Genetic similarity, odor cues and microbiota in blue petrels and kittiwakes

• Main Authors: 3rd World Seabird Conference 2021, Leclaire, Sarah
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Underline Science Inc. 2021
• Subjects: Ecosystem; Environmental Engineering; FOS Environmental engineering; Theriogenology; Ornithology; Antarctic; Kerguelen; Kerguelen Islands; Antarc*; Alaska
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48448/9wks-xp79; https://underline.io/lecture/34869-genetic-similarity,-odor-cues-and-microbiota-in-blue-petrels-and-kittiwakes

Abstract: In a wide range of taxa, individuals use odor cues during mate choice to assess their genetic similarity to potential partners. However, in contrast to fish, lizards or mammals, the ability of birds to assess genetic similarity using olfactory cues has long been unexplored. We studied two seabird species: black-legged kittiwakes nesting on a radar tower on Middleton island, Alaska and blue petrels breeding at the Sub-Antarctic Kerguelen islands. We focused on similarity at genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), which allelic diversity is crucial for resistance to pathogens. Using chemical analyses and behavioral tests, we provided the first evidence that birds can assess MHC-similarity using odor cues, which suggests that odor-based MHC recognition might be vertebrate-wide. Then, we investigated a potential mechanism by which MHC genes influence odor, i.e. by enabling the elimination of bacteria, MHC-molecules might influence odor indirectly by shaping the community of odor‐producing bacteria. We combined genetic analyses and bacterial analyses, and found that genetically-similar individuals had more similar feather microbiota. Our results were consistent with the hypothesis that individual MHC-genotype shape bacteria in scent integuments in birds. Further studies are ongoing to determine whether these bacteria produce the MHC-related odorants. Authors: Sarah Leclaire¹, Maxime Pineaux², Francesco Bonadonna¹ ¹CNRS, ²University of Toulouse