The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the bacterial microbiome of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in their natural environment
Abstract The microbiome is a key factor in the health, well-being, and success of vertebrates, contributing to the adaptive capacity of the host. However, the impact of geographic and biotic factors that may affect the microbiome of wild birds in polar environments is not well defined. To address th...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:73ba5f9efbd44eeeafa0376b997ca33e 2024-09-15T18:31:41+00:00 The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the bacterial microbiome of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in their natural environment Chloe Kaczvinsky Hila Levy Stephen Preston Casey Youngflesh Gemma Clucas Heather J. Lynch Tom Hart Adrian L. Smith 2024-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66460-9 https://doaj.org/article/73ba5f9efbd44eeeafa0376b997ca33e EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66460-9 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-024-66460-9 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/73ba5f9efbd44eeeafa0376b997ca33e Scientific Reports, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2024) Pygoscelid penguins Gentoo penguins Microbiome Diet Monitoring Medicine R Science Q article 2024 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66460-9 2024-08-05T17:50:07Z Abstract The microbiome is a key factor in the health, well-being, and success of vertebrates, contributing to the adaptive capacity of the host. However, the impact of geographic and biotic factors that may affect the microbiome of wild birds in polar environments is not well defined. To address this, we determined the bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence profiles in faecal samples from pygoscelid penguin populations in the Scotia Arc, focusing on gentoo penguins. This mesopredatory group breeds in defined colonies across a wide geographic range. Since diet could influence microbiome structure, we extracted dietary profiles from a eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene sequence profile. The bacterial microbiome profiles were considered in the context of a diverse set of environmental and ecological measures. Integrating wide geographic sampling with bacterial 16S and eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene sequencing of over 350 faecal samples identified associations between the microbiome profile and a suite of geographic and ecological factors. Microbiome profiles differed according to host species, colony identity, distance between colonies, and diet. Interestingly there was also a relationship between the proportion of host DNA (in relation to total 18S rRNA gene signal) and the microbiome, which may reflect gut passage time. Colony identity provided the strongest association with differences in microbiome profiles indicating that local factors play a key role in the microbiome structure of these polar seabirds. This may reflect the influence of local transfer of microbes either via faecal-oral routes, during chick feeding or other close contact events. Other factors including diet and host species also associate with variation in microbiome profile, and in at least some locations, the microbiome composition varies considerably between individuals. Given the variation in penguin microbiomes associated with diverse factors there is potential for disruption of microbiome associations at a local scale that could influence host health, ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Pygoscelis papua Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Scientific Reports 14 1 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Pygoscelid penguins Gentoo penguins Microbiome Diet Monitoring Medicine R Science Q |
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Pygoscelid penguins Gentoo penguins Microbiome Diet Monitoring Medicine R Science Q Chloe Kaczvinsky Hila Levy Stephen Preston Casey Youngflesh Gemma Clucas Heather J. Lynch Tom Hart Adrian L. Smith The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the bacterial microbiome of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in their natural environment |
topic_facet |
Pygoscelid penguins Gentoo penguins Microbiome Diet Monitoring Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Abstract The microbiome is a key factor in the health, well-being, and success of vertebrates, contributing to the adaptive capacity of the host. However, the impact of geographic and biotic factors that may affect the microbiome of wild birds in polar environments is not well defined. To address this, we determined the bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence profiles in faecal samples from pygoscelid penguin populations in the Scotia Arc, focusing on gentoo penguins. This mesopredatory group breeds in defined colonies across a wide geographic range. Since diet could influence microbiome structure, we extracted dietary profiles from a eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene sequence profile. The bacterial microbiome profiles were considered in the context of a diverse set of environmental and ecological measures. Integrating wide geographic sampling with bacterial 16S and eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene sequencing of over 350 faecal samples identified associations between the microbiome profile and a suite of geographic and ecological factors. Microbiome profiles differed according to host species, colony identity, distance between colonies, and diet. Interestingly there was also a relationship between the proportion of host DNA (in relation to total 18S rRNA gene signal) and the microbiome, which may reflect gut passage time. Colony identity provided the strongest association with differences in microbiome profiles indicating that local factors play a key role in the microbiome structure of these polar seabirds. This may reflect the influence of local transfer of microbes either via faecal-oral routes, during chick feeding or other close contact events. Other factors including diet and host species also associate with variation in microbiome profile, and in at least some locations, the microbiome composition varies considerably between individuals. Given the variation in penguin microbiomes associated with diverse factors there is potential for disruption of microbiome associations at a local scale that could influence host health, ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Chloe Kaczvinsky Hila Levy Stephen Preston Casey Youngflesh Gemma Clucas Heather J. Lynch Tom Hart Adrian L. Smith |
author_facet |
Chloe Kaczvinsky Hila Levy Stephen Preston Casey Youngflesh Gemma Clucas Heather J. Lynch Tom Hart Adrian L. Smith |
author_sort |
Chloe Kaczvinsky |
title |
The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the bacterial microbiome of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in their natural environment |
title_short |
The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the bacterial microbiome of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in their natural environment |
title_full |
The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the bacterial microbiome of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in their natural environment |
title_fullStr |
The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the bacterial microbiome of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in their natural environment |
title_full_unstemmed |
The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the bacterial microbiome of gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in their natural environment |
title_sort |
influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the bacterial microbiome of gentoo penguins (pygoscelis papua) in their natural environment |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66460-9 https://doaj.org/article/73ba5f9efbd44eeeafa0376b997ca33e |
genre |
Pygoscelis papua |
genre_facet |
Pygoscelis papua |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2024) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66460-9 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-024-66460-9 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/73ba5f9efbd44eeeafa0376b997ca33e |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66460-9 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
14 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1810473431990272000 |