting to be unraveled. Yet understanding the underlying mechanisms of long-lasting effects can help us predict how organisms will respond to changing environments. Birds offer a great system in which to study developmental plasticity and its underlying mechanisms owing to the production of large external eggs and variation in developmental trajectories, combined with a long tradition of applied, physiological, ecological and evolutionary research. Epigenetic changes (such as DNA methylation) have been suggested to be a key mechanism mediating long-lasting effects of the early-life environment across taxa. More recently, changes in the early-life gut microbiome have been identified as another potential mediator of developmental plasticity. As a first step in understanding whether these mechanisms contribute to developmental plasticity in birds, this Review summarizes how changes in early-life environment (both prenatal and postnatal) influence epigenetic markers and the gut microbiome. The literature shows how both early-life biotic (such as resources and social environment) and abiotic (thermal environment and various anthropogenic stressors) factors modify epigenetic markers and the gut microbiome in birds, yet data concerning many other environmental factors are limited. The causal links of these modifications to lasting phenotypic changes are still scarce, but changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis have been identified as one putative pathway. This Review identifies several knowledge gaps, including data on the long-term effects, stability of the molecular changes, and lack of diversity in the systems studied, and provides directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvi Ruuskanen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Survontie 9C, 40500 Jyväskylä, Finland
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Vesilinnankatu 5, 20500 Turku, Finland
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5
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Wu Y, Xiong Y, Ji Y, Cheng Y, Zhu Q, Jiao X, Chang Y, Zhao N, Yang J, Lei F, Song G. Metabolic and microbial changes in light-vented bulbul during recent northward range expansion. Curr Zool 2024; 70:24-33. [PMID: 38476130 PMCID: PMC10926257 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Endotherms recently expanding to cold environments generally exhibit strong physiological acclimation to sustain high body temperature. During this process, gut microbes likely play a considerable role in host physiological functions, including digestion and thermogenesis. The light-vented bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis represents one such species. It used to be restricted to the Oriental realm but expanded its distribution range north to the Palearctic areas during the past few decades. Here, we explored the seasonal dynamics of the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and microbiota for local and newly colonized populations of the species. Our results showed that the mass-adjusted RMR and body mass were positively correlated with latitude variations in both seasons. Consistently, the gut microbiota showed a corresponding variation to the northern cold environments. In the two northern populations, the alpha diversity decreased compared with those of the two southern populations. Significant differences were detected in dominant phyla, such as Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Desulfobacterota in both seasons. The core microbiota showed geographic differences in the winter, including the elevated relative abundance of 5 species in northern populations. Finally, to explore the link between microbial communities and host metabolic thermogenesis, we conducted a correlation analysis between microbiota and mass-adjusted RMR. We found that more genera were significantly correlated with mass-adjusted RMR in the wintering season compared to the breeding season (71 vs. 23). These results suggest that microbiota of the lighted-vented bulbul linked with thermogenesis in diversity and abundance under northward expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Zoology, College of Life science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya’an 625099, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanzhu Ji
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yalin Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qianghui Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaolu Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yongbin Chang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Henan Engineering Research Center of Bird-Related Outage, Zhengzhou Normal University, Zhengzhou 450044, China
| | - Na Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, Anhui, China
| | - Jing Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xian 710021, China
| | - Fumin Lei
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Gang Song
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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6
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Sun Y, Hao Y, Zhang Q, Liu X, Wang L, Li J, Li M, Li D. Coping with extremes: Alternations in diet, gut microbiota, and hepatic metabolic functions in a highland passerine. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167079. [PMID: 37714349 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167079] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
In wild animals, diet and gut microbiota interactions are critical moderators of metabolic functions and are highly contingent on habitat conditions. Challenged by the extreme conditions of high-altitude environments, the strategies implemented by highland animals to adjust their diet and gut microbial composition and modulate their metabolic substrates remain largely unexplored. By employing a typical human commensal species, the Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus, ETS), as a model species, we studied the differences in diet, digestive tract morphology and enzyme activity, gut microbiota, and metabolic energy profiling between highland (the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, QTP; 3230 m) and lowland (Shijiazhuang, Hebei; 80 m) populations. Our results showed that highland ETSs had enlarged digestive organs and longer small intestinal villi, while no differences in key digestive enzyme activities were observed between the two populations. The 18S rRNA sequencing results revealed that the dietary composition of highland ETSs were more animal-based and less plant-based than those of the lowland ones. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing results suggested that the intestinal microbial communities were structurally segregated between populations. PICRUSt metagenome predictions further indicated that the expression patterns of microbial genes involved in material and energy metabolism, immune system and infection, and xenobiotic biodegradation were strikingly different between the two populations. Analysis of liver metabolomics revealed significant metabolic differences between highland and lowland ETSs in terms of substrate utilization, as well as distinct sex-specific alterations in glycerophospholipids. Furthermore, the interplay between diet, liver metabolism, and gut microbiota suggests a dietary shift resulting in corresponding changes in gut microbiota and metabolic functions. Our findings indicate that highland ETSs have evolved to optimize digestion and absorption, rely on more protein-rich foods, and possess gut microbiota tailored to their dietary composition, likely adaptive physiological and ecological strategies adopted to cope with extreme highland environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfeng Sun
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao 066003, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Yaotong Hao
- Ocean College, Hebei Agricultural University, Qinhuangdao 066003, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Limin Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Juyong Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Mo Li
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou 061001, China.
| | - Dongming Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China.
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7
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Navine AK, Paxton KL, Paxton EH, Hart PJ, Foster JT, McInerney N, Fleischer RC, Videvall E. Microbiomes associated with avian malaria survival differ between susceptible Hawaiian honeycreepers and sympatric malaria-resistant introduced birds. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6659-6670. [PMID: 36281504 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Of the estimated 55 Hawaiian honeycreepers (subfamily Carduelinae) only 17 species remain, nine of which the International Union for Conservation of Nature considers endangered. Among the most pressing threats to honeycreeper survival is avian malaria, caused by the introduced blood parasite Plasmodium relictum, which is increasing in distribution in Hawai'i as a result of climate change. Preventing further honeycreeper decline will require innovative conservation strategies that confront malaria from multiple angles. Research on mammals has revealed strong connections between gut microbiome composition and malaria susceptibility, illuminating a potential novel approach to malaria control through the manipulation of gut microbiota. One honeycreeper species, Hawai'i 'amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens), persists in areas of high malaria prevalence, indicating they have acquired some level of immunity. To investigate if avian host-specific microbes may be associated with malaria survival, we characterized cloacal microbiomes and malaria infection for 174 'amakihi and 172 malaria-resistant warbling white-eyes (Zosterops japonicus) from Hawai'i Island using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Neither microbial alpha nor beta diversity covaried with infection, but 149 microbes showed positive associations with malaria survivors. Among these were Escherichia and Lactobacillus spp., which appear to mitigate malaria severity in mammalian hosts, revealing promising candidates for future probiotic research for augmenting malaria immunity in sensitive endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K Navine
- Biology Department, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii, USA
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kristina L Paxton
- Hawai'i Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hawai'i National Park, Hawaii, USA
| | - Eben H Paxton
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Hawai'i National Park, Hawaii, USA
| | - Patrick J Hart
- Biology Department, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Foster
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - Nancy McInerney
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Robert C Fleischer
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Elin Videvall
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary 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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8
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Xin J, Cao H, Bao X, Hu C. Does nest occupancy by birds influence the microbial composition? Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1232208. [PMID: 38053547 PMCID: PMC10694247 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1232208] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nest microbiota plays a vital role in the breeding and development of birds, which not only provides protection to bird hosts but also negatively affects the host. At present, it is unclear whether the composition of the microbes in the nests is affected by nesting. For this reason, we hung artificial nest boxes to simulate the natural nesting environment and combined 16S rRNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing technology to further study the differences in microbial composition and richness between used nests and control nests of Japanese tits (Parus minor). The study found that the bacteria in used nests and control nests showed significant differences at the phylum level (p < 0.05). It is also worth noting that the predominant bacteria in used nests were Proteobacteria (51.37%), Actinobacteria (29.72%), Bacteroidetes (6.59%), and Firmicutes (3.82%), while the predominant bacteria in control nests were Proteobacteria (93.70%), Bacteroidetes (2.33%), and Acidobacteria (2.06%). Both used nests and control nests showed similar fungi at the phylum level, which consisted mainly of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, although significant differences were found in their relative abundance between both groups. The results of alpha diversity analysis showed significant differences in bacteria between the two groups and not in fungi. However, the beta diversity analysis showed significant differences between both bacteria and fungi. In summary, our results showed that the used nests had a higher abundance of beneficial microbiota and a lower presence of pathogenic microbiota. Therefore, we speculate that birds will change the characteristics of the nest microbial composition in the process of nest breeding to ensure their smooth reproductive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Xin
- College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Heqin Cao
- Forestry College, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
- Research Center for Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Xiaoyang Bao
- College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Canshi Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
- Research Center for Biodiversity and Nature Conservation, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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9
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Florkowski MR, Hamer SA, Yorzinski JL. Brief exposure to captivity in a songbird is associated with reduced diversity and altered composition of the gut microbiome. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad096. [PMID: 37586886 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad096] [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: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome is important for host fitness and is influenced by many factors including the host's environment. Captive environments could potentially influence the richness and composition of the microbiome and understanding these effects could be useful information for the care and study of millions of animals in captivity. While previous studies have found that the microbiome often changes due to captivity, they have not examined how quickly these changes can occur. We predicted that the richness of the gut microbiome of wild-caught birds would decrease with brief exposure to captivity and that their microbiome communities would become more homogeneous. To test these predictions, we captured wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and collected fecal samples to measure their gut microbiomes immediately after capture ("wild sample") and again 5-10 days after capture ("captive sample"). There were significant differences in beta diversity between the wild and captive samples, and captive microbiome communities were more homogenous but only when using nonphylogenetic measures. Alpha diversity of the birds' microbiomes also decreased in captivity. The functional profiles of the microbiome changed, possibly reflecting differences in stress or the birds' diets before and during captivity. Overall, we found significant changes in the richness and composition of the microbiome after only a short exposure to captivity. These findings highlight the necessity of considering microbiome changes in captive animals for research and conservation purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R Florkowski
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Blvd, College Station, TX 77845, United States
| | - Sarah A Hamer
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Blvd, College Station, TX 77845, United States
- Schubot Center for Avian Health, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 701 Farm to Market Service Road, College Station, TX 77840, United States
| | - Jessica L Yorzinski
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Blvd, College Station, TX 77845, United States
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, 534 John Kimbrough Blvd, College Station, TX 77845, United States
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10
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Xu W, Xu N, Zhang Q, Tang K, Zhu Y, Chen R, Zhao X, Ye W, Lu C, Liu H. Association between diet and the gut microbiome of young captive red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis). BMC Vet Res 2023; 19:80. [PMID: 37391732 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03636-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exploring the association of diet and indoor and outdoor environments on the gut microbiome of red-crowned cranes. We investigated the microbiome profile of the 24 fecal samples collected from nine cranes from day 1 to 35. Differences in the gut microbiome composition were compared across diet and environments. RESULTS A total of 2,883 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected, with 438 species-specific OTUs and 106 OTUs common to the gut microbiomes of four groups. The abundance of Dietzia and Clostridium XI increased significantly when the red-crowned cranes were initially fed live mealworms. Skermanella and Deinococcus increased after the red-crowned cranes were fed fruits and vegetables and placed outdoors. Thirty-three level II pathway categories were predicted. Our study revealed the mechanism by which the gut microbiota of red-crowned cranes responds to dietary and environmental changes, laying a foundation for future breeding, nutritional and physiological studies of this species. CONCLUSIONS The gut microbiome of red-crowned cranes could adapt to changes in diet and environment, but the proportion of live mealworms in captive red-crowned cranes can be appropriately reduced at the initial feeding stage, reducing the negative impact of high-protein and high-fat foods on the gut microbiome and growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Nan Xu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Qingzheng Zhang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Keyi Tang
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610042, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- Institute of Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Rong Chen
- Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo, Nanjing, 210028, China
| | - Xinyi Zhao
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Wentao Ye
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Changhu Lu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Hongyi Liu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
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11
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Liukkonen M, Hukkanen M, Cossin-Sevrin N, Stier A, Vesterinen E, Grond K, Ruuskanen S. No evidence for associations between brood size, gut microbiome diversity and survival in great tit (Parus major) nestlings. Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:19. [PMID: 36949549 PMCID: PMC10031902 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-023-00241-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut microbiome forms at an early stage, yet data on the environmental factors influencing the development of wild avian microbiomes is limited. As the gut microbiome is a vital part of organismal health, it is important to understand how it may connect to host performance. The early studies with wild gut microbiome have shown that the rearing environment may be of importance in gut microbiome formation, yet the results vary across taxa, and the effects of specific environmental factors have not been characterized. Here, wild great tit (Parus major) broods were manipulated to either reduce or enlarge the original brood soon after hatching. We investigated if brood size was associated with nestling bacterial gut microbiome, and whether gut microbiome diversity predicted survival. Fecal samples were collected at mid-nestling stage and sequenced with the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and nestling growth and survival were measured. RESULTS Gut microbiome diversity showed high variation between individuals, but this variation was not significantly explained by brood size or body mass. Additionally, we did not find a significant effect of brood size on body mass or gut microbiome composition. We also demonstrated that early handling had no impact on nestling performance or gut microbiome. Furthermore, we found no significant association between gut microbiome diversity and short-term (survival to fledging) or mid-term (apparent juvenile) survival. CONCLUSIONS We found no clear association between early-life environment, offspring condition and gut microbiome. This suggests that brood size is not a significantly contributing factor to great tit nestling condition, and that other environmental and genetic factors may be more strongly linked to offspring condition and gut microbiome. Future studies should expand into other early-life environmental factors e.g., diet composition and quality, and parental influences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martta Liukkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
| | - Mikaela Hukkanen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Antoine Stier
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, 69622, Lyon, France
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR7178, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Kirsten Grond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
| | - Suvi Ruuskanen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyvaskyla, Finland
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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12
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Costanzo A, Ambrosini R, Franzetti A, Romano A, Cecere JG, Morganti M, Rubolini D, Gandolfi I. The cloacal microbiome of a cavity-nesting raptor, the lesser kestrel ( Falco naumanni). PeerJ 2022; 10:e13927. [PMID: 36221261 PMCID: PMC9548316 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Microbial communities are found on any part of animal bodies exposed to the environment, and are particularly prominent in the gut, where they play such a major role in the host metabolism and physiology to be considered a "second genome". These communities, collectively known as "microbiome", are well studied in humans and model species, while studies on wild animals have lagged behind. This is unfortunate, as different studies suggested the central role of the gut microbiome in shaping the evolutionary trajectories of species and their population dynamics. Among bird species, only few descriptions of raptor gut microbiomes are available, and mainly carried out on captive individuals. Objectives In this study, we aimed at improving the knowledge of raptor microbiomes by providing the first description of the gut microbiome of the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), a cavity-nesting raptor. Results The gut microbiome of the lesser kestrel was dominated by Actinobacteria (83.9%), Proteobacteria (8.6%) and Firmicutes (4.3%). We detected no differences in microbiome composition between males and females. Furthermore, the general composition of the microbiome appears similar to that of phylogenetically distant cavity-nesting species. Conclusions Our results broaden the knowledge of raptor gut microbial communities and let us hypothesize that the distinct nest environment in terms of microclimate and presence of organic material from previous breeding attempts, to which cavity-nesting species that reuse the nest are exposed, might be an important driver shaping microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Costanzo
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Franzetti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan—Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Jacopo G. Cecere
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per La Protezione e La Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Ozzano Emilia, (BO), Italy
| | - Michelangelo Morganti
- IRSA-CNR, Water Research Institute-National Research Council of Italy, Brugherio, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- IRSA-CNR, Water Research Institute-National Research Council of Italy, Brugherio, Italy
| | - Isabella Gandolfi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan—Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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13
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Mohr AE, Basile AJ, Sweazea KL. An urban diet differentially alters the gut microbiome and metabolomic profiles compared with a seed diet in mourning doves. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2022; 323:R385-R396. [PMID: 35913000 PMCID: PMC9484994 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00323.2021] [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: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Urbanization influences food quality and availability for many avian species, with increased access to human refuse and food subsidies in built environments. In relation to such nutritional intakes and their presumed impact on microbes harbored in the intestinal tract and metabolic profiles of host physiological systems, our overall knowledge of the role of gut microbiome (GM) and metabolomic expression in the avian host lags far behind our understanding of mammals. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to examine the potential differential effect of an urban modeled versus control (i.e., bird seed) diet on the GM, the metabolic profiles of plasma, liver, adipose, kidney, and muscle tissues, and circulating endotoxin and inflammatory factors in urban-caught mourning doves (Zenaida macroura). We hypothesized that the urban diet would differently impact the profiles of the GM and tissue metabolomes and increase plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and proinflammatory factors compared with animals fed a seed diet. After a 4-wk-diet period, contents of the large intestine were sequenced to profile the microbiome, metabolomic analyses were performed on plasma and tissue homogenates, and circulating LPS and inflammatory markers were assessed. The composition of the GM was significantly dissimilar between diets, with greater abundance of Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, Sanguibacteraceae, Oribacterium, and Sanguibacter and decreased circulating LPS in the urban-fed birds. These differences were largely not reflected in the surveyed metabolomes and plasma inflammatory markers. This research supports the notion that the microbial composition in urban doves is impacted by diet, though may only weakly associate with host physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex E Mohr
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Anthony J Basile
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Karen L Sweazea
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
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14
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Drovetski SV, Schmidt BK, Lai JE, Gross MS, Hladik ML, Matterson KO, Karouna-Renier NK. Exposure to crop production alters cecal prokaryotic microbiota, inflates virulome and resistome in wild prairie grouse. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119418. [PMID: 35526643 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119418] [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: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Chemically intensive crop production depletes wildlife food resources, hinders animal development, health, survival, and reproduction, and it suppresses wildlife immune systems, facilitating emergence of infectious diseases with excessive mortality rates. Gut microbiota is crucial for wildlife's response to environmental stressors. Its composition and functionality are sensitive to diet changes and environmental pollution associated with modern crop production. In this study we use shotgun metagenomics (median 8,326,092 sequences/sample) to demonstrate that exposure to modern crop production detrimentally affects cecal microbiota of sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus: 9 exposed, 18 unexposed and greater prairie chickens (T. cupido; 11, 11). Exposure to crop production had greater effect on microbiota richness (t = 6.675, P < 0.001) and composition (PERMANOVA r2 = 0.212, P = 0.001) than did the host species (t = 4.762, P < 0.001; r2 = 0.070, P = 0.001) or their interaction (t = 3.449; r2 = 0.072, both P = 0.001), whereas sex and age had no effect. Although microbiota richness was greater in exposed (T. cupido chao1 = 152.8 ± 20.5; T. phasianellus 115.3 ± 17.1) than in unexposed (102.9 ± 15.1 and 101.1 ± 17.2, respectively) birds, some beneficial bacteria dropped out of exposed birds' microbiota or declined and were replaced by potential pathogens. Exposed birds also had higher richness and load of virulome (mean ± standard deviation; T. cupido 24.8 ± 10.0 and 10.1 ± 5.5, respectively; T. phasianellus 13.4 ± 6.8/4.9 ± 2.8) and resistome (T. cupido 46.8 ± 11.7/28.9 ± 10.2, T. phasianellus 38.3 ± 16.7/18.9 ± 14.2) than unexposed birds (T. cupido virulome: 14.2 ± 13.5, 4.5 ± 4.2; T. cupido resistome: 31.6 ± 20.2 and 13.1 ± 12.0; T. phasianellus virulome: 5.2 ± 4.7 and 1.4 ± 1.5; T. phasianellus resistome: 13.7 ± 16.1 and 4.0 ± 6.4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Serguei V Drovetski
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
| | - Brian K Schmidt
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA.
| | - Jonas E Lai
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
| | - Michael S Gross
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA.
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA.
| | - Kenan O Matterson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
| | - Natalie K Karouna-Renier
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
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15
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Goossens E, Boonyarittichaikij R, Dekeukeleire D, Hertzog L, Van Praet S, Pasmans F, Bonte D, Verheyen K, Lens L, Martel A, Verbrugghe E. Tree Species Diversity and Forest Edge Density Jointly Shape the Gut Microbiota Composition in Juvenile Great Tits (Parus major). Front Microbiol 2022; 13:790189. [PMID: 35356520 PMCID: PMC8959704 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.790189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the microbiome’s key role in health and fitness, little is known about the environmental factors shaping the gut microbiome of wild birds. With habitat fragmentation being recognised as a major threat to biological diversity, we here determined how forest structure influences the bacterial species richness and diversity of wild great tit nestlings (Parus major). Using an Illumina metabarcoding approach which amplifies the 16S bacterial ribosomal RNA gene, we measured gut microbiota diversity and composition from 49 great tit nestlings, originating from 23 different nests that were located in 22 different study plots across a gradient of forest fragmentation and tree species diversity. Per nest, an average microbiome was determined on which the influence of tree species (composition and richness) and forest fragmentation (fragment area and edge density) was examined and whether this was linked to host characteristics (body condition and fledging success). We found an interaction effect of edge density with tree species richness or composition on both the microbial richness (alpha diversity: Chao1 and Shannon) and community structure (beta diversity: weighted and unweighted UniFrac). No significant short-term impact was observed of the overall faecal microbiome on host characteristics, but rather an adverse effect of specific bacterial genera on fledging success. These results highlight the influence of environmental factors on the microbial richness as well as the phylogenetic diversity during a life stage where the birds’ microbiota is shaped, which could lead to long-term consequences for host fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evy Goossens
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Roschong Boonyarittichaikij
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Daan Dekeukeleire
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lionel Hertzog
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Van Praet
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Frank Pasmans
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Dries Bonte
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Lens
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - An Martel
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Elin Verbrugghe
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Elin Verbrugghe,
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16
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Bodawatta KH, Klečková I, Klečka J, Pužejová K, Koane B, Poulsen M, Jønsson KA, Sam K. Specific gut bacterial responses to natural diets of tropical birds. Sci Rep 2022; 12:713. [PMID: 35027664 PMCID: PMC8758760 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04808-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition of gut bacterial communities is strongly influenced by the host diet in many animal taxa. For birds, the effect of diet on the microbiomes has been documented through diet manipulation studies. However, for wild birds, most studies have drawn on literature-based information to decipher the dietary effects, thereby, overlooking individual variation in dietary intake. Here we examine how naturally consumed diets influence the composition of the crop and cloacal microbiomes of twenty-one tropical bird species, using visual and metabarcoding-based identification of consumed diets and bacterial 16S rRNA microbiome sequencing. We show that diet intakes vary markedly between individuals of the same species and that literature-based dietary guilds grossly underestimate intraspecific diet variability. Furthermore, despite an effect of literature-based dietary guild assignment of host taxa, the composition of natural diets does not align with crop and cloacal microbiome similarity. However, host-taxon specific gut bacterial lineages are positively correlated with specific diet items, indicating that certain microbes associate with different diet components in specific avian hosts. Consequently, microbiome composition is not congruent with the overall consumed diet composition of species, but specific components of a consumed diet lead to host-specific effects on gut bacterial taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Irena Klečková
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Klečka
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Pužejová
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Bonny Koane
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Knud A Jønsson
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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17
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Worsley SF, Davies CS, Mannarelli ME, Hutchings MI, Komdeur J, Burke T, Dugdale HL, Richardson DS. Gut microbiome composition, not alpha diversity, is associated with survival in a natural vertebrate population. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:84. [PMID: 34930493 PMCID: PMC8685825 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00149-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vertebrate gut microbiome (GM) can vary substantially across individuals within the same natural population. Although there is evidence linking the GM to health in captive animals, very little is known about the consequences of GM variation for host fitness in the wild. Here, we explore the relationship between faecal microbiome diversity, body condition, and survival using data from the long-term study of a discrete natural population of the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis) on Cousin Island. To our knowledge, this is the first time that GM differences associated with survival have been fully characterised for a natural vertebrate species, across multiple age groups and breeding seasons. RESULTS We identified substantial variation in GM community structure among sampled individuals, which was partially explained by breeding season (5% of the variance), and host age class (up to 1% of the variance). We also identified significant differences in GM community membership between adult birds that survived, versus those that had died by the following breeding season. Individuals that died carried increased abundances of taxa that are known to be opportunistic pathogens, including several ASVs in the genus Mycobacterium. However, there was no association between GM alpha diversity (the diversity of bacterial taxa within a sample) and survival to the next breeding season, or with individual body condition. Additionally, we found no association between GM community membership and individual body condition. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that components of the vertebrate GM can be associated with host fitness in the wild. However, further research is needed to establish whether changes in bacterial abundance contribute to, or are only correlated with, differential survival; this will add to our understanding of the importance of the GM in the evolution of host species living in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah F Worsley
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Charli S Davies
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Maria-Elena Mannarelli
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Matthew I Hutchings
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, 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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18
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Skeen HR, Cooper NW, Hackett SJ, Bates JM, Marra PP. Repeated sampling of individuals reveals impact of tropical and temperate habitats on microbiota of a migratory bird. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:5900-5916. [PMID: 34580952 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Migratory animals experiencing substantial change in diet and habitat across the annual cycle may have corresponding shifts in host-associated microbial diversity. Using automated telemetry and radio tags to recapture birds, we examined gut microbiota structure in the same population and often same individual of Kirtland's Warblers (Setophaga kirtlandii) initially sampled on their wintering grounds in The Bahamas and subsequently resampled within their breeding territories in Michigan, USA. Initial sampling occurred in March and April and resampling occurred in May, June and early July. The composition of the most abundant phyla and classes of the warblers' microbiota is similar to that of other migratory birds. However, we detected notable variation in abundance and diversity of numerous bacterial taxa, including a decrease in microbial richness and significant differences in microbial communities when comparing the microbiota of birds first captured in The Bahamas to that of birds recaptured in Michigan. This is observed at the individual and population level. Furthermore, we found that 22 bacterial genera exhibit heightened abundance within specific sampling periods and are probably associated with diet and environmental change. Finally, we described a small, species-specific shared microbial profile that spans multiple time periods and environments within the migratory cycle. Our research highlights that the avian gut microbiota is dynamic over time, most significantly impacted by changing environments associated with migration. These results support the need for full annual cycle monitoring of migratory bird microbiota to improve understanding of seasonal host movement ecologies and response to recurrent physiological stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather R Skeen
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nathan W Cooper
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Biology and McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Shannon J Hackett
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - John M Bates
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Peter P Marra
- Department of Biology and McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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19
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Bodawatta KH, Hird SM, Grond K, Poulsen M, Jønsson KA. Avian gut microbiomes taking flight. Trends Microbiol 2021; 30:268-280. [PMID: 34393028 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Birds harbor complex gut bacterial communities that may sustain their ecologies and facilitate their biological roles, distribution, and diversity. Research on gut microbiomes in wild birds is surging and it is clear that they are diverse and important - but strongly influenced by a series of environmental factors. To continue expanding our understanding of how the internal ecosystems of birds work in their natural settings, we believe the most pressing needs involve studies on the functional and evolutionary aspects of these symbioses. Here we summarize the state of the field and provide a roadmap for future studies on aspects that are pivotal to understanding the biology of avian gut microbiomes, emphasizing prospects for integrating gut microbiome work in avian conservation and host health monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Sarah M Hird
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Kirsten Grond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Knud A Jønsson
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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20
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Pekarsky S, Corl A, Turjeman S, Kamath PL, Getz WM, Bowie RCK, Markin Y, Nathan R. Drivers of change and stability in the gut microbiota of an omnivorous avian migrant exposed to artificial food supplementation. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:4723-4739. [PMID: 34260783 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Human activities shape resources available to wild animals, impacting diet and probably altering their microbiota and overall health. We examined drivers shaping microbiota profiles of common cranes (Grus grus) in agricultural habitats by comparing gut microbiota and crane movement patterns (GPS-tracking) over three periods of their migratory cycle, and by analysing the effect of artificially supplemented food provided as part of a crane-agriculture management programme. We sampled faecal droppings in Russia (nonsupplemented, premigration) and in Israel in late autumn (nonsupplemented, postmigration) and winter (supplemented and nonsupplemented, wintering). As supplemented food is typically homogenous, we predicted lower microbiota diversity and different composition in birds relying on supplementary feeding. We did not observe changes in microbial diversity with food supplementation, as diversity differed only in samples from nonsupplemented wintering sites. However, both food supplementation and season affected bacterial community composition and led to increased abundance of specific genera (mostly Firmicutes). Cranes from the nonsupplemented groups spent most of their time in agricultural fields, probably feeding on residual grain when available, while food-supplemented cranes spent most of their time at the feeding station. Thus, nonsupplemented and food-supplemented diets probably diverge only in winter, when crop rotation and depletion of anthropogenic resources may lead to a more variable diet in nonsupplemented sites. Our results support the role of diet in structuring bacterial communities and show that they undergo both seasonal and human-induced shifts. Movement analyses provide important clues regarding host diet and behaviour towards understanding how human-induced changes shape the gut microbiota in wild animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha Pekarsky
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ammon Corl
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Sondra Turjeman
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Pauline L Kamath
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Wayne M Getz
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,School Mathematical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Rauri C K Bowie
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Yuri Markin
- Oksky State Reserve, pos. Brykin Bor, Spassky raion, Ryazanskaya oblast, Russia
| | - Ran Nathan
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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21
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Wiemeyer GM, Plaza PI, Bustos CP, Muñoz AJ, Lambertucci SA. Exposure to Anthropogenic Areas May Influence Colonization by Zoonotic Microorganisms in Scavenging Birds. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5231. [PMID: 34069136 PMCID: PMC8156487 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Wild bird species have commonly been implicated as potential vectors of pathogens to other species, humans included. However, the habitat where birds live could influence the probability to acquire these pathogens. Here, we evaluated if the characteristics of the environment used by obligate scavenging birds (vultures) influence their colonization by zoonotic pathogens. For this, we particularly focused on Salmonella spp., a zoonotic pathogen commonly present in bird species. The occurrence of this bacteria was evaluated in free ranging Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) using natural environments from Argentina and compared with those obtained from condors under human care. In addition, we compared our results with those reported for other wild vultures using natural and anthropized environments at a global scale. We did not find Salmonella spp. in samples of wild condors. Captive condor samples presented Salmonella spp. with an occurrence of 2.8%, and one isolate of Meticilin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, among other potential pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, some species of free ranging vultures from diverse geographical areas using anthropized environments tend to present higher occurrences of Salmonella spp. These results highlight the importance of pristine ecosystems to protect vultures' health toward pathogenic microorganisms that can produce disease in these birds, but also in other species. We call for more studies evaluating differences in occurrence of zoonotic pathogens in vultures according to the quality of the environment they use. Even when vultures have not been implicated in zoonotic pathogen spread, our results add information to evaluate potential events of pathogen spillover between vultures and from these birds to other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo María Wiemeyer
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, San Carlos de Bariloche 1250 (R8400FRF), Argentina; (P.I.P.); (S.A.L.)
- The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709, USA
- Buenos Aires Zoo, República de la India 3000, CABA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires CP1425, Argentina
- Hospital Escuela, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Chorroarín 280, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires CP1427, Argentina
| | - Pablo Ignacio Plaza
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, San Carlos de Bariloche 1250 (R8400FRF), Argentina; (P.I.P.); (S.A.L.)
| | - Carla Paola Bustos
- Cátedra de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Laboratorio Escuela Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Chorroarín 280, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires CP1427, Argentina; (C.P.B.); (A.J.M.)
| | - Alejandra Jimena Muñoz
- Cátedra de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Laboratorio Escuela Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Chorroarín 280, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires CP1427, Argentina; (C.P.B.); (A.J.M.)
| | - Sergio Agustín Lambertucci
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral, San Carlos de Bariloche 1250 (R8400FRF), Argentina; (P.I.P.); (S.A.L.)
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22
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Abstract
Opportunistic feeding and multiple other environment factors can modulate the gut microbiome, and bias conclusions, when wild animals are used for studying the influence of phylogeny and diet on their gut microbiomes. Here, we controlled for these other confounding factors in our investigation of the magnitude of the effect of diet on the gut microbiome assemblies of nonpasserine birds. We collected fecal samples, at one point in time, from 35 species of birds in a single zoo as well as 6 species of domestic poultry from farms in Guangzhou city to minimize the influences from interfering factors. Specifically, we describe 16S rRNA amplicon data from 129 fecal samples obtained from 41 species of birds, with additional shotgun metagenomic sequencing data generated from 16 of these individuals. Our data show that diets containing native starch increase the abundance of Lactobacillus in the gut microbiome, while those containing plant-derived fiber mainly enrich the level of Clostridium Greater numbers of Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria are detected in carnivorous birds, while in birds fed a commercial corn-soybean basal diet, a stronger inner-connected microbial community containing Clostridia and Bacteroidia was enriched. Furthermore, the metagenome functions of the microbes (such as lipid metabolism and amino acid synthesis) were adapted to the different food types to achieve a beneficial state for the host. In conclusion, the covariation of diet and gut microbiome identified in our study demonstrates a modulation of the gut microbiome by dietary diversity and helps us better understand how birds live based on diet-microbiome-host interactions.IMPORTANCE Our study identified food source, rather than host phylogeny, as the main factor modulating the gut microbiome diversity of nonpasserine birds, after minimizing the effects of other complex interfering factors such as weather, season, and geography. Adaptive evolution of microbes to food types formed a dietary-microbiome-host interaction reciprocal state. The covariation of diet and gut microbiome, including the response of microbiota assembly to diet in structure and function, is important for health and nutrition in animals. Our findings help resolve the major modulators of gut microbiome diversity in nonpasserine birds, which had not previously been well studied. The diet-microbe interactions and cooccurrence patterns identified in our study may be of special interest for future health assessment and conservation in birds.
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23
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Bodawatta KH, Koane B, Maiah G, Sam K, Poulsen M, Jønsson KA. Species-specific but not phylosymbiotic gut microbiomes of New Guinean passerine birds are shaped by diet and flight-associated gut modifications. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210446. [PMID: 33878920 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal hosts have evolved intricate associations with microbial symbionts, where both depend on each other for particular functions. In many cases, these associations lead to phylosymbiosis, where phylogenetically related species harbour compositionally more similar microbiomes than distantly related species. However, evidence for phylosymbiosis is either weak or lacking in gut microbiomes of flying vertebrates, particularly in birds. To shed more light on this phenomenon, we compared cloacal microbiomes of 37 tropical passerine bird species from New Guinea using 16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing. We show a lack of phylosymbiosis and document highly variable microbiomes. Furthermore, we find that gut bacterial community compositions are species-specific and tend to be shaped by host diet but not sampling locality, potentially driven by the similarities in habitats used by individual species. We further show that flight-associated gut modifications, coupled with individual dietary differences, shape gut microbiome structure and variation, contributing to the lack of phylosymbiosis. These patterns indicate that the stability of symbiosis may depend on microbial functional diversity rather than taxonomic composition. Furthermore, the more variable and fluid host-microbe associations suggest probable disparities in the potential for coevolution between bird host species and microbial symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bonny Koane
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Gibson Maiah
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Branisovska 31, 37005, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Knud A Jønsson
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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