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Knutie SA, Webster CN, Vaziri GJ, Albert L, Harvey JA, LaRue M, Verrett TB, Soldo A, Koop JAH, Chaves JA, Wegrzyn JL. Urban living can rescue Darwin's finches from the lethal effects of invasive vampire flies. Glob Chang Biol 2024; 30:e17145. [PMID: 38273516 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Human activity changes multiple factors in the environment, which can have positive or negative synergistic effects on organisms. However, few studies have explored the causal effects of multiple anthropogenic factors, such as urbanization and invasive species, on animals and the mechanisms that mediate these interactions. This study examines the influence of urbanization on the detrimental effect of invasive avian vampire flies (Philornis downsi) on endemic Darwin's finches in the Galápagos Islands. We experimentally manipulated nest fly abundance in urban and non-urban locations and then characterized nestling health, fledging success, diet, and gene expression patterns related to host defense. Fledging success of non-parasitized nestlings from urban (79%) and non-urban (75%) nests did not differ significantly. However, parasitized, non-urban nestlings lost more blood, and fewer nestlings survived (8%) compared to urban nestlings (50%). Stable isotopic values (δ15 N) from urban nestling feces were higher than those from non-urban nestlings, suggesting that urban nestlings are consuming more protein. δ15 N values correlated negatively with parasite abundance, which suggests that diet might influence host defenses (e.g., tolerance and resistance). Parasitized, urban nestlings differentially expressed genes within pathways associated with red blood cell production (tolerance) and pro-inflammatory response (innate immunological resistance), compared to parasitized, non-urban nestlings. In contrast, parasitized non-urban nestlings differentially expressed genes within pathways associated with immunoglobulin production (adaptive immunological resistance). Our results suggest that urban nestlings are investing more in pro-inflammatory responses to resist parasites but also recovering more blood cells to tolerate blood loss. Although non-urban nestlings are mounting an adaptive immune response, it is likely a last effort by the immune system rather than an effective defense against avian vampire flies since few nestlings survived.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Knutie
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Cynthia N Webster
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Grace J Vaziri
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lauren Albert
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Johanna A Harvey
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Michelle LaRue
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Taylor B Verrett
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Alexandria Soldo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jennifer A H Koop
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA
| | - Jaime A Chaves
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, USA
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Jill L Wegrzyn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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Solomon G, Love AC, Vaziri GJ, Harvey J, Verrett T, Chernicky K, Simons S, Albert L, Chaves JA, Knutie SA. Effect of urbanization and parasitism on the gut microbiota of Darwin's finch nestlings. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6059-6069. [PMID: 37837269 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Host-associated microbiota can be affected by factors related to environmental change, such as urbanization and invasive species. For example, urban areas often affect food availability for animals, which can change their gut microbiota. Invasive parasites can also influence microbiota through competition or indirectly through a change in the host immune response. These interacting factors can have complex effects on host fitness, but few studies have disentangled the relationship between urbanization and parasitism on an organism's gut microbiota. To address this gap in knowledge, we investigated the effects of urbanization and parasitism by the invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi) on the gut microbiota of nestling small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos. We conducted a factorial study in which we experimentally manipulated parasite presence in an urban and nonurban area. Faeces were then collected from nestlings to characterize the gut microbiota (i.e. bacterial diversity and community composition). Although we did not find an interactive effect of urbanization and parasitism on the microbiota, we did find main effects of each variable. We found that urban nestlings had lower bacterial diversity and different relative abundances of taxa compared to nonurban nestlings, which could be mediated by introduction of the microbiota of the food items or changes in host physiology. Additionally, parasitized nestlings had lower bacterial richness than nonparasitized nestlings, which could be mediated by a change in the immune system. Overall, this study advances our understanding of the complex effects of anthropogenic stressors on the gut microbiota of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Solomon
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Ashley C Love
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Grace J Vaziri
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Johanna Harvey
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Taylor Verrett
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Kiley Chernicky
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Shelby Simons
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Lauren Albert
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Jaime A Chaves
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
- Galapagos Science Center, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos, Ecuador
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Sarah A Knutie
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
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Vaziri GJ, Jones MM, Carr HA, Nuñez CMV. Out of the stable: Social disruption and concurrent shifts in the feral mare ( Equus caballus) fecal microbiota. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10079. [PMID: 37187967 PMCID: PMC10175550 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The disruption of animals' symbiotic bacterial communities (their microbiota) has been associated with myriad factors including changes to the diet, hormone levels, and various stressors. The maintenance of healthy bacterial communities may be especially challenging for social species as their microbiotas are also affected by group membership, social relationships, microbial transfer between individuals, and social stressors such as increased competition and rank maintenance. We investigated the effects of increased social instability, as determined by the number of group changes made by females, on the microbiota in free-living, feral horses (Equus caballus) on Shackleford Banks, a barrier island off the North Carolina coast. Females leaving their groups to join new ones had fecal microbial communities that were similarly diverse but compositionally different than those of females that did not change groups. Changing groups was also associated with the increased abundance of a several bacterial genera and families. These changes may be significant as horses are heavily dependent upon their microbial communities for nutrient absorption. Though we cannot identify the particular mechanism(s) driving these changes, to the best of our knowledge, ours is the first study to demonstrate an association between acute social perturbations and the microbiota in a free-ranging mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace J. Vaziri
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutMansfieldConnecticutUSA
| | - Maggie M. Jones
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and ManagementIowa State UniversityAmes, IowaUSA
- Present address:
School of Natural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
| | - Haley A. Carr
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and ManagementIowa State UniversityAmes, IowaUSA
| | - Cassandra M. V. Nuñez
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and ManagementIowa State UniversityAmes, IowaUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesThe University of MemphisMemphisTennesseeUSA
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Maillard F, Jusino MA, Andrews E, Moran M, Vaziri GJ, Banik MT, Fanin N, Trettin CC, Lindner DL, Schilling JS. Wood-decay type and fungal guild dominance across a North American log transplant experiment. FUNGAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2022.101151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Romine MG, Knutie SA, Crow CM, Vaziri GJ, Chaves JA, Koop JAH, Lamichhaney S. The genome sequence of the avian vampire fly ( Philornis downsi), an invasive nest parasite of Darwin’s finches in Galápagos. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics 2022; 12:6456303. [PMID: 34878103 PMCID: PMC9210292 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi, Diptera: Muscidae) is considered one of the greatest threats to the endemic avifauna of the Galápagos Islands. The fly larvae parasitize nearly every passerine species, including Darwin’s finches. Most P. downsi research to date has focused on the effects of the fly on avian host fitness and mitigation methods. A lag in research related to the genetics of this invasion demonstrates, in part, the need to develop full-scale genomic resources with which to address further questions within this system. In this study, an adult female P. downsi was sequenced to generate a high-quality genome assembly. We examined various features of the genome (e.g., coding regions and noncoding transposable elements) and carried out comparative genomics analysis against other dipteran genomes. We identified lists of gene families that are significantly expanding or contracting in P. downsi that are related to insecticide resistance, detoxification, and counter defense against host immune responses. The P. downsi genome assembly provides an important resource for studying the molecular basis of successful invasion in the Galápagos and the dynamics of its population across multiple islands. The findings of significantly changing gene families associated with insecticide resistance and immune responses highlight the need for further investigations into the role of different gene families in aiding the fly’s successful invasion. Furthermore, this genomic resource provides a necessary tool to better inform future research studies and mitigation strategies aimed at minimizing the fly’s impact on Galápagos birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melia G Romine
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA
| | - Sarah A Knutie
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Carly M Crow
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
| | - Grace J Vaziri
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Jaime A Chaves
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador
| | - Jennifer A H Koop
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
| | - Sangeet Lamichhaney
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA
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Vaziri GJ, Johny MM, Caragea PC, Adelman JS. Social context affects thermoregulation but not activity level during avian immune response. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Grace J Vaziri
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, IA, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Manju M Johny
- Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, IA, USA
| | | | - James S Adelman
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, IA, USA
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Ball EE, Adams DM, Dupuie JN, Jones MM, McGovern PG, Ruden RM, Schmidt SR, Vaziri GJ, Eeling JS, Kirk BD, McCombs AL, Rabinowitz AB, Thompson KM, Hudson ZJ, Klaver RW. Serendipity: An Ecologist’s Quest to Understand Nature. J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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