1
|
Reid R, Capilla-Lasheras P, Haddou Y, Boonekamp J, Dominoni DM. The impact of urbanization on health depends on the health metric, life stage and level of urbanization: a global meta-analysis on avian species. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240617. [PMID: 39016598 PMCID: PMC11253839 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Stressors associated with urban habitats have been linked to poor wildlife health but whether a general negative relationship between urbanization and animal health can be affirmed is unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of avian literature to test whether health biomarkers differed on average between urban and non-urban environments, and whether there are systematic differences across species, biomarkers, life stages and species traits. Our dataset included 644 effect sizes derived from 112 articles published between 1989 and 2022, on 51 bird species. First, we showed that there was no clear impact of urbanization on health when we categorized the sampling locations as urban or non-urban. However, we did find a small negative effect of urbanization on health when this dichotomous variable was replaced by a quantitative variable representing the degree of urbanization at each location. Second, we showed that the effect of urbanization on avian health was dependent on the type of health biomarker measured as well as the individual life stage, with young individuals being more negatively affected. Our comprehensive analysis calls for future studies to disentangle specific urban-related drivers of health that might be obscured in categorical urban versus non-urban comparisons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Reid
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, 82 Hillhead Street, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Pablo Capilla-Lasheras
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, 82 Hillhead Street, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Yacob Haddou
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, 82 Hillhead Street, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Jelle Boonekamp
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, 82 Hillhead Street, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| | - Davide M. Dominoni
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, 82 Hillhead Street, GlasgowG12 8QQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liukkonen M, Muriel J, Martínez-Padilla J, Nord A, Pakanen VM, Rosivall B, Tilgar V, van Oers K, Grond K, Ruuskanen S. Seasonal and environmental factors contribute to the variation in the gut microbiome: A large-scale study of a small bird. J Anim Ecol 2024. [PMID: 39041321 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14153] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Environmental variation can shape the gut microbiome, but broad/large-scale data on among and within-population heterogeneity in the gut microbiome and the associated environmental factors of wild populations is lacking. Furthermore, previous studies have limited taxonomical coverage, and knowledge about wild avian gut microbiomes is still scarce. We investigated large-scale environmental variation in the gut microbiome of wild adult great tits across the species' European distribution range. We collected fecal samples to represent the gut microbiome and used the 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the bacterial gut microbiome. Our results show that gut microbiome diversity is higher during winter and that there are compositional differences between winter and summer gut microbiomes. During winter, individuals inhabiting mixed forest habitat show higher gut microbiome diversity, whereas there was no similar association during summer. Also, temperature was found to be a small contributor to compositional differences in the gut microbiome. We did not find significant differences in the gut microbiome among populations, nor any association between latitude, rainfall and the gut microbiome. The results suggest that there is a seasonal change in wild avian gut microbiomes, but that there are still many unknown factors that shape the gut microbiome of wild bird populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martta Liukkonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jaime Muriel
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jesús Martínez-Padilla
- Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC), Jaca, Spain
| | - Andreas Nord
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Balázs Rosivall
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vallo Tilgar
- Department of Zoology, Tartu University, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kees van Oers
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kirsten Grond
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - Suvi Ruuskanen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Subrata SA, Yuda P, Artama WT, de-Garine Wichatitsky M, André A, Michaux J. Rusa deer microbiota: the importance of preliminary data analysis for meaningful diversity comparisons. Int Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s10123-024-00521-x. [PMID: 38589705 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-024-00521-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The microbiome is an important consideration for the conservation of endangered species. Studies provided evidence of the effect of behavior and habitat change on the microbiota of wild animals and reported various inferences. It indicates the complexity of factors influencing microbiota diversity, including incomplete sampling procedures. Data abnormality may arise due to the procedures warranting preliminary analysis, such as rarefaction, before downstream analysis. This present study demonstrated the effect of data rarefaction and aggregation on the comparison of wild rusa deer's gut microbial diversity. Eighty-five feces samples were collected from 11 deer populations inhabiting three national parks in Java and Bali islands. Using the Illumina Nova-Seq platform, fragments of 16s rRNA gene were sequenced, and raw data of 51,389 reads corresponding to 2 domains, 22 phyla, 45 classes, 83 orders, 182 families, and 460 genera of bacteria were obtained. Data rarefaction was applied at two different library sizes (minimum and fixed) and aggregation (11 populations into 3 research sites) to investigate its effect on the microbial diversity comparison. There are significant differences in alpha diversity between populations, but not research sites, at all library sizes of rarefaction. A similar finding is also found in beta diversity. Moreover, data rarefaction and aggregation result in different values of the diversity metrics. This present study shows that statistical analysis remains a substantial concern in microbiome studies applied to conservation biology. It suggests reporting a more detailed data normalization in microbiome studies as an inherent control of suboptimal sampling, particularly when involving feces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sena A Subrata
- Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
| | - Pramana Yuda
- Faculty of Technobiology, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Wayan T Artama
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | | | - Adrien André
- Conservation Genetics Unit, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
| | - Johan Michaux
- Conservation Genetics Unit, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mistrick J, Kipp EJ, Weinberg SI, Adams CC, Larsen PA, Craft ME. Microbiome diversity and zoonotic bacterial pathogen prevalence in Peromyscus mice from agricultural landscapes and synanthropic habitat. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17309. [PMID: 38429967 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17309] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Rodents are key reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and play an important role in disease transmission to humans. Importantly, anthropogenic land-use change has been found to increase the abundance of rodents that thrive in human-built environments (synanthropic rodents), particularly rodent reservoirs of zoonotic disease. Anthropogenic environments also affect the microbiome of synanthropic wildlife, influencing wildlife health and potentially introducing novel pathogens. Our objective was to examine the effect of agricultural development and synanthropic habitat on microbiome diversity and the prevalence of zoonotic bacterial pathogens in wild Peromyscus mice to better understand the role of these rodents in pathogen maintenance and transmission. We conducted 16S amplicon sequencing on faecal samples using long-read nanopore sequencing technology to characterize the rodent microbiome. We compared microbiome diversity and composition between forest and synanthropic habitats in agricultural and undeveloped landscapes and screened for putative pathogenic bacteria. Microbiome richness, diversity, and evenness were higher in the agricultural landscape and synanthropic habitat compared to undeveloped-forest habitat. Microbiome composition also differed significantly between agricultural and undeveloped landscapes and forest and synanthropic habitats. We detected overall low diversity and abundance of putative pathogenic bacteria, though putative pathogens were more likely to be found in mice from the agricultural landscape. Our findings show that landscape- and habitat-level anthropogenic factors affect Peromyscus microbiomes and suggest that landscape-level agricultural development may be important to predict zoonotic pathogen prevalence. Ultimately, understanding how anthropogenic land-use change and synanthropy affect rodent microbiomes and pathogen prevalence is important to managing transmission of rodent-borne zoonotic diseases to humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janine Mistrick
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Evan J Kipp
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sarah I Weinberg
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Collin C Adams
- Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories, University of Minnesota, Lake Itasca, Minnesota, USA
| | - Peter A Larsen
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Meggan E Craft
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Scholier T, Lavrinienko A, Kallio ER, Watts PC, Mappes T. Effects of past and present habitat on the gut microbiota of a wild rodent. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232531. [PMID: 38320610 PMCID: PMC10846943 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The response of the gut microbiota to changes in the host environment can be influenced by both the host's past and present habitats. To quantify their contributions for two different life stages, we studied the gut microbiota of wild bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) by performing a reciprocal transfer experiment with adults and their newborn offspring between urban and rural forests in a boreal ecosystem. Here, we show that the post-transfer gut microbiota in adults did not shift to resemble the post-transfer gut microbiota of animals 'native' to the present habitat. Instead, their gut microbiota appear to be structured by both their past and present habitat, with some features of the adult gut microbiota still determined by the past living environment (e.g. alpha diversity, compositional turnover). By contrast, we did not find evidence of the maternal past habitat (maternal effects) affecting the post-transfer gut microbiota of the juvenile offspring, and only a weak effect of the present habitat. Our results show that both the contemporary living environment and the past environment of the host organism can structure the gut microbiota communities, especially in adult individuals. These data are relevant for decision-making in the field of conservation and wildlife translocations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Scholier
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
| | - Anton Lavrinienko
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
- Laboratory of Food Systems Biotechnology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Eva R. Kallio
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
| | - Phillip C. Watts
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
| | - Tapio Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Stothart MR, Spina HA, Hotchkiss MZ, Ko W, Newman AEM. Seasonal dynamics in the mammalian microbiome between disparate environments. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10692. [PMID: 38111921 PMCID: PMC10726273 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10692] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-associated bacterial microbiomes can facilitate host acclimation to seasonal environmental change and are hypothesized to help hosts cope with recent anthropogenic environmental perturbations (e.g., landscape modification). However, it is unclear how recurrent and recent forms of environmental change interact to shape variation in the microbiome. The majority of wildlife microbiome research occurs within a single seasonal context. Meanwhile, the few studies of seasonal variation in the microbiome often restrict focus to a single environmental context. By sampling urban and exurban eastern grey squirrel populations in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter, we explored whether seasonal rhythms in the grey squirrel gut microbiome differed across environments using a 16S amplicon sequencing approach. Differences in the microbiome between urban and exurban squirrels persisted across most of the year, which we hypothesize is linked to anthropogenic food consumption, but we also observed similarities in the urban and exurban grey squirrel microbiome during the autumn, which we attribute to engrained seed caching instincts in preparation for the winter. Host behaviour and diet selection may therefore be capable of maintaining similarities in microbiome structure between disparate environments. However, the depletion of an obligate host mucin glycan specialist (Akkermansia) during the winter in both urban and exurban squirrels was among the strongest differential abundance patterns we observed. In summary, urban grey squirrels showed different seasonal patterns in their microbiome than squirrels from exurban forests; however, in some instances, host behaviour and physiological responses might be capable of maintaining similar microbiome responses across seasons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mason R. Stothart
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CalgaryCalgaryAlbertaCanada
| | - Hayley A. Spina
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
| | | | - Winnie Ko
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
| | - Amy E. M. Newman
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ribas MP, García-Ulloa M, Espunyes J, Cabezón O. Improving the assessment of ecosystem and wildlife health: microbiome as an early indicator. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 81:102923. [PMID: 36996728 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Human activities are causing dramatic declines in ecosystem health, compromising the functioning of the life-support system, economic activity, and animal and human health. In this context, monitoring the health of ecosystems and wildlife populations is crucial for determining ecological dynamics and assessing management interventions. A growing body of evidence indicates that microbiome provides a meaningful early indicator of ecosystem and wildlife health. Microbiome is ubiquitous and both environmental and host-associated microbiomes rapidly reflect anthropogenic disturbances. However, we still need to overcome current limitations such as nucleic acid degradation, sequencing depth, and the establishment of baseline data to maximize the potential of microbiome studies.
Collapse
|
9
|
Diez-Méndez D, Bodawatta KH, Freiberga I, Klečková I, Jønsson KA, Poulsen M, Sam K. Indirect maternal effects via nest microbiome composition drive gut colonization in altricial chicks. Mol Ecol 2023. [PMID: 37096441 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbial communities are complex and heterogeneous and play critical roles for animal hosts. Early-life disruptions to microbiome establishment can negatively impact host fitness and development. However, the consequences of such early-life disruptions remain unknown in wild birds. To help fill this gap, we investigated the effect of continuous early-life gut microbiome disruptions on the establishment and development of gut communities in wild Great tit (Parus major) and Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nestlings by applying antibiotics and probiotics. Treatment neither affected nestling growth nor their gut microbiome composition. Independent of treatment, nestling gut microbiomes of both species grouped by brood, which shared the highest numbers of bacterial taxa with both nest environment and their mother. Although fathers showed different gut communities than their nestlings and nests, they still contributed to structuring chick microbiomes. Lastly, we observed that the distance between nests increased inter-brood microbiome dissimilarity, but only in Great tits, indicating that species-specific foraging behaviour and/or microhabitat influence gut microbiomes. Overall, the strong maternal effect, driven by continuous recolonization from the nest environment and vertical transfer of microbes during feeding, appears to provide resilience towards early-life disruptions in nestling gut microbiomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Diez-Méndez
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Kasun H Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Inga Freiberga
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Irena Klečková
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Knud A Jønsson
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
De León LF, Silva B, Avilés-Rodríguez KJ, Buitrago-Rosas D. Harnessing the omics revolution to address the global biodiversity crisis. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 80:102901. [PMID: 36773576 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Human disturbances are altering global biodiversity in unprecedented ways. We identify three fundamental challenges underpinning our understanding of global biodiversity (namely discovery, loss, and preservation), and discuss how the omics revolution (e.g. genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and meta-omics) can help address these challenges. We also discuss how omics tools can illuminate the major drivers of biodiversity loss, including invasive species, pollution, urbanization, overexploitation, and climate change, with a special focus on highly diverse tropical environments. Although omics tools are transforming the traditional toolkit of biodiversity research, their application to addressing the current biodiversity crisis remains limited and may not suffice to offset current rates of biodiversity loss. Despite technical and logistical challenges, omics tools need to be fully integrated into global biodiversity research, and better strategies are needed to improve their translation into biodiversity policy and practice. It is also important to recognize that although the omics revolution can be considered the biologist's dream, socioeconomic disparity limits their application in biodiversity research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis F De León
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
| | - Bruna Silva
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Kevin J Avilés-Rodríguez
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA; Department of Biology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gao X, Wang X, Wu X, Shang Y, Mei X, Zhou S, Wei Q, Sun G, Dong Y, Cui W, Zhang H. Comparative Analyses of the Fecal Microbiome of Five Wild Black-Billed Capercaillie ( Tetrao parvirostris) Flocks. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13050923. [PMID: 36899780 PMCID: PMC10000248 DOI: 10.3390/ani13050923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Black-billed capercaillie (Tetrao parvirostris) was listed as a first-class state-protected animal because it was endangered in China (Category I). This study is the first to examine the diversity and composition of T. parvirostris gut microbiome in the wild. We collected fecal samples from five black-billed capercaillie flock roosting sites (each 20 km apart) in one day. Thirty fecal samples were sequenced with 16S rRNA gene amplicons on the Illumina HiSeq platform. This study is the first to analyze the fecal microbiome composition and diversity of black-billed capercaillie in the wild. At the phylum level, Camplyobacterota, Bacillota, Cyanobacteria, Actinomycetota, and Bacteroidota were the most abundant in the fecal microbiome of black-billed capercaillie. At the genus level, unidentified Chloroplast, Escherichia-Shigella, Faecalitalea, Bifidobacterium, and Halomonas were the dominant genera. Based on alpha and beta diversity analyses, we found no significant differences in the fecal microbiome between five flocks of black-billed capercaillie. Protein families: genetic information processing; protein families: signaling and cellular processes, carbohydrate metabolism; protein families: metabolism and energy metabolism are the main predicted functions of the black-billed capercaillie gut microbiome through the PICRUSt2 method. This study reveals the composition and structure of the fecal microbiome of the black-billed capercaillie under wild survival conditions, and this study provides scientific data for the comprehensive conservation of the black-billed capercaillie.
Collapse
|
13
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Pitarch A, Diéguez-Uribeondo J, Martín-Torrijos L, Sergio F, Blanco G. Fungal signatures of oral disease reflect environmental degradation in a facultative avian scavenger. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 837:155397. [PMID: 35460785 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Degradation of natural ecosystems increases the risk of infections in wildlife due to microbiota dysbiosis. However, little is known about its influence on the development of fungal communities in predators and facultative avian scavengers. We evaluated the incidence of oral disease in wild nestling black kites (Milvus migrans) under contrasting environmental degradation conditions, and explored their oral fungal patterns using molecular methods and multivariate analysis. Oral lesions were found in 36.8% of the 38 nestlings examined in an anthropogenically altered habitat (southeastern Madrid, Spain), but in none of the 105 nestlings examined in a well-conserved natural area (Doñana National Park, Spain). In a subsample of 48 black kites, the composition of the oral fungal community differed among symptomatic nestlings from Madrid (SM) and asymptomatic nestlings from Madrid (AM) and Doñana (AD). Opportunistic fungal pathogens (e.g., Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex, Mucor spp., Rhizopus oryzae) were more prevalent in SM and AM than in AD. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analyses revealed that fungal patterns were distinct between both study areas, and that anthropogenic and natural environmental factors had a greater impact on them than oral disease. Fungal signatures associated with anthropogenic and natural stresses harbored some taxa that could be used to flag oral infection (F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex and Alternaria), indicate environmental degradation (Alternaria) or provide protective benefits in degraded environments (Trichoderma, Epicoccum nigrum and Sordaria). Co-occurrence associations between potentially beneficial and pathogenic fungi were typical of AM and AD, hinting at a possible role in host health. This study shows that early-life exposure to highly degraded environments induces a shift towards a higher prevalence of pathogenic species in the oral cavity of black kites, favoring oral disease. Furthermore, our findings suggest potential ecological applications of the monitoring of oral mycobiome as a bioindication of oral disease and environmental degradation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aida Pitarch
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Ramón y Cajal Institute of Health Research (IRYCIS), Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Teaching Unit of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Arcos de Jalón, 118, 28037 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Laura Martín-Torrijos
- Department of Mycology, Real Jardín Botánico-CSIC, Plaza Murillo 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabrizio Sergio
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estacion Biologica de Doñana-CSIC, Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Anders JL, Mychajliw AM, Moustafa MAM, Mohamed WMA, Hayakawa T, Nakao R, Koizumi I. Dietary niche breadth influences the effects of urbanization on the gut microbiota of sympatric rodents. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9216. [PMID: 36177145 PMCID: PMC9463044 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cities are among the most extreme forms of anthropogenic ecosystem modification, and urbanization processes exert profound effects on animal populations through multiple ecological pathways. Increased access to human‐associated food items may alter species' foraging behavior and diet, in turn modifying the normal microbial community of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), ultimately impacting their health. It is crucial we understand the role of dietary niche breadth and the resulting shift in the gut microbiota as urban animals navigate novel dietary resources. We combined stable isotope analysis of hair and microbiome analysis of four gut regions across the GIT to investigate the effects of urbanization on the diet and gut microbiota of two sympatric species of rodents with different dietary niches: the omnivorous large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus) and the relatively more herbivorous gray red‐backed vole (Myodes rufocanus). Both species exhibited an expanded dietary niche width within the urban areas potentially attributable to novel anthropogenic foods and altered resource availability. We detected a dietary shift in which urban A. speciosus consumed more terrestrial animal protein and M. rufocanus more plant leaves and stems. Such changes in resource use may be associated with an altered gut microbial community structure. There was an increased abundance of the presumably probiotic Lactobacillus in the small intestine of urban A. speciosus and potentially pathogenic Helicobacter in the colon of M. rufocanus. Together, these results suggest that even taxonomically similar species may exhibit divergent responses to urbanization with consequences for the gut microbiota and broader ecological interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason L Anders
- Graduate School of Environmental Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan.,Department of Biosciences, Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES) University of Oslo Oslo Norway
| | - Alexis M Mychajliw
- Department of Biology Middlebury College Middlebury Vermont USA.,Department of Environmental Studies Middlebury College Middlebury Vermont USA
| | - Mohamed Abdallah Mohamed Moustafa
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan.,Department of Animal Medicine South Valley University Qena Egypt.,Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Newark New Jersey USA
| | - Wessam Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - Takashi Hayakawa
- Faculty of Environmental Earth Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan.,Japan Monkey Center Inuyama Japan
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| | - Itsuro Koizumi
- Faculty of Environmental Earth Science Hokkaido University Sapporo Japan
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lu Z, Li S, Wang M, Wang C, Meng D, Liu J. Comparative Analysis of the Gut Microbiota of Three Sympatric Terrestrial Wild Bird Species Overwintering in Farmland Habitats. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:905668. [PMID: 35928156 PMCID: PMC9343720 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.905668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota of wild birds are affected by complex factors, and cross-species transmission may pose challenges for the host to maintain stable gut symbionts. Farmland habitats are environments strongly manipulated by humans, and the environmental characteristics within a large area are highly consistent. These features provide the ideal natural conditions for conducting cross-species comparative studies on gut microbiota among wild birds. This study aimed to investigate and compare the gut microbiota of three common farmland-dependent bird species, Great Bustard (Otis tarda dybowskii), Common Crane (Grus grus), and Common Coot (Fulica atra), in a homogeneous habitat during the wintering period. The results indicated that under the combined action of similar influencing factors, the gut microbiota of different host species did not undergo adaptive convergence, maintained relatively independent structures, and exhibited host-driven signals. In addition, we also detected various pathogenic genera that may cause outbreaks of periodic infections among sympatric migratory birds. We conclude that phylosymbiosis may occur between some wild birds and their gut microbiota. Usage of non-invasive methods to monitor the changes in the gut microbiota of wild bird fecal samples has important implications for the conservation of endangered species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Lu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, China
| | - Sisi Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Min Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Can Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Derong Meng
- College of Life Sciences, Cangzhou Normal University, Cangzhou, China
| | - Jingze Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
- *Correspondence: Jingze Liu,
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Weitzman CL, Belden LK, May M, Langager MM, Dalloul RA, Hawley DM. Antibiotic perturbation of gut bacteria does not significantly alter host responses to ocular disease in a songbird species. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13559. [PMID: 35707121 PMCID: PMC9190666 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial communities in and on wild hosts are increasingly appreciated for their importance in host health. Through both direct and indirect interactions, bacteria lining vertebrate gut mucosa provide hosts protection against infectious pathogens, sometimes even in distal body regions through immune regulation. In house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus), the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) causes conjunctivitis, with ocular inflammation mediated by pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and infection triggering MG-specific antibodies. Here, we tested the role of gut bacteria in host responses to MG by using oral antibiotics to perturb bacteria in the gut of captive house finches prior to experimental inoculation with MG. We found no clear support for an impact of gut bacterial disruption on conjunctival pathology, MG load, or plasma antibody levels. However, there was a non-significant trend for birds with intact gut communities to have greater conjunctival pathology, suggesting a possible impact of gut bacteria on pro-inflammatory cytokine stimulation. Using 16S bacterial rRNA amplicon sequencing, we found dramatic differences in cloacal bacterial community composition between captive, wild-caught house finches in our experiment and free-living finches from the same population, with lower bacterial richness and core communities composed of fewer genera in captive finches. We hypothesize that captivity may have affected the strength of results in this experiment, necessitating further study with this consideration. The abundance of anthropogenic impacts on wildlife and their bacterial communities, alongside the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, highlights the importance of studies addressing the role of commensal bacteria in health and disease, and the consequences of gut bacterial shifts on wild hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chava L. Weitzman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America,Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Lisa K. Belden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Meghan May
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, United States of America
| | - Marissa M. Langager
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Rami A. Dalloul
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Dana M. Hawley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Maraci Ö, Corsini M, Antonatou-Papaioannou A, Jünemann S, Sudyka J, Di Lecce I, Caspers BA, Szulkin M. Changes to the gut microbiota of a wild juvenile passerine in a multidimensional urban mosaic. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6872. [PMID: 35477720 PMCID: PMC9046431 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10734-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Urbanisation is a major anthropogenic perturbation presenting novel ecological and evolutionary challenges to wild populations. Symbiotic microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tracts (gut) of vertebrates have mutual connections with host physiology and respond quickly to environmental alterations. However, the impact of anthropogenic changes and urbanisation on the gut microbiota remains poorly understood, especially in early development. To address this knowledge gap, we characterised the gut microbiota of juvenile great tits (Parus major) reared in artificial nestboxes and in natural cavities in an urban mosaic, employing two distinct frameworks characterising the urban space. Microbial diversity was influenced by cavity type. Alpha diversity was affected by the amount of impervious surface surrounding the breeding location, and positively correlated with tree cover density. Community composition differed between urban and rural sites: these alterations covaried with sound pollution and distance to the city centre. Overall, the microbial communities reflect and are possibly influenced by the heterogeneous environmental modifications that are typical of the urban space. Strikingly, the choice of framework and environmental variables characterising the urban space can influence the outcomes of such ecological studies. Our results open new perspectives to investigate the impact of microbial symbionts on the adaptive capacity of their hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Öncü Maraci
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33619, Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Michela Corsini
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha Street 2C, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Antonatou-Papaioannou
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
- Institute of Biology-Zoology, Freie Universität Berlin, Köning-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Jünemann
- Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Sequenz 1, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Joanna Sudyka
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha Street 2C, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland
| | - Irene Di Lecce
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha Street 2C, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Barbara A Caspers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, 33619, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Marta Szulkin
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha Street 2C, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Blanco G, Frías Ó, Pitarch A, Carrete M. Oral disease is linked to low nestling condition and brood size in a raptor species living in a highly modified environment. Curr Zool 2022; 69:109-120. [PMID: 37091997 PMCID: PMC10120997 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Anthropogenic stressors can favor the occurrence of non-infectious disease that can be worsened by the impact of opportunistic pathogens, making the epizootiology of environmental diseases difficult to unravel. The incidence and impact of oral lesions in nestlings of a facultative scavenger species, the black kite Milvus migrans, were examined over seven breeding seasons in the highly degraded environment close to Madrid, Spain. We found an overall prevalence of 31% of nestlings with oral lesions, with no clear spatial pattern in nests with affected and unaffected individuals. The occurrence and number of oral lesions was negatively associated with nestling body condition and brood size. Broods where all siblings had oral lesions were smaller than those where some or all siblings were apparently healthy, suggesting that oral disease could be causing nestling mortality and, consequently, brood size reduction. In turn, nestling body condition was negatively affected by lesion occurrence, brood size and laying date. Although these relationship were bidirectional, piecewise structural equation modeling analyses showed a greater negative effect of body condition on lesion occurrence than vice versa, indicating that nestlings in poorer body condition were more likely to develop oral lesions (which could contribute to aggravate their state of deterioration) than those in better condition. Nestlings from small broods were also more likely to have oral disease (directly or indirectly through their lower body condition) than nestlings from large broods. Nestlings that hatched last in the broods showed greater development stress than those that hatched first. Anthropogenic stressors could trigger poor body condition, and contribute to microbiota dysbiosis-related diseases. Although further research is needed to determine the consequences for the long-term fitness of individuals, actions should be taken to mitigate adverse conditions that may favor the appearance of environmental diseases associated with peri-urban areas, given their rapid expansion over natural areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC. José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, 28006, Spain
| | - Óscar Frías
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, km 1, Sevilla, 41013, Spain
| | - Aida Pitarch
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and Ramón y Cajal Institute of Health Research (IRYCIS), Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Teaching Unit of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Arcos de Jalón, 118, Madrid, 28037, Spain
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, km 1, Sevilla, 41013, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kelly TR, Vinson AE, King GM, Lattin CR. No guts about it: captivity, but not neophobia phenotype, influences the cloacal microbiome of house sparrows ( Passer domesticus). Integr Org Biol 2022; 4:obac010. [PMID: 35505795 PMCID: PMC9053947 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obac010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioral traits such as anxiety and depression have been linked to diversity of the gut microbiome in humans, domesticated animals, and lab-bred model species, but the extent to which this link exists in wild animals, and thus its ecological relevance, is poorly understood. We examined the relationship between a behavioral trait (neophobia) and the cloacal microbiome in wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus,n = 22) to determine whether gut microbial diversity is related to personality in a wild animal. We swabbed the cloaca immediately upon capture, assessed neophobia phenotypes in the lab, and then swabbed the cloaca again after several weeks in captivity to additionally test whether the microbiome of different personality types is affected disparately by captivity, and characterized gut microbiomes using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We did not detect differences in cloacal alpha or beta microbial diversity between neophobic and non-neophobic house sparrows, and diversity for both phenotypes was negatively impacted by captivity. Although our results suggest that the adult cloacal microbiome and neophobia are not strongly linked in wild sparrows, we did detect specific OTUs that appeared more frequently and at higher abundances in neophobic sparrows, suggesting that links between the gut microbiome and behavior may occur at the level of specific taxa. Further investigations of personality and the gut microbiome are needed in more wild species to reveal how the microbiome-gut-brain axis and behavior interact in an ecological context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T R Kelly
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - A E Vinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - G M King
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - C R Lattin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Schmiedová L, Tomášek O, Pinkasová H, Albrecht T, Kreisinger J. Variation in diet composition and its relation to gut microbiota in a passerine bird. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3787. [PMID: 35260644 PMCID: PMC8904835 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07672-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Quality and quantity of food items consumed has a crucial effect on phenotypes. In addition to direct effects mediated by nutrient resources, an individual’s diet can also affect the phenotype indirectly by altering its gut microbiota, a potent modulator of physiological, immunity and cognitive functions. However, most of our knowledge of diet-microbiota interactions is based on mammalian species, whereas little is still known about these effects in other vertebrates. We developed a metabarcoding procedure based on cytochrome c oxidase I high-throughput amplicon sequencing and applied it to describe diet composition in breeding colonies of an insectivorous bird, the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). To identify putative diet-microbiota associations, we integrated the resulting diet profiles with an existing dataset for faecal microbiota in the same individual. Consistent with previous studies based on macroscopic analysis of diet composition, we found that Diptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were the dominant dietary components in our population. We revealed pronounced variation in diet consumed during the breeding season, along with significant differences between nearby breeding colonies. In addition, we found no difference in diet composition between adults and juveniles. Finally, our data revealed a correlation between diet and faecal microbiota composition, even after statistical control for environmental factors affecting both diet and microbiota variation. Our study suggests that variation in diet induce slight but significant microbiota changes in a non-mammalian host relying on a narrow spectrum of items consumed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Schmiedová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Vinicna 7 CZ-128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Oldřich Tomášek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Pinkasová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Vinicna 7 CZ-128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Vinicna 7 CZ-128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic. .,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Jakub Kreisinger
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Vinicna 7 CZ-128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Obrochta S, Savo Sardaro ML, Amato KR, Murray MH. Relationships Between Migration and Microbiome Composition and Diversity in Urban Canada Geese. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.742369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbiome analysis presents an opportunity to understand how urban environments affect avian physiology. For example, habitat use can affect microbiome diversity and composition, and hosts with more diverse gut microbiota are thought to be more resistant to pathogens and have increased fitness. However, the microbiome is an understudied aspect of avian ecology, particularly in the context of migration and urbanization in wild birds. For this study, we hypothesized that, within urban birds, migrants would exhibit greater microbial diversity and inter-individual variation in microbiome composition than residents because they are exposed to more diverse habitats. We focused on Canada geese (Branta canadensis), one of many migratory species that exhibit increasingly more year-round residency in cities. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to quantify microbiome taxonomic composition in fecal samples from 32 GPS-tracked Canada geese, 22 of which were year-round residents of the Chicago area and 10 of which were migrants. Similar to recent studies on wild species feeding near human habitation, urban resident geese had higher gut microbial diversity than migrants. They also had increased inter-individual variation in microbiome composition and, on average, lower relative abundances of bacteria in the phylum Firmicutes, and the genera Terrisporobacter, Turicibacter, and Cellulosilyticum, which all have metabolic functions that may aid in goose digestion. Therefore, the gut microbiome of resident geese may provide fewer potential health benefits. These patterns may be a result of anthropogenic influences on aspects of resident goose ecology, such as diet, as well the influence of migration on migrant goose ecology and biology. Overall, our results suggest that reduced migration for urban-adapted wildlife species may have important consequences for physiology and health.
Collapse
|
23
|
Couch CE, Epps CW. Host, microbiome, and complex space: applying population and landscape genetic approaches to gut microbiome research in wild populations. J Hered 2022; 113:221-234. [PMID: 34983061 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, emerging sequencing technologies and computational tools have driven a tidal wave of research on host-associated microbiomes, particularly the gut microbiome. These studies demonstrate numerous connections between the gut microbiome and vital host functions, primarily in humans, model organisms, and domestic animals. As the adaptive importance of the gut microbiome becomes clearer, interest in studying the gut microbiomes of wild populations has increased, in part due to the potential for discovering conservation applications. The study of wildlife gut microbiomes holds many new challenges and opportunities due to the complex genetic, spatial, and environmental structure of wild host populations, and the potential for these factors to interact with the microbiome. The emerging picture of adaptive coevolution in host-microbiome relationships highlights the importance of understanding microbiome variation in the context of host population genetics and landscape heterogeneity across a wide range of host populations. We propose a conceptual framework for understanding wildlife gut microbiomes in relation to landscape variables and host population genetics, including the potential of approaches derived from landscape genetics. We use this framework to review current research, synthesize important trends, highlight implications for conservation, and recommend future directions for research. Specifically, we focus on how spatial structure and environmental variation interact with host population genetics and microbiome variation in natural populations, and what we can learn from how these patterns of covariation differ depending on host ecological and evolutionary traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Couch
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Clinton W Epps
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Gao L, Liu L, Du C, Hou Q. Comparative Analysis of Fecal Bacterial Microbiota of Six Bird Species. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:791287. [PMID: 34957285 PMCID: PMC8692710 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.791287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota contributes to host health by maintaining homeostasis and improving digestive efficiency. Therefore, identifying gut microbes will shed light on the annual life cycle of animals and in particular those that are threatened or endangered. Nonetheless, the gut microbial composition of the majority of bird species is still unknown. Here, for the first time, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to characterize and compare the community composition and diversity of gut microbiotas from six species of birds raised at the Wildlife Conservation Center in Baotou, China: relict gull (Larus relictus; n = 3), muscovy duck (Cairina moschata; n = 3), ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea; n = 3), demoiselle crane (Anthropoides virgo; n = 4), whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus; n = 3), and black swan (Cygnus atratus; n = 5). A total of 26,616 operational taxonomic units from 21 samples were classified into 32 phyla and 507 genera. Chao1, Shannon diversity, observed species, and Simpson index analysis revealed differences in the community richness and diversity between the different species. Proteobacteria was the dominant bacterial phylum in whooper swan and relict gull, whereas Firmicutes was the dominant bacterial phylum in the other species. At the genus level, 11 dominant genera were detected (Lactobacillus, Psychrobacter, Enterococcus, Carnobacterium, Weissella, Burkholderia, Escherichia/Shigella, Leuconostoc, Buttiauxella, Desemzia, and Staphylococcus). Principal component and cluster analyses revealed that, while the microbial community composition of different individuals of the same species clustered together, the gut microbial composition varied between the bird species. Furthermore, the most abundant bacterial species differed between bird species. Because many avian gut microbes are derived from the diet, the eating habits and natural living environment of birds may be important contributing factors to the observed differences. Short-term changes to the diet and living environment have little effect on the composition of the avian gut microbiota. This study provides a theoretical basis for bird protection, including disease prevention and control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Gao
- Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Baotou Teacher's College, Baotou, China
| | - Li Liu
- Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Baotou Teacher's College, Baotou, China
| | - Chao Du
- Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Baotou Teacher's College, Baotou, China
| | - Qiangchuan Hou
- Hubei Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Food Ingredients, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Teitelbaum CS, Altizer S, Hall RJ. Habitat Specialization by Wildlife Reduces Pathogen Spread in Urbanizing Landscapes. Am Nat 2021; 199:238-251. [DOI: 10.1086/717655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire S. Teitelbaum
- Odum School of Ecology and Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Sonia Altizer
- Odum School of Ecology and Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Richard J. Hall
- Odum School of Ecology and Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Costantini MS, Medeiros MCI, Crampton LH, Reed FA. Wild gut microbiomes reveal individuals, species, and location as drivers of variation in two critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12291. [PMID: 34760361 PMCID: PMC8557688 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The gut microbiome of animals is an important component that has strong influence on the health, fitness, and behavior of its host. Most research in the microbiome field has focused on human populations and commercially important species. However, researchers are now considering the link between endangered species conservation and the microbiome. In Hawaiʻi, several threats (e.g., avian malaria and habitat loss) have caused widespread population declines of Hawaiian honeycreepers (subfamily: Carduelinae). These threats can have a significant effect on the avian gut microbiome and may even lead to disruption of microbial function. However, the gut microbiome of honeycreeper in the wild has yet to be explored. Methods We collected 13 and 42 fecal samples, respectively, from two critically endangered honeycreeper species, the ʻakikiki (Oreomystis bairdi) and the ʻakekeʻe (Loxops caeruleirostris). The 16S rRNA gene was sequenced and processed though a MOTHUR-based bioinformatics pipeline. Bacterial ASVs were identified using the DADA2 program and bacterial community analyses, including alpha and beta diversity measures, were conducted using R packages Phyloseq and vegan. Results A total of 8,958 bacterial ASVs were identified from the fecal samples. Intraspecific differences in the gut microbiome among individual birds explained most of the variation present in the dataset, however differences between species did exist. Both species had distinct microbiomes with minimal overlap in beta diversity. ‘Akikiki had a more diverse microbiome compared to ‘akekeʻe. Additionally, small but stastically significant differences in beta diversity also exist between sampling location and sexes in ʻakikiki. Conclusion ʻAkikiki and ʻakekeʻe are currently the focus of captive breeding efforts and plans to translocate the two species to other islands are underway. This baseline knowledge will help inform management decisions for these honeycreeper species in their native habitats, on other islands, and in captivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria S Costantini
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States
| | - Matthew C I Medeiros
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States.,Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaií, United States
| | - Lisa H Crampton
- Hawai'i Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hanapepe, Hawai'i, United States.,Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States
| | - Floyd A Reed
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Choi ON, Corl A, Wolfenden A, Lublin A, Ishaq SL, Turjeman S, Getz WM, Nathan R, Bowie RCK, Kamath PL. High-Throughput Sequencing for Examining Salmonella Prevalence and Pathogen—Microbiota Relationships in Barn Swallows. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.683183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies in both humans and model organisms suggest that the microbiome may play a significant role in host health, including digestion and immune function. Microbiota can offer protection from exogenous pathogens through colonization resistance, but microbial dysbiosis in the gastrointestinal tract can decrease resistance and is associated with pathogenesis. Little is known about the effects of potential pathogens, such as Salmonella, on the microbiome in wildlife, which are known to play an important role in disease transmission to humans. Culturing techniques have traditionally been used to detect pathogens, but recent studies have utilized high throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize host-associated microbial communities (i.e., the microbiome) and to detect specific bacteria. Building upon this work, we evaluated the utility of high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing for potential bacterial pathogen detection in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and used these data to explore relationships between potential pathogens and microbiota. To accomplish this, we first compared the detection of Salmonella spp. in swallows using 16S rRNA data with standard culture techniques. Second, we examined the prevalence of Salmonella using 16S rRNA data and examined the relationship between Salmonella-presence or -absence and individual host factors. Lastly, we evaluated host-associated bacterial diversity and community composition in Salmonella-present vs. -absent birds. Out of 108 samples, we detected Salmonella in six (5.6%) samples based on culture, 25 (23.1%) samples with unrarefied 16S rRNA gene sequencing data, and three (2.8%) samples with both techniques. We found that sex, migratory status, and weight were correlated with Salmonella presence in swallows. In addition, bacterial community composition and diversity differed between birds based on Salmonella status. This study highlights the value of 16S rRNA gene sequencing data for monitoring pathogens in wild birds and investigating the ecology of host microbe-pathogen relationships, data which are important for prediction and mitigation of disease spillover into domestic animals and humans.
Collapse
|
28
|
Ingala MR, Albert L, Addesso A, Watkins MJ, Knutie SA. Differential effects of elevated nest temperature and parasitism on the gut microbiota of wild avian hosts. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:67. [PMID: 34600588 PMCID: PMC8487522 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00130-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Changes in wild animal gut microbiotas may influence host health and fitness. While many studies have shown correlations between gut microbiota structure and external factors, few studies demonstrate causal links between environmental variables and microbiota shifts. Here, we use a fully factorial experiment to test the effects of elevated ambient temperature and natural nest parasitism by nest flies (Protocalliphora sialia) on the gut microbiotas of two species of wild birds, the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) and the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). RESULTS We find that bacterial communities from the nestlings of each host species show idiosyncratic responses to both heat and parasitism, with gut microbiotas of eastern bluebirds more disrupted by heat and parasitism than those of tree swallows. Thus, we find that eastern bluebirds are unable to maintain stable associations with their gut bacteria in the face of both elevated temperature and parasitism. In contrast, tree swallow gut microbiotas are not significantly impacted by either heat or nest parasitism. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that excess heat (e.g., as a result of climate change) may destabilize natural host-parasite-microbiota systems, with the potential to affect host fitness and survival in the Anthropocene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa R Ingala
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA.
| | - Lauren Albert
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Alyssa Addesso
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Mackenzie J Watkins
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Sarah A Knutie
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Alpízar P, Risely A, Tschapka M, Sommer S. Agricultural Fast Food: Bats Feeding in Banana Monocultures Are Heavier but Have Less Diverse Gut Microbiota. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.746783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat alteration for agriculture can negatively affect wildlife physiology and health by decreasing diet diversity and increasing exposure to agrochemicals for animals foraging in altered landscapes. Such negative effects may be mediated by the disruption of the gut microbiota (termed dysbiosis), yet evidence for associations between habitat alteration, wildlife health, and the gut microbiota remains scarce. We examine the association between management intensity of banana plantations and both the body condition and gut microbiota composition of nectar-feeding bats Glossophaga soricina, which commonly forage within banana plantations across Latin America. We captured and measured 196 bats across conventional monocultures, organic plantations, and natural forests in Costa Rica, and quantified gut microbiome bacterial phylogenetic diversity using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We found that gut microbiota from bats foraging in conventional monocultures were overall less phylogenetically diverse than those from bats foraging in organic plantations or natural forests, both of which were characterized by diverse bacterial assemblages and individualized microbiota. Despite lower diversity, co-occurrence network complexity was higher in conventional monocultures, potentially indicating altered microbial interactions in agricultural landscapes. Bats from both organic and conventional plantations tended to be larger and heavier than their forest counterparts, reflecting the higher food supply. Overall, our study reveals that whilst both conventional monocultures and organic plantations provide a reliable food source for bats, conventional monocultures are associated with less diverse and potentially dysbiotic microbiota, whilst organic plantations promote diverse and individualized gut microbiota akin to their natural forest-foraging counterparts. Whilst the long-term negative effects of anthropogenically-altered microbiota are unclear, our study provides further evidence from a novel perspective that organic agricultural practices are beneficial for wildlife health.
Collapse
|
30
|
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: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Variation in Microbial Exposure at the Human-Animal Interface and the Implications for Microbiome-Mediated Health Outcome. mSystems 2021; 6:e0056721. [PMID: 34342530 PMCID: PMC8407385 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00567-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiome varies between populations, largely reflecting ecological differences. One ecological variable that is rarely considered but may contribute substantially to microbiome variation is the multifaceted nature of human-animal interfaces. We present the hypothesis that different interactions with animals contribute to shaping the human microbiome globally. We utilize a One Health framework to explore how changes in microbial exposure from human-animal interfaces shape the microbiome and, in turn, contribute to differential human health across populations, focusing on commensal and pathogen exposure, changes in colonization resistance and immune system training, and the potential for other functional shifts. Although human-animal interfaces are known to underlie human health and particularly infectious disease disparities, since their impact on the human microbiome remains woefully understudied, we propose foci for future research. We believe it will be crucial to understand this critical aspect of biology and its impacts on human health around the globe.
Collapse
|
32
|
Stothart MR, Newman AEM. Shades of grey: host phenotype dependent effect of urbanization on the bacterial microbiome of a wild mammal. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:46. [PMID: 34225812 PMCID: PMC8256534 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00105-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Host-associated microbiota are integral to the ecology of their host and may help wildlife species cope with rapid environmental change. Urbanization is a globally replicated form of severe environmental change which we can leverage to better understand wildlife microbiomes. Does the colonization of separate cities result in parallel changes in the intestinal microbiome of wildlife, and if so, does within-city habitat heterogeneity matter? Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we quantified the effect of urbanization (across three cities) on the microbiome of eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Grey squirrels are ubiquitous in rural and urban environments throughout their native range, across which they display an apparent coat colour polymorphism (agouti, black, intermediate). RESULTS Grey squirrel microbiomes differed between rural and city environments; however, comparable variation was explained by habitat heterogeneity within cities. Our analyses suggest that operational taxonomic unit (OTU) community structure was more strongly influenced by local environmental conditions (rural and city forests versus human built habitats) than urbanization of the broader landscape (city versus rural). The bacterial genera characterizing the microbiomes of built-environment squirrels are thought to specialize on host-derived products and have been linked in previous research to low fibre diets. However, despite an effect of urbanization at fine spatial scales, phylogenetic patterns in the microbiome were coat colour phenotype dependent. City and built-environment agouti squirrels displayed greater phylogenetic beta-dispersion than those in rural or forest environments, and null modelling results indicated that the phylogenetic structure of urban agouti squirrels did not differ greatly from stochastic expectations. CONCLUSIONS Squirrel microbiomes differed between city and rural environments, but differences of comparable magnitude were observed between land classes at a within-city scale. We did not observe strong evidence that inter-environmental differences were the result of disparate selective pressures. Rather, our results suggest that microbiota dispersal and ecological drift are integral to shaping the inter-environmental differences we observed. However, these processes were partly mediated by squirrel coat colour phenotype. Given a well-known urban cline in squirrel coat colour melanism, grey squirrels provide a useful free-living system with which to study how host genetics mediate environment x microbiome interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mason R. Stothart
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 4Z6 Canada
| | - Amy E. M. Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, N1G 2W1 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Towards an ecosystem model of infectious disease. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:907-918. [PMID: 34002048 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01454-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Increasingly intimate associations between human society and the natural environment are driving the emergence of novel pathogens, with devastating consequences for humans and animals alike. Prior to emergence, these pathogens exist within complex ecological systems that are characterized by trophic interactions between parasites, their hosts and the environment. Predicting how disturbance to these ecological systems places people and animals at risk from emerging pathogens-and the best ways to manage this-remains a significant challenge. Predictive systems ecology models are powerful tools for the reconstruction of ecosystem function but have yet to be considered for modelling infectious disease. Part of this stems from a mistaken tendency to forget about the role that pathogens play in structuring the abundance and interactions of the free-living species favoured by systems ecologists. Here, we explore how developing and applying these more complete systems ecology models at a landscape scale would greatly enhance our understanding of the reciprocal interactions between parasites, pathogens and the environment, placing zoonoses in an ecological context, while identifying key variables and simplifying assumptions that underly pathogen host switching and animal-to-human spillover risk. As well as transforming our understanding of disease ecology, this would also allow us to better direct resources in preparation for future pandemics.
Collapse
|
34
|
Wolf JF, Kriss KD, MacAulay KM, Munro K, Patterson BR, Shafer ABA. Gut microbiome composition predicts summer core range size in two divergent ungulates. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6174673. [PMID: 33729507 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome of animals vary by age, diet, and habitat, and directly influences an individual's health. Similarly, variation in home ranges is linked to feeding strategies and fitness. Ungulates (hooved mammals) exhibit species-specific microbiomes and habitat use patterns. We combined gut microbiome and movement data to assess relationships between space use and the gut microbiome in a specialist and a generalist ungulate. We GPS radiocollared 24 mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) and 34 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), collected fecal samples, and conducted high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. We generated gut diversity metrics and key bacterial ratios. Our research question centred around the idea that larger Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratios confer body size or fat advantages that allow for larger home ranges, and relationships of disproportionate habitat use are stronger in the habitat specialist mountain goat. Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratios were positively correlated with core range area in both species. Mountain goats exhibited a negative relationship between gut diversity and proportional use of treed areas and escape terrain, and no relationships were detected in the habitat generalist white-tailed deer. This is the first study to relate range size to the gut microbiome in wild ungulates and is an important proof of concept that advances the information that can be gleaned from non-invasive sampling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse F Wolf
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Krystal D Kriss
- Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development, 3726 Alfred Avenue, Smithers, British Columbia V0J 2N0, Canada
| | - Kara M MacAulay
- Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development, 3726 Alfred Avenue, Smithers, British Columbia V0J 2N0, Canada
| | - Keith Munro
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada.,Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, 4601 Guthrie Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8L5, Canada
| | - Brent R Patterson
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada.,Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada
| | - Aaron B A Shafer
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada.,Forensic Science Program, Trent University, 2140 East Bank Drive, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Bodawatta KH, Freiberga I, Puzejova K, Sam K, Poulsen M, Jønsson KA. Flexibility and resilience of great tit (Parus major) gut microbiomes to changing diets. Anim Microbiome 2021; 3:20. [PMID: 33602335 PMCID: PMC7893775 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-021-00076-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gut microbial communities play important roles in nutrient management and can change in response to host diets. The extent of this flexibility and the concomitant resilience is largely unknown in wild animals. To untangle the dynamics of avian-gut microbiome symbiosis associated with diet changes, we exposed Parus major (Great tits) fed with a standard diet (seeds and mealworms) to either a mixed (seeds, mealworms and fruits), a seed, or a mealworm diet for 4 weeks, and examined the flexibility of gut microbiomes to these compositionally different diets. To assess microbiome resilience (recovery potential), all individuals were subsequently reversed to a standard diet for another 4 weeks. Cloacal microbiomes were collected weekly and characterised through sequencing the v4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using Illumina MiSeq. Results Initial microbiomes changed significantly with the diet manipulation, but the communities did not differ significantly between the three diet groups (mixed, seed and mealworm), despite multiple diet-specific changes in certain bacterial genera. Reverting birds to the standard diet led only to a partial recovery in gut community compositions. The majority of the bacterial taxa that increased significantly during diet manipulation decreased in relative abundance after reversion to the standard diet; however, bacterial taxa that decreased during the manipulation rarely increased after diet reversal Conclusions The gut microbial response and partial resilience to dietary changes support that gut bacterial communities of P. major play a role in accommodating dietary changes experienced by wild avian hosts. This may be a contributing factor to the relaxed association between microbiome composition and the bird phylogeny. Our findings further imply that interpretations of wild bird gut microbiome analyses from single-time point sampling, especially for omnivorous species or species with seasonally changing diets, should be done with caution. The partial community recovery implies that ecologically relevant diet changes (e.g., seasonality and migration) open up gut niches that may be filled by previously abundant microbes or replaced by different symbiont lineages, which has important implications for the integrity and specificity of long-term avian-symbiont associations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42523-021-00076-6.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Inga Freiberga
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Puzejova
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, 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
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Hassell JM, Bettridge JM, Ward MJ, Ogendo A, Imboma T, Muloi D, Fava F, Robinson TP, Begon M, Fèvre EM. Socio-ecological drivers of vertebrate biodiversity and human-animal interfaces across an urban landscape. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:781-792. [PMID: 33263214 PMCID: PMC7983883 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization can have profound impacts on the distributional ecology of wildlife and livestock, with implications for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and human health. A wealth of studies have assessed biotic responses to urbanization in North America and Europe, but there is little empirical evidence that directly links human activities to urban biodiversity in the tropics. Results from a large-scale field study conducted in Nairobi, Kenya, are used to explore the impact of human activities on the biodiversity of wildlife and livestock with which humans co-exist across the city. The structure of sympatric wildlife, livestock and human populations are characterized using unsupervised machine learning, and statistical modelling is used to relate compositional variation in these communities to socio-ecological drivers occurring across the city. By characterizing landscape-scale drivers acting on these interfaces, we demonstrate that socioeconomics, elevation and subsequent changes in habitat have measurable impacts upon the diversity, density and species assemblage of wildlife, livestock and humans. Restructuring of wildlife and livestock assemblages (both in terms of species diversity and composition) has important implications for the emergence of novel diseases at urban interfaces, and we therefore use our results to generate a set of testable hypotheses that explore the influence of urban change on microbial communities. These results provide novel insight into the impact of urbanization on biodiversity in the tropics. An understanding of associations between urban processes and the structure of human and animal populations is required to link urban development to conservation efforts and risks posed by disease emergence to human health, ultimately informing sustainable urban development policy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James M. Hassell
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
- International Livestock Research InstituteNairobiKenya
- Global Health ProgramSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Judy M. Bettridge
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
- International Livestock Research InstituteNairobiKenya
- Natural Resources InstituteUniversity of GreenwichGreenwichUK
| | - Melissa J. Ward
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and EvolutionUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OxfordJohn Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
| | - Allan Ogendo
- International Livestock Research InstituteNairobiKenya
| | | | - Dishon Muloi
- International Livestock Research InstituteNairobiKenya
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and EvolutionUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences & InformaticsUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | | | | | - Michael Begon
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Eric M. Fèvre
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
- International Livestock Research InstituteNairobiKenya
- Global Health ProgramSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteWashingtonDCUSA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Schell CJ, Stanton LA, Young JK, Angeloni LM, Lambert JE, Breck SW, Murray MH. The evolutionary consequences of human-wildlife conflict in cities. Evol Appl 2021; 14:178-197. [PMID: 33519964 PMCID: PMC7819564 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-wildlife interactions, including human-wildlife conflict, are increasingly common as expanding urbanization worldwide creates more opportunities for people to encounter wildlife. Wildlife-vehicle collisions, zoonotic disease transmission, property damage, and physical attacks to people or their pets have negative consequences for both people and wildlife, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies that mitigate and prevent conflict altogether. Management techniques often aim to deter, relocate, or remove individual organisms, all of which may present a significant selective force in both urban and nonurban systems. Management-induced selection may significantly affect the adaptive or nonadaptive evolutionary processes of urban populations, yet few studies explicate the links among conflict, wildlife management, and urban evolution. Moreover, the intensity of conflict management can vary considerably by taxon, public perception, policy, religious and cultural beliefs, and geographic region, which underscores the complexity of developing flexible tools to reduce conflict. Here, we present a cross-disciplinary perspective that integrates human-wildlife conflict, wildlife management, and urban evolution to address how social-ecological processes drive wildlife adaptation in cities. We emphasize that variance in implemented management actions shapes the strength and rate of phenotypic and evolutionary change. We also consider how specific management strategies either promote genetic or plastic changes, and how leveraging those biological inferences could help optimize management actions while minimizing conflict. Investigating human-wildlife conflict as an evolutionary phenomenon may provide insights into how conflict arises and how management plays a critical role in shaping urban wildlife phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Schell
- School of Interdisciplinary Arts and SciencesUniversity of Washington TacomaTacomaWAUSA
| | - Lauren A. Stanton
- Department of Zoology and PhysiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWYUSA
- Program in EcologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWYUSA
| | - Julie K. Young
- USDA‐WS‐National Wildlife Research Center‐Predator Research FacilityMillvilleUTUSA
| | | | - Joanna E. Lambert
- Program in Environmental Studies and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Colorado‐BoulderBoulderCOUSA
| | - Stewart W. Breck
- USDA‐WS‐National Wildlife Research CenterFort CollinsCOUSA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyFort CollinsCOUSA
| | - Maureen H. Murray
- Urban Wildlife Institute and Davee Center for Epidemiology and EndocrinologyChicagoILUSA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Elizabeth Alter S, Tariq L, Creed JK, Megafu E. Evolutionary responses of marine organisms to urbanized seascapes. Evol Appl 2021; 14:210-232. [PMID: 33519966 PMCID: PMC7819572 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many of the world's major cities are located in coastal zones, resulting in urban and industrial impacts on adjacent marine ecosystems. These pressures, which include pollutants, sewage, runoff and debris, temperature increases, hardened shorelines/structures, and light and acoustic pollution, have resulted in new evolutionary landscapes for coastal marine organisms. Marine environmental changes influenced by urbanization may create new selective regimes or may influence neutral evolution via impacts on gene flow or partitioning of genetic diversity across seascapes. While some urban selective pressures, such as hardened surfaces, are similar to those experienced by terrestrial species, others, such as oxidative stress, are specific to aquatic environments. Moreover, spatial and temporal scales of evolutionary responses may differ in the ocean due to the spatial extent of selective pressures and greater capacity for dispersal/gene flow. Here, we present a conceptual framework and synthesis of current research on evolutionary responses of marine organisms to urban pressures. We review urban impacts on genetic diversity and gene flow and examine evidence that marine species are adapting, or are predicted to adapt, to urbanization over rapid evolutionary time frames. Our findings indicate that in the majority of studies, urban stressors are correlated with reduced genetic diversity. Genetic structure is often increased in urbanized settings, but artificial structures can also act as stepping stones for some hard-surface specialists, promoting range expansion. Most evidence for rapid adaptation to urban stressors comes from studies of heritable tolerance to pollutants in a relatively small number of species; however, the majority of marine ecotoxicology studies do not test directly for heritability. Finally, we highlight current gaps in our understanding of evolutionary processes in marine urban environments and present a framework for future research to address these gaps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S. Elizabeth Alter
- Department of Biology & ChemistryCalifornia State University, Monterey BayChapman Academic Science CenterSeasideCAUSA
- Department of BiologyYork CollegeCity University of New YorkJamaicaNYUSA
- Department of IchthyologyAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Laraib Tariq
- Department of BiologyYork CollegeCity University of New YorkJamaicaNYUSA
| | - James Keanu Creed
- Department of BiologyYork CollegeCity University of New YorkJamaicaNYUSA
- Department of IchthyologyAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Emmanuel Megafu
- Department of BiologyYork CollegeCity University of New YorkJamaicaNYUSA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
An altered microbiome in urban coyotes mediates relationships between anthropogenic diet and poor health. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22207. [PMID: 33335116 PMCID: PMC7746695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78891-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Generalist species able to exploit anthropogenic food sources are becoming increasingly common in urban environments. Coyotes (Canis latrans) are one such urban generalist that now resides in cities across North America, where diseased or unhealthy coyotes are frequently reported in cases of human-wildlife conflict. Coyote health and fitness may be related to habitat use and diet via the gut microbiome, which has far-reaching effects on animal nutrition and physiology. In this study, we used stomach contents, stable isotope analysis, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and measures of body condition to identify relationships among habitat use, diet, fecal microbiome composition, and health in urban and rural coyotes. Three distinct relationships emerged: (1) Urban coyotes consumed more anthropogenic food, which was associated with increased microbiome diversity, higher abundances of Streptococcus and Enterococcus, and poorer average body condition. (2) Conversely, rural coyotes harbored microbiomes rich in Fusobacteria, Sutterella, and Anaerobiospirillum, which were associated with protein-rich diets and improved body condition. (3) Diets rich in anthropogenic food were associated with increased abundances of Erysipelotrichiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Coriobacteriaceae, which correlated with larger spleens in urban coyotes. Urban coyotes also had an increased prevalence of the zoonotic parasite Echinococcus multilocularis, but there were no detectable connections between parasite infection and microbiome composition. Our results demonstrate how the consumption of carbohydrate-rich anthropogenic food by urban coyotes alters the microbiome to negatively affect body condition, with potential relationships to parasite susceptibility and conflict-prone behavior.
Collapse
|
40
|
Nguyen HKD, Jones PJ, Kendal D, Flies EJ. Disentangling the Environment in Wildlife Microbiome-Behaviour Interactions: Response to Davidson et al. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 36:277-278. [PMID: 33293194 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hanh K D Nguyen
- School of Technology, Environments and Design, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS 7005, Australia.
| | - Penelope J Jones
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Dave Kendal
- School of Technology, Environments and Design, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS 7005, Australia
| | - Emily J Flies
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS 7005, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Teitelbaum CS, Hepinstall-Cymerman J, Kidd-Weaver A, Hernandez SM, Altizer S, Hall RJ. Urban specialization reduces habitat connectivity by a highly mobile wading bird. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2020; 8:49. [PMID: 33372623 PMCID: PMC7720518 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-020-00233-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile animals transport nutrients and propagules across habitats, and are crucial for the functioning of food webs and for ecosystem services. Human activities such as urbanization can alter animal movement behavior, including site fidelity and resource use. Because many urban areas are adjacent to natural sites, mobile animals might connect natural and urban habitats. More generally, understanding animal movement patterns in urban areas can help predict how urban expansion will affect the roles of highly mobile animals in ecological processes. METHODS Here, we examined movements by a seasonally nomadic wading bird, the American white ibis (Eudocimus albus), in South Florida, USA. White ibis are colonial wading birds that forage on aquatic prey; in recent years, some ibis have shifted their behavior to forage in urban parks, where they are fed by people. We used a spatial network approach to investigate how individual movement patterns influence connectivity between urban and non-urban sites. We built a network of habitat connectivity using GPS tracking data from ibis during their non-breeding season and compared this network to simulated networks that assumed individuals moved indiscriminately with respect to habitat type. RESULTS We found that the observed network was less connected than the simulated networks, that urban-urban and natural-natural connections were strong, and that individuals using urban sites had the least-variable habitat use. Importantly, the few ibis that used both urban and natural habitats contributed the most to connectivity. CONCLUSIONS Habitat specialization in urban-acclimated wildlife could reduce the exchange of propagules and nutrients between urban and natural areas, which has consequences both for beneficial effects of connectivity such as gene flow and for detrimental effects such as the spread of contaminants or pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anjelika Kidd-Weaver
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Present address: College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Sonia M Hernandez
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Sonia Altizer
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Richard J Hall
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|