1
|
Włodarczyk R, Drzewińska-Chańko J, Kamiński M, Meissner W, Rapczyński J, Janik-Superson K, Krawczyk D, Strapagiel D, Ożarowska A, Stępniewska K, Minias P. Stopover habitat selection drives variation in the gut microbiome composition and pathogen acquisition by migrating shorebirds. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae040. [PMID: 38515294 PMCID: PMC11008731 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae040] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-distance host movements play a major regulatory role in shaping microbial communities of their digestive tract. Here, we studied gut microbiota composition during seasonal migration in five shorebird species (Charadrii) that use different migratory (stopover) habitats. Our analyses revealed significant interspecific variation in both composition and diversity of gut microbiome, but the effect of host identity was weak. A strong variation in gut microbiota was observed between coastal and inland (dam reservoir and river valley) stopover habitats within species. Comparisons between host age classes provided support for an increasing alpha diversity of gut microbiota during ontogeny and an age-related remodeling of microbiome composition. There was, however, no correlation between microbiome and diet composition across study species. Finally, we detected high prevalence of avian pathogens, which may cause zoonotic diseases in humans (e.g. Vibrio cholerae) and we identified stopover habitat as one of the major axes of variation in the bacterial pathogen exposure risk in shorebirds. Our study not only sheds new light on ecological processes that shape avian gut microbiota, but also has implications for our better understanding of host-pathogen interface and the role of birds in long-distance transmission of pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Radosław Włodarczyk
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation,, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| | - Joanna Drzewińska-Chańko
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation,, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| | - Maciej Kamiński
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation,, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| | - Włodzimierz Meissner
- Ornithology Unit, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jan Rapczyński
- Forestry Student Scientific Association, Ornithological Section, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Janik-Superson
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Biobank Lab, Department of Oncobiology and Epigenetics, Pomorska 139, 90-235 Łódź, Poland
| | - Dawid Krawczyk
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| | - Dominik Strapagiel
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Biobank Lab, Department of Oncobiology and Epigenetics, Pomorska 139, 90-235 Łódź, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Ożarowska
- Ornithology Unit, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Stępniewska
- Ornithology Unit, Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Piotr Minias
- University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation,, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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] [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: 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
|
3
|
Hoffbeck C, Middleton DMRL, Lamar SK, Keall SN, Nelson NJ, Taylor MW. Gut microbiome of the sole surviving member of reptile order Rhynchocephalia reveals biogeographic variation, influence of host body condition and a substantial core microbiota in tuatara across New Zealand. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11073. [PMID: 38405409 PMCID: PMC10884523 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11073] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Tuatara are the sole extant species in the reptile order Rhynchocephalia. They are ecologically and evolutionarily unique, having been isolated geographically for ~84 million years and evolutionarily from their closest living relatives for ~250 million years. Here we report the tuatara gut bacterial community for the first time. We sampled the gut microbiota of translocated tuatara at five sanctuaries spanning a latitudinal range of ~1000 km within Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as individuals from the source population on Takapourewa (Stephens Island). This represents a first look at the bacterial community of the order Rhynchocephalia and provides the opportunity to address several key hypotheses, namely that the tuatara gut microbiota: (1) differs from those of other reptile orders; (2) varies among geographic locations but is more similar at sites with more similar temperatures and (3) is shaped by tuatara body condition, parasitism and ambient temperature. We found significant drivers of the microbiota in sampling site, tuatara body condition, parasitism and ambient temperature, suggesting the importance of these factors when considering tuatara conservation. We also derived a 'core' community of shared bacteria across tuatara at many sites, despite their geographic range and isolation. Remarkably, >70% of amplicon sequence variants could not be assigned to known genera, suggesting a largely undescribed gut bacterial community for this ancient host species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Hoffbeck
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
| | | | - Sarah K. Lamar
- School of Biological SciencesVictoria University of WellingtonWellingtonNew Zealand
| | - Susan N. Keall
- School of Biological SciencesVictoria University of WellingtonWellingtonNew Zealand
| | - Nicola J. Nelson
- School of Biological SciencesVictoria University of WellingtonWellingtonNew Zealand
| | - Michael W. Taylor
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AucklandAucklandNew Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aželytė J, Maitre A, Abuin-Denis L, Piloto-Sardiñas E, Wu-Chuang A, Žiegytė R, Mateos-Hernández L, Obregón D, Cabezas-Cruz A, Palinauskas V. Impact of Plasmodium relictum Infection on the Colonization Resistance of Bird Gut Microbiota: A Preliminary Study. Pathogens 2024; 13:91. [PMID: 38276164 PMCID: PMC10819382 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010091] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Avian malaria infection has been known to affect host microbiota, but the impact of Plasmodium infection on the colonization resistance in bird gut microbiota remains unexplored. This study investigated the dynamics of Plasmodium relictum infection in canaries, aiming to explore the hypothesis that microbiota modulation by P. relictum would reduce colonization resistance. Canaries were infected with P. relictum, while a control group was maintained. The results revealed the presence of P. relictum in the blood of all infected canaries. Analysis of the host microbiota showed no significant differences in alpha diversity metrics between infected and control groups. However, significant differences in beta diversity indicated alterations in the microbial taxa composition of infected birds. Differential abundance analysis identified specific taxa with varying prevalence between infected and control groups at different time points. Network analysis demonstrated a decrease in correlations and revealed that P. relictum infection compromised the bird microbiota's ability to resist the removal of taxa but did not affect network robustness with the addition of new nodes. These findings suggest that P. relictum infection reduces gut microbiota stability and has an impact on colonization resistance. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing strategies to enhance colonization resistance and maintain host health in the face of parasitic infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justė Aželytė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (J.A.); (R.Ž.)
| | - Apolline Maitre
- Anses, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.M.); (L.A.-D.); (E.P.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.)
- INRAE, UR 0045 Laboratoire de Recherches Sur Le Développement de L’Elevage (SELMET-LRDE), F-20250 Corte, France
- EA 7310, Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse, F-20250 Corte, France
| | - Lianet Abuin-Denis
- Anses, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.M.); (L.A.-D.); (E.P.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.)
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Avenue 31 between 158 and 190, Havana CU-10600, Cuba
| | - Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas
- Anses, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.M.); (L.A.-D.); (E.P.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.)
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, San José de las Lajas CU-32700, Cuba
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- Anses, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.M.); (L.A.-D.); (E.P.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.)
| | - Rita Žiegytė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (J.A.); (R.Ž.)
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- Anses, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.M.); (L.A.-D.); (E.P.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.)
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.M.); (L.A.-D.); (E.P.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.)
| | - Vaidas Palinauskas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; (J.A.); (R.Ž.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hoffbeck C, Middleton DMRL, Nelson NJ, Taylor MW. 16S rRNA gene-based meta-analysis of the reptile gut microbiota reveals environmental effects, host influences and a limited core microbiota. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6044-6058. [PMID: 37795930 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17153] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
An animal's gut microbiota plays an important role in host health, reproduction and digestion. However, many studies focus on only a few individuals or a single species, limiting our ability to recognize emergent patterns across a wider taxonomic grouping. Here, we compiled and reanalysed published 16S rRNA gene sequence data for 745 gut microbiota samples from 91 reptile species using a uniform bioinformatics pipeline to draw broader conclusions about the taxonomy of the reptile gut microbiota and the forces shaping it. Our meta-analysis revealed the significant differences in alpha- and beta-diversity across host order, environment, diet, habitat and conservation status, with host diet and order contributing the most to these differences. We identified the principal bacterial phyla present in the reptile gut microbiota as Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria (mostly Gamma class), and Firmicutes, and detected the bacterial genus Bacteroides in most reptile individuals, thus representing a putative 'core' microbiota. Our study provides novel insights into key drivers of the reptile gut microbiota, highlights existing knowledge gaps and lays the groundwork for future research on these fascinating hosts and their associated microbes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Hoffbeck
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Nicola J Nelson
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Michael W Taylor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang S, Shen Y, Wang S, Lin Z, Su R, Jin F, Zhang Y. Responses of the gut microbiota to environmental heavy metal pollution in tree sparrow (Passer montanus) nestlings. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2023; 264:115480. [PMID: 37716068 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbiota plays a critical role in regulating the health and adaptation of wildlife. However, our understanding of how exposure to environmental heavy metals influences the gut microbiota of wild birds, particularly during the vulnerable and sensitive nestling stage, remains limited. In order to investigate the relationship between heavy metals and the gut microbiota, we analyzed the characteristics of gut microbiota and heavy metals levels in tree sparrow nestlings at different ages (6, 9 and 12-day-old). The study was conducted in two distinct areas: Baiyin (BY), which is heavily contaminated with heavy metals, and Liujiaxia (LJX), a relatively unpolluted area. Our result reveled a decrease in gut microbiota diversity and increased inter-individual variation among nestlings in BY. However, we also observed an increase in the abundance of bacterial groups and an up-regulation of bacterial metabolic functions associated with resistance to heavy metals toxicity in BY. Furthermore, we identified a metal-associated shift in the relative abundance of microbial taxa in 12-day-old tree sparrow nestlings in BY, particularly involving Aeromonadaceae, Ruminococcaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was found between the body condition of tree sparrow nestlings and the abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae in BY. Collectively, our findings indicate that the gut microbiota of tree sparrow nestlings is susceptible to heavy metals during early development. However, the results also highlight the presence of adaptive responses that enable them to effectively cope with environmental heavy metal pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Zhang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yue Shen
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shengnan Wang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhaocun Lin
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Rui Su
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Fei Jin
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yingmei Zhang
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mi JX, Liu KL, Ding WL, Zhang MH, Wang XF, Shaukat A, Rehman MU, Jiao XL, Huang SC. Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota of wild wintering whooper swans (Cygnus Cygnus), captive black swans (Cygnus Atratus), and mute swans (Cygnus Olor) in Sanmenxia Swan National Wetland Park of China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:93731-93743. [PMID: 37515622 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28876-0] [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: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal microbiota, a complex ecosystem, is involved in the physiological activities of hosts and the development of diseases. Birds occupy a critical ecological niche in the ecosystem, performing a variety of ecological functions and possessing a complex gut microbiota composition. However, the gut microbiota of wild and captive birds has received less attention in the same region. We profiled the fecal gut microbiome of wild wintering whooper swans (Cygnus Cygnus; Cyg group, n = 25), captive black swans (Cygnus Atratus; Atr group, n = 20), and mute swans (Cygnus Olor; Olor group, n = 30) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to reveal differences in the gut microbial ecology. The results revealed that the three species of swans differed significantly in terms of the alpha and beta diversity of their gut microbiota, as measured by ACE, Chao1, Simpson and Shannon indices, principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and non-metricmulti-dimensional scaling (NMDS) respectively. Based on the results of the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) and random forest analysis, we found that there were substantial differences in the relative abundance of Gottschalkia, Trichococcus, Enterococcus, and Kurthia among the three groups. Furthermore, an advantageous pattern of interactions between microorganisms was shown by the association network analysis. Among these, Gottschalkia had the higher area under curve (AUC), which was 0.939 (CI = 0.879-0.999), indicating that it might be used as a biomarker to distinguish between wild and captive black swans. Additionally, PICRUSt2 predictions indicated significant differences in gut microbiota functions between wild and captive trumpeter swans, with the gut microbiota functions of Cyg group focusing on carbohydrate metabolism, membrane transport, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism pathways, the Atr group on lipid metabolism, and the Olor group on cell motility, amino acid metabolism, and replication and repair pathways. These findings showed that the gut microbiota of wild and captive swans differed, which is beneficial to understand the gut microecology of swans and to improve regional wildlife conservation strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Xian Mi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Kai-Li Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, 450046, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wen-Li Ding
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, 450046, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ming-Hui Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, 450046, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xue-Fei Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Aftab Shaukat
- National Center for International Research on Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (NCIRAGBR), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Mujeeb Ur Rehman
- Directorate Planning & Development, Livestock & Dairy Development Department, Quetta, Balochistan, 87500, Pakistan
| | - Xi-Lan Jiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, 450046, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shu-Cheng Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, 450046, Zhengzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tang K, Tao L, Wang Y, Wang Q, Fu C, Chen B, Zhang Z, Fu Y. Temporal Variations in the Gut Microbiota of the Globally Endangered Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus): Implications for Adaptation to Seasonal Dietary Change and Conservation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0074723. [PMID: 37272815 PMCID: PMC10305732 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00747-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-associated microbiotas are known to influence host health by aiding digestion, metabolism, nutrition, physiology, immune function, and pathogen resistance. Although an increasing number of studies have investigated the avian microbiome, there is a lack of research on the gut microbiotas of wild birds, especially endangered pheasants. Owing to the difficulty of characterizing the dynamics of dietary composition, especially in omnivores, how the gut microbiotas of birds respond to seasonal dietary changes remains poorly understood. The Sichuan partridge (Arborophila rufipectus) is an endangered pheasant species with a small population endemic to the mountains of southwest China. Here, 16S rRNA sequencing and Tax4Fun were used to characterize and compare community structure and functions of the gut microbiota in the Sichuan partridges across three critical periods of their annual life cycle (breeding, postbreeding wandering, and overwintering). We found that the microbial communities were dominated by Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria throughout the year. Diversity of the gut microbiotas was highest during postbreeding wandering and lowest during the overwintering periods. Seasonal dietary changes and reassembly of the gut microbial community occurred consistently. Composition, diversity, and functions of the gut microbiota exhibited diet-associated variations, which might facilitate host adaptation to diverse diets in response to environmental shifts. Moreover, 28 potential pathogenic genera were detected, and their composition differed significantly between the three periods. Investigation of the wild bird gut microbiota dynamics has enhanced our understanding of diet-microbiota associations over the annual life cycle of birds, aiding in the integrative conservation of this endangered bird. IMPORTANCE Characterizing the gut microbiotas of wild birds across seasons will shed light on their annual life cycle. Due to sampling difficulties and the lack of detailed dietary information, studies on how the gut microbiota adapts to seasonal dietary changes of wild birds are scarce. Based on more detailed dietary composition, we found a seasonal reshaping pattern of the gut microbiota of Sichuan partridges corresponding to their seasonal dietary changes. The variation in diet and gut microbiota potentially facilitated the diversity of dietary niches of this endangered pheasant, revealing a seasonal diet-microbiota association across the three periods of the annual cycle. In addition, identifying a variety of potentially pathogenic bacterial genera aids in managing the health and improving survival of Sichuan partridges. Incorporation of microbiome research in the conservation of endangered species contributes to our comprehensive understanding the diet-host-microbiota relationship in wild birds and refinement of conservation practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keyi Tang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling Tao
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Changkun Fu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Benping Chen
- Laojunshan National Nature Reserve Administration, Pingshan, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhengwang Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiqiang Fu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Land Resources Evaluation and Monitoring in Southwest, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
- College of Life Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| |
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
Kim JE, Tun HM, Bennett DC, Leung FC, Cheng KM. Microbial diversity and metabolic function in duodenum, jejunum and ileum of emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Sci Rep 2023; 13:4488. [PMID: 36934111 PMCID: PMC10024708 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31684-8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), a large flightless omnivorous ratite, are farmed for their fat and meat. Emu fat can be rendered into oil for therapeutic and cosmetic use. They are capable of gaining a significant portion of its daily energy requirement from the digestion of plant fibre. Despite of its large body size and low metabolic rate, emus have a relatively simple gastroinstetinal (GI) tract with a short mean digesta retention time. However, little is known about the GI microbial diversity of emus. The objective of this study was to characterize the intraluminal intestinal bacterial community in the different segments of small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) using pyrotag sequencing and compare that with the ceca. Gut content samples were collected from each of four adult emus (2 males, 2 females; 5-6 years old) that were free ranged but supplemented with a barley-alfalfa-canola based diet. We amplified the V3-V5 region of 16S rRNA gene to identify the bacterial community using Roche 454 Junior system. After quality trimming, a total of 165,585 sequence reads were obtained from different segments of the small intestine (SI). A total of 701 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified in the different segments of small intestine. Firmicutes (14-99%) and Proteobacteria (0.5-76%) were the most predominant bacterial phyla in the small intestine. Based on species richness estimation (Chao1 index), the average number of estimated OTUs in the small intestinal compartments were 148 in Duodenum, 167 in Jejunum, and 85 in Ileum, respectively. Low number of core OTUs identified in each compartment of small intestine across individual birds (Duodenum: 13 OTUs, Jejunum: 2 OTUs, Ileum: 14 OTUs) indicated unique bacterial community in each bird. Moreover, only 2 OTUs (Escherichia and Sinobacteraceae) were identified as core bacteria along the whole small intestine. PICRUSt analysis has indicated that the detoxification of plant material and environmental chemicals seem to be performed by SI microbiota, especially those in the jejunum. The emu cecal microbiome has more genes than SI segments involving in protective or immune response to enteric pathogens. Microbial digestion and fermentation is mostly in the jejunum and ceca. This is the first study to characterize the microbiota of different compartments of the emu intestines via gut samples and not fecal samples. Results from this study allow us to further investigate the influence of the seasonal and physiological changes of intestinal microbiota on the nutrition of emus and indirectly influence the fatty acid composition of emu fat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji Eun Kim
- Avian Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Hein M Tun
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing, Faculty of Medicine, HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR, China
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Darin C Bennett
- Avian Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Animal Science Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93407, USA
| | - Frederick C Leung
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kimberly M Cheng
- Avian Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Grond K, Louyakis AS, Hird SM. Functional and Compositional Changes in the Fecal Microbiome of a Shorebird during Migratory Stopover. mSystems 2023;:e0112822. [PMID: 36786579 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01128-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Shorebirds migrate long distances twice annually, which requires intense physiological and morphological adaptations, including the ability to rapidly gain weight via fat deposition at stopover locations. The role of the microbiome in weight gain in avian hosts is unresolved, but there is substantial evidence to support the hypothesis that the microbiome is involved with host weight from mammalian microbiome literature. Here, we collected 100 fecal samples of Ruddy Turnstones to investigate microbiome composition and function during stopover weight gain in Delaware Bay, USA. Using 16S rRNA sequencing on 90 of these samples and metatranscriptomic sequencing on 22, we show that taxonomic composition of the microbiome shifts during weight gain, as do functional aspects of the metatranscriptome. We identified 10 genes that are associated with weight class, and polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in the microbiota is significantly increasing as birds gain weight. Our results support that the microbiome is a dynamic feature of host biology that interacts with both the host and the environment and may be involved in the rapid weight gain of shorebirds. IMPORTANCE Many animals migrate long distances annually, and these journeys require intense physiological and morphological adaptations. One such adaptation in shorebirds is the ability to rapidly gain weight at stopover locations in the middle of their migrations. The role of the microbiome in weight gain in birds is unresolved but is likely to play a role. Here, we collected 100 fecal samples from Ruddy Turnstones to investigate microbiome composition (who is there) and function (what they are doing) during stopover weight gain in Delaware Bay, USA. Using multiple molecular methods, we show that both taxonomic composition and function of the microbiome shifts during weight gain. We identified 10 genes that are associated with weight class, and polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in the microbiota is significantly increasing as birds gain weight. Our results support that the microbiome is a dynamic feature of host biology that interacts with both the host and the environment and may be involved in the rapid weight gain of shorebirds.
Collapse
|
12
|
Schmiedová L, Kreisinger J, Kubovčiak J, Těšický M, Martin JF, Tomášek O, Kauzálová T, Sedláček O, Albrecht T. Gut microbiota variation between climatic zones and due to migration strategy in passerine birds. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1080017. [PMID: 36819027 PMCID: PMC9928719 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1080017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Decreasing biotic diversity with increasing latitude is an almost universal macroecological pattern documented for a broad range of taxa, however, there have been few studies focused on changes in gut microbiota (GM) across climatic zones. Methods Using 16S rRNA amplicon profiling, we analyzed GM variation between temperate (Czechia) and tropical (Cameroon) populations of 99 passerine bird species and assessed GM similarity of temperate species migrating to tropical regions with that of residents/short-distance migrants and tropical residents. Our study also considered the possible influence of diet on GM. Results We observed no consistent GM diversity differences between tropical and temperate species. In the tropics, GM composition varied substantially between dry and rainy seasons and only a few taxa exhibited consistent differential abundance between tropical and temperate zones, irrespective of migration behavior and seasonal GM changes. During the breeding season, trans-Saharan migrant GM diverged little from species not overwintering in the tropics and did not show higher similarity to tropical passerines than temperate residents/short-distance migrants. Interestingly, GM of two temperate-breeding trans-Saharan migrants sampled in the tropical zone matched that of tropical residents and converged with other temperate species during the breeding season. Diet had a slight effect on GM composition of tropical species, but no effect on GM of temperate hosts. Discussion Consequently, our results demonstrate extensive passerine GM plasticity, the dominant role of environmental factors in its composition and limited effect of diet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Schmiedová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jakub Kreisinger
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,*Correspondence: Jakub Kreisinger,
| | - Jan Kubovčiak
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Martin Těšický
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Oldřich Tomášek
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Tereza Kauzálová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ondřej Sedláček
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Baiz MD, Benavides C A, Miller ET, Wood AW, Toews DPL. Gut microbiome composition better reflects host phylogeny than diet diversity in breeding wood-warblers. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:518-536. [PMID: 36325817 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the factors that shape microbiomes can provide insight into the importance of host-symbiont interactions and on co-evolutionary dynamics. Unlike for mammals, previous studies have found little or no support for an influence of host evolutionary history on avian gut microbiome diversity and instead have suggested a greater influence of the environment or diet due to fast gut turnover. Because effects of different factors may be conflated by captivity and sampling design, examining natural variation using large sample sizes is important. Our goal was to overcome these limitations by sampling wild birds to compare environmental, dietary and evolutionary influences on gut microbiome structure. We performed faecal metabarcoding to characterize both the gut microbiome and diet of 15 wood-warbler species across a 4-year period and from two geographical localities. We find host taxonomy generally explained ~10% of the variation between individuals, which is ~6-fold more variation of any other factor considered, including diet diversity. Further, gut microbiome similarity was more congruent with the host phylogeny than with host diet similarity and we found little association between diet diversity and microbiome diversity. Together, our results suggest evolutionary history is the strongest predictor of gut microbiome differentiation among wood-warblers. Although the phylogenetic signal of the warbler gut microbiome is not very strong, our data suggest that a stronger influence of diet (as measured by diet diversity) does not account for this pattern. The mechanism underlying this phylogenetic signal is not clear, but we argue host traits may filter colonization and maintenance of microbes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcella D Baiz
- Department of Biology, Pennylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrea Benavides C
- Department of Biology, Pennylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Andrew W Wood
- Department of Biology, Pennylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David P L Toews
- Department of Biology, Pennylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gao Z, Song H, Dong H, Ji X, Lei Z, Tian Y, Wu Y, Zou H. Comparative analysis of intestinal flora between rare wild red-crowned crane and white-naped crane. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1007884. [DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1007884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionAnimal intestines are extremely rich in microbial ecosystems. Numerous studies in different fields, such as epidemiology and histology, have revealed that gut microorganisms considerably mediate the survival and reproduction of animals. However, gut microbiology studies of homogeneously distributed wild cranes are still rare. This study aimed to understand the structural composition of the gut microbial community of wild cranes and elucidate the potential roles of the microorganisms.MethodsWe used high-throughput sequencing to analyze the gut microbial community structure of wild cranes in the Zhalong Nature Reserve.ResultsA total of 1,965,683 valid tags and 5248 OTUs were obtained from 32 fecal samples. Twenty-six bacteria phyla and 523 genera were annotated from the intestinal tract of the red-crowned crane. Twenty-five bacteria phyla and 625 genera were annotated from the intestine of the white-naped crane. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes are the dominant bacterial phyla in the intestinal tract of red-crowned cranes, while Catellicoccus, Lactobacillus, Neisseria, and Streptococcus were the dominant genera. The dominant bacterial phyla in the intestinal tract of white-naped cranes were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Epsilonbacteraeota, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria. However, the dominant genera were Catellicoccus, Lactobacillus, Neisseria, Campylobacter, Streptococcus, Anaerobiospirillum, Romboutsia, Turicibacter, Haemophilus, and Lautropia. Firmicutes had significantly higher relative abundance in the intestine of the red-crowned than white-naped cranes (P < 0.05). However, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the intestines of white-naped than red-crowned cranes. The diversity of the intestinal flora between the two crane species was significantly different (P < 0.05). Besides, the alpha diversity of the intestinal flora was higher for white-naped than red-crowned cranes. Eight of the 41 functional pathways differed in the gut of both crane species (P < 0.05).DiscussionBoth species live in the same area and have similar feeding and behavioral characteristics. Therefore, host differences are possibly the main factors influencing the structural and functional differences in the composition of the gut microbial community. This study provides important reference data for constructing a crane gut microbial assessment system. The findings have implications for studying deeper relationships between crane gut microbes and genetics, nutrition, immunity, and disease.
Collapse
|
15
|
Wang B, Zhong H, Liu Y, Ruan L, Kong Z, Mou X, Wu L. Diet drives the gut microbiome composition and assembly processes in winter migratory birds in the Poyang Lake wetland, China. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:973469. [PMID: 36212828 PMCID: PMC9537367 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.973469] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex gut bacterial communities may facilitate the function, distribution, and diversity of birds. For migratory birds, long-distance traveling poses selection pressures on their gut microbiota, ultimately affecting the birds’ health, fitness, ecology, and evolution. However, our understanding of mechanisms that underlie the assembly of the gut microbiome of migratory birds is limited. In this study, the gut microbiota of winter migratory birds in the Poyang Lake wetland was characterized using MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. The sampled bird included herbivorous, carnivorous, and omnivorous birds from a total of 17 species of 8 families. Our results showed that the gut microbiota of migratory birds was dominated by four major bacterial phyla: Firmicutes (47.8%), Proteobacteria (18.2%), Fusobacteria (12.6%), and Bacteroidetes (9.1%). Dietary specialization outweighed the phylogeny of birds as an important factor governing the gut microbiome, mainly through regulating the deterministic processes of homogeneous selection and stochastic processes of homogeneous dispersal balance. Moreover, the omnivorous had more bacterial diversity than the herbivorous and carnivorous. Microbial networks for the gut microbiome of the herbivorous and carnivorous were less integrated, i.e., had lower average node degree and greater decreased network stability upon node attack removal than those of the omnivorous birds. Our findings advance the understanding of host-microbiota interactions and the evolution of migratory bird dietary flexibility and diversification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Binhua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Science, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hui Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Science, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yajun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Science, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Luzhang Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Science, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zhaoyu Kong
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Science, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaozhen Mou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Xiaozhen Mou,
| | - Lan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, School of Life Science, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Lan Wu,
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Wu Y, Li Z, Zhao J, Chen Z, Xiang X. Significant differences in intestinal fungal community of hooded cranes along the wintering periods. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:991998. [PMID: 36160219 PMCID: PMC9491237 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.991998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal microbiota play vital roles for health of wild birds in many ways. Migratory birds with unique life history might increase the risk of pathogenic transmission across the regions. However, few studies have clarified the fungal community structure and inferred the potential pathogens in guts of migratory birds. The high-throughput sequencing method was applied to analyze the fungal community structure and detect the potential fungal pathogens in guts of hooded cranes among different wintering stages. Significant differences were found in gut fungal community composition of hooded cranes among three wintering stages, with the lowest fungal diversity in the late wintering stage. In the late stage, hooded cranes harbored higher relative abundance of plant saprotroph, contributing to food digestion for hosts. Hooded cranes were associated with the lowest diversity and relative abundance of animal pathogens in the late wintering stage. There was an increasing trend of deterministic process for gut fungal community assembly, suggesting that hosts interaction with their fungal communities changed by enhanced gut selection/filtering along wintering periods. Hooded crane was associated with the strongest gut selection/filtering to obtain defined gut fungal community with retaining probiotics (i.e., plant saprotroph) and exclusion of certain pathogens in the late wintering stage. Overall, these results demonstrated that hooded cranes might regulate their gut microbiota to enhance digestion and decrease gut pathogens in preparation for long-term migration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuannuo Wu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei, China
| | - Zihan Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
| | - Jingru Zhao
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Hefei, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Zhong Chen,
| | - Xingjia Xiang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, China
- International Collaborative Research Center for Huangshan Biodiversity and Tibetan Macaque Behavioral Ecology, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration, Hefei, China
- Xingjia Xiang,
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wang J, Hong M, Long J, Yin Y, Xie J. Differences in intestinal microflora of birds among different ecological types. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.920869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal microflora of animals plays a key role in metabolism, immunity, and development. Birds distributed across multiple ecological habitats. However, little is known about the differences in the intestinal microflora of birds among different ecological types. In this study, bird feces from different ecological types and orders were collected in Chongqing Zoo, China. In this study, high throughput sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene (amplicon sequencing) and metagenomics were used to analyze the composition and function differences of gut microbiota communities among different ecological types/orders. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacteria phyla for all samples but there were significant differences in the α-diversity, community structure and microbial interactions between birds of different ecological types. The function differences involve most aspects of the body functions, especially for environmental information processing, organismal systems, human diseases, genetic information processing, and metabolism. These results suggest that diet and habitat are potential drivers of avian gut microbial aggregation. This preliminary study is of great significance for further research on the intestinal microflora of different ecological types of birds.
Collapse
|
18
|
Zhao C, Liu L, Gao L, Bai L. A comprehensive comparison of fecal microbiota in three ecological bird groups of raptors, waders, and waterfowl. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:919111. [PMID: 36003944 PMCID: PMC9393522 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.919111] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut microbiota plays a vital role in maintaining the health and immunity of wild birds. However, less is known about the comparison of fecal microbiota between different ecological groups of wild birds, particularly in the Yellow River National Wetland in Baotou, China, an important transit point for birds migrating all over the East Asia-Australian and Central Asian flyways. In this study, we characterized the fecal microbiota and potential microbial function in nine bird species of raptors, waders, and waterfowl using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to reveal the microbiota differences and interaction patterns. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in α-diversity, but a significant difference in β-diversity between the three groups of birds. The fecal bacterial microbiota was dominated by Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes in all groups of birds. Furthermore, we identified five bacterial genera that were significantly higher in raptors, five genera that were significantly higher in waders, and two genera that were more abundant in waterfowl. The bacterial co-occurrence network results revealed 15 and 26 key genera in raptors and waterfowls, respectively. The microbial network in waterfowl exhibited a stronger correlation pattern than that in raptors. PICRUSt2 predictions indicated that fecal bacterial function was significantly enriched in the antibiotic biosynthesis pathway in all three groups. Metabolic pathways related to cell motility (bacterial chemotaxis and flagellar assembly) were significantly more abundant in raptors than in waders, whereas waders were enriched in lipid metabolism (synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies and fatty acid biosynthesis). The fecal microbiota in waterfowl harbored more abundant vitamin B6 metabolism, RNA polymerase, and tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis. This comparative study revealed the microbial community structure, microbial co-occurrence patterns, and potential functions, providing a better understanding of the ecology and conservation of wild birds. Future studies may focus on unraveling metagenomic functions and dynamics along with the migration routine or different seasons by metagenomics or metatranscriptomics.
Collapse
|
19
|
Sun F, Chen J, Liu K, Tang M, Yang Y. The avian gut microbiota: Diversity, influencing factors, and future directions. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:934272. [PMID: 35992664 PMCID: PMC9389168 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.934272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota is viewed as the “second genome” of animals, sharing intricate relationships with their respective hosts. Because the gut microbial community and its diversity are affected by many intrinsic and extrinsic factors, studying intestinal microbes has become an important research topic. However, publications are dominated by studies on domestic or captive birds, while research on the composition and response mechanism of environmental changes in the gut microbiota of wild birds remains scarce. Therefore, it is important to understand the co-evolution of host and intestinal bacteria under natural conditions to elucidate the diversity, maintenance mechanisms, and functions of gut microbes in wild birds. Here, the existing knowledge of gut microbiota in captive and wild birds is summarized, along with previous studies on the composition and function, research methods employed, and factors influencing the avian gut microbial communities. Furthermore, research hotspots and directions were also discussed to identify the dynamics of the avian gut microbiota, aiming to contribute to studies of avian microbiology in the future.
Collapse
|
20
|
Palinauskas V, Mateos-Hernandez L, Wu-Chuang A, de la Fuente J, Aželytė J, Obregon D, Cabezas-Cruz A. Exploring the Ecological Implications of Microbiota Diversity in Birds: Natural Barriers Against Avian Malaria. Front Immunol 2022; 13:807682. [PMID: 35250978 PMCID: PMC8891477 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.807682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural antibodies (Abs), produced in response to bacterial gut microbiota, drive resistance to infection in vertebrates. In natural systems, gut microbiota diversity is expected to shape the spectrum of natural Abs and resistance to parasites. This hypothesis has not been empirically tested. In this 'Hypothesis and Theory' paper, we propose that enteric microbiota diversity shapes the immune response to the carbohydrate α-Gal and resistance to avian malaria. We further propose that anti-α-Gal Abs are transmitted from mother to eggs for early malaria protection in chicks. Microbiota modulation by anti-α-Gal Abs is also proposed as a mechanism favoring the early colonization of bacterial taxa with α1,3-galactosyltransferase (α1,3GT) activity in the bird gut. Our preliminary data shows that bacterial α1,3GT genes are widely distributed in the gut microbiome of wild and domestic birds. We also showed that experimental infection with the avian malaria parasite P. relictum induces anti-α-Gal Abs in bird sera. The bird-malaria-microbiota system allows combining field studies with infection and transmission experiments in laboratory animals to test the association between microbiota composition, anti-α-Gal Abs, and malaria infection in natural populations of wild birds. Understanding how the gut microbiome influences resistance to malaria can bring insights on how these mechanisms influence the prevalence of malaria parasites in juvenile birds and shape the host population dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Justė Aželytė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Dasiel Obregon
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Bodawatta KH, Klečková I, Klečka J, Pužejová K, Koane B, Poulsen M, Jønsson KA, Sam K. Specific gut bacterial responses to natural diets of tropical birds. Sci Rep 2022; 12:713. [PMID: 35027664 PMCID: PMC8758760 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04808-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition of gut bacterial communities is strongly influenced by the host diet in many animal taxa. For birds, the effect of diet on the microbiomes has been documented through diet manipulation studies. However, for wild birds, most studies have drawn on literature-based information to decipher the dietary effects, thereby, overlooking individual variation in dietary intake. Here we examine how naturally consumed diets influence the composition of the crop and cloacal microbiomes of twenty-one tropical bird species, using visual and metabarcoding-based identification of consumed diets and bacterial 16S rRNA microbiome sequencing. We show that diet intakes vary markedly between individuals of the same species and that literature-based dietary guilds grossly underestimate intraspecific diet variability. Furthermore, despite an effect of literature-based dietary guild assignment of host taxa, the composition of natural diets does not align with crop and cloacal microbiome similarity. However, host-taxon specific gut bacterial lineages are positively correlated with specific diet items, indicating that certain microbes associate with different diet components in specific avian hosts. Consequently, microbiome composition is not congruent with the overall consumed diet composition of species, but specific components of a consumed diet lead to host-specific effects on gut bacterial taxa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Irena Klečková
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Klečka
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Pužejová
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Bonny Koane
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Knud A Jønsson
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Skeen HR, Cooper NW, Hackett SJ, Bates JM, Marra PP. Repeated sampling of individuals reveals impact of tropical and temperate habitats on microbiota of a migratory bird. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:5900-5916. [PMID: 34580952 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Migratory animals experiencing substantial change in diet and habitat across the annual cycle may have corresponding shifts in host-associated microbial diversity. Using automated telemetry and radio tags to recapture birds, we examined gut microbiota structure in the same population and often same individual of Kirtland's Warblers (Setophaga kirtlandii) initially sampled on their wintering grounds in The Bahamas and subsequently resampled within their breeding territories in Michigan, USA. Initial sampling occurred in March and April and resampling occurred in May, June and early July. The composition of the most abundant phyla and classes of the warblers' microbiota is similar to that of other migratory birds. However, we detected notable variation in abundance and diversity of numerous bacterial taxa, including a decrease in microbial richness and significant differences in microbial communities when comparing the microbiota of birds first captured in The Bahamas to that of birds recaptured in Michigan. This is observed at the individual and population level. Furthermore, we found that 22 bacterial genera exhibit heightened abundance within specific sampling periods and are probably associated with diet and environmental change. Finally, we described a small, species-specific shared microbial profile that spans multiple time periods and environments within the migratory cycle. Our research highlights that the avian gut microbiota is dynamic over time, most significantly impacted by changing environments associated with migration. These results support the need for full annual cycle monitoring of migratory bird microbiota to improve understanding of seasonal host movement ecologies and response to recurrent physiological stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather R Skeen
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Nathan W Cooper
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Department of Biology and McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Shannon J Hackett
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - John M Bates
- Negaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Peter P Marra
- Department of Biology and McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
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: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
24
|
Pekarsky S, Corl A, Turjeman S, Kamath PL, Getz WM, Bowie RCK, Markin Y, Nathan R. Drivers of change and stability in the gut microbiota of an omnivorous avian migrant exposed to artificial food supplementation. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:4723-4739. [PMID: 34260783 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Human activities shape resources available to wild animals, impacting diet and probably altering their microbiota and overall health. We examined drivers shaping microbiota profiles of common cranes (Grus grus) in agricultural habitats by comparing gut microbiota and crane movement patterns (GPS-tracking) over three periods of their migratory cycle, and by analysing the effect of artificially supplemented food provided as part of a crane-agriculture management programme. We sampled faecal droppings in Russia (nonsupplemented, premigration) and in Israel in late autumn (nonsupplemented, postmigration) and winter (supplemented and nonsupplemented, wintering). As supplemented food is typically homogenous, we predicted lower microbiota diversity and different composition in birds relying on supplementary feeding. We did not observe changes in microbial diversity with food supplementation, as diversity differed only in samples from nonsupplemented wintering sites. However, both food supplementation and season affected bacterial community composition and led to increased abundance of specific genera (mostly Firmicutes). Cranes from the nonsupplemented groups spent most of their time in agricultural fields, probably feeding on residual grain when available, while food-supplemented cranes spent most of their time at the feeding station. Thus, nonsupplemented and food-supplemented diets probably diverge only in winter, when crop rotation and depletion of anthropogenic resources may lead to a more variable diet in nonsupplemented sites. Our results support the role of diet in structuring bacterial communities and show that they undergo both seasonal and human-induced shifts. Movement analyses provide important clues regarding host diet and behaviour towards understanding how human-induced changes shape the gut microbiota in wild animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sasha Pekarsky
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ammon Corl
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Sondra Turjeman
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Pauline L Kamath
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Wayne M Getz
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,School Mathematical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Rauri C K Bowie
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Yuri Markin
- Oksky State Reserve, pos. Brykin Bor, Spassky raion, Ryazanskaya oblast, Russia
| | - Ran Nathan
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Boukerb AM, Noël C, Quenot E, Cadiou B, Chevé J, Quintric L, Cormier A, Dantan L, Gourmelon M. Comparative Analysis of Fecal Microbiomes From Wild Waterbirds to Poultry, Cattle, Pigs, and Wastewater Treatment Plants for a Microbial Source Tracking Approach. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:697553. [PMID: 34335529 PMCID: PMC8317174 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.697553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Fecal pollution in coastal areas is of a high concern since it affects bathing and shellfish harvesting activities. Wild waterbirds are non-negligible in the overall signal of the detectable pollution. Yet, studies on wild waterbirds’ gut microbiota focus on migratory trajectories and feeding impact on their shape, rare studies address their comparison to other sources and develop quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based Microbial Source Tracking (MST) markers to detect such pollution. Thus, by using 16S rRNA amplicon high-throughput sequencing, the aims of this study were (i) to explore and compare fecal bacterial communities from wild waterbirds (i.e., six families and 15 species, n = 275 samples) to that of poultry, cattle, pigs, and influent/effluent of wastewater treatment plants (n = 150 samples) and (ii) to develop new MST markers for waterbirds. Significant differences were observed between wild waterbirds and the four other groups. We identified 7,349 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) from the hypervariable V3–V4 region. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and, in a lesser extent, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes were ubiquitous while Fusobacteria and Epsilonbacteraeota were mainly present in wild waterbirds. The clustering of samples in non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination indicated a by-group clustering shape, with a high diversity within wild waterbirds. In addition, the structure of the bacterial communities was distinct according to bird and/or animal species and families (Adonis R2 = 0.13, p = 10–4, Adonis R2 = 0.11, p = 10–4, respectively). The Analysis of Composition of Microbiomes (ANCOM) showed that the wild waterbird group differed from the others by the significant presence of sequences from Fusobacteriaceae (W = 566) and Enterococcaceae (W = 565) families, corresponding to the Cetobacterium (W = 1427) and Catellicoccus (W = 1427) genera, respectively. Altogether, our results suggest that some waterbird members present distinct fecal microbiomes allowing the design of qPCR MST markers. For instance, a swan- and an oystercatcher-associated markers (named Swan_2 and Oyscab, respectively) have been developed. Moreover, bacterial genera harboring potential human pathogens associated to bird droppings were detected in our dataset, including enteric pathogens, i.e., Arcobacter, Clostridium, Helicobacter, and Campylobacter, and environmental pathogens, i.e., Burkholderia and Pseudomonas. Future studies involving other wildlife hosts may improve gut microbiome studies and MST marker development, helping mitigation of yet unknown fecal pollution sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amine M Boukerb
- IFREMER, RBE-SGMM-LSEM, Laboratoire Santé Environnement Microbiologie, Plouzané, France
| | - Cyril Noël
- IFREMER - PDG-IRSI-SEBIMER, Plouzané, France
| | - Emmanuelle Quenot
- IFREMER, RBE-SGMM-LSEM, Laboratoire Santé Environnement Microbiologie, Plouzané, France
| | | | - Julien Chevé
- IFREMER, ODE-UL-LERBN, Laboratoire Environnement Ressource Bretagne Nord, Dinard, France
| | | | | | - Luc Dantan
- IFREMER, RBE-SGMM-LSEM, Laboratoire Santé Environnement Microbiologie, Plouzané, France
| | - Michèle Gourmelon
- IFREMER, RBE-SGMM-LSEM, Laboratoire Santé Environnement Microbiologie, Plouzané, France
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Gu J, Zhou L. Intestinal Microbes of Hooded Cranes ( Grus monacha) Wintering in Three Lakes of the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Floodplain. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1390. [PMID: 34068189 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Intestinal microbes are critical to host health, and are affected by environmental factors. In this study, we investigated the intestinal microbes of Hooded Cranes wintering at three lakes with different environmental characteristics in the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain in China, aiming to provide insights into the effects of habitat size and protection status of birds on their intestinal microbes. We found that the Hooded Cranes at the smaller lake had higher intestinal bacterial and fungal diversity than those at the larger lake. In addition, more diverse and abundant pathogens were found in the gut of Hooded Cranes that lived in the relatively poorly protected habitat than those that lived in well-protected habitat. This study contributes a new perspective for understanding the intestinal microbes of wintering migratory waterbirds at different habitats, and will help to understand the survival status of the vulnerable waterbirds at different habitats for their better conservation. Abstract Intestinal microbes participate in life activities of the host, and are affected by external environmental factors. Different habitat sizes and protection status provide different external environmental selection pressures for the same wintering waterbirds, which may be reflected in their intestinal microbes. Hooded Cranes are vulnerable migratory waterbirds with similar numbers wintering at three different lakes in the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain, Poyang, Caizi, and Shengjin Lakes. Here, we analyzed the characteristics of intestinal bacterial and fungal communities of Hooded Cranes wintering at the three lakes to clarify the effect of habitat size and protection status on intestinal microbes, using high-throughput sequencing technology. Our results showed that community composition and diversity of intestinal microbes were significantly different among lakes with different habitat size and protection status. The Hooded Cranes at Shengjin Lake (small) had higher intestinal microbial alpha-diversity (for both bacteria and fungi) than those at Poyang Lake (large), which might be induced by social behavior of more waterbirds per unit area. The Hooded Cranes at Caizi Lake (relatively poorly protected habitat) had more diverse and abundant intestinal potential pathogens than Shengjin Lake (well-protected habitat). Our results indicated that the environmental pressure of a habitat might affect intestinal microorganisms and more attention might be needed for the vulnerable waterbirds at the habitat of poor protection status.
Collapse
|
27
|
Xiao K, Fan Y, Zhang Z, Shen X, Li X, Liang X, Bi R, Wu Y, Zhai J, Dai J, Irwin DM, Chen W, Shen Y. Covariation of the Fecal Microbiome with Diet in Nonpasserine Birds. mSphere 2021; 6:e00308-21. [PMID: 33980682 DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00308-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Opportunistic feeding and multiple other environment factors can modulate the gut microbiome, and bias conclusions, when wild animals are used for studying the influence of phylogeny and diet on their gut microbiomes. Here, we controlled for these other confounding factors in our investigation of the magnitude of the effect of diet on the gut microbiome assemblies of nonpasserine birds. We collected fecal samples, at one point in time, from 35 species of birds in a single zoo as well as 6 species of domestic poultry from farms in Guangzhou city to minimize the influences from interfering factors. Specifically, we describe 16S rRNA amplicon data from 129 fecal samples obtained from 41 species of birds, with additional shotgun metagenomic sequencing data generated from 16 of these individuals. Our data show that diets containing native starch increase the abundance of Lactobacillus in the gut microbiome, while those containing plant-derived fiber mainly enrich the level of Clostridium Greater numbers of Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria are detected in carnivorous birds, while in birds fed a commercial corn-soybean basal diet, a stronger inner-connected microbial community containing Clostridia and Bacteroidia was enriched. Furthermore, the metagenome functions of the microbes (such as lipid metabolism and amino acid synthesis) were adapted to the different food types to achieve a beneficial state for the host. In conclusion, the covariation of diet and gut microbiome identified in our study demonstrates a modulation of the gut microbiome by dietary diversity and helps us better understand how birds live based on diet-microbiome-host interactions.IMPORTANCE Our study identified food source, rather than host phylogeny, as the main factor modulating the gut microbiome diversity of nonpasserine birds, after minimizing the effects of other complex interfering factors such as weather, season, and geography. Adaptive evolution of microbes to food types formed a dietary-microbiome-host interaction reciprocal state. The covariation of diet and gut microbiome, including the response of microbiota assembly to diet in structure and function, is important for health and nutrition in animals. Our findings help resolve the major modulators of gut microbiome diversity in nonpasserine birds, which had not previously been well studied. The diet-microbe interactions and cooccurrence patterns identified in our study may be of special interest for future health assessment and conservation in birds.
Collapse
|
28
|
Zhang Z, Yang Z, Zhu L. Gut microbiome of migratory shorebirds: Current status and future perspectives. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:3737-3745. [PMID: 33976772 PMCID: PMC8093701 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Migratory shorebirds have many unique life history characteristics, such as long-distance travel between breeding sites, stopover sites, and wintering sites. The physiological challenges for migrant energy requirement and immunity may affect their gut microbiome community. Here, we reviewed the specific features (e.g., relatively high proportion of Corynebacterium and Fusobacterium) in the gut microbiome of 18 migratory shorebirds, and the factors (e.g., diet, migration, environment, and phylogeny) affecting the gut microbiome. We discussed possible future studies of the gut microbiome in migratory shorebirds, including the composition and function of the spatial-temporal gut microbiome, and the potential contributions made by the gut microbiome to energy requirement during migration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- Colleges of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | | | - Lifeng Zhu
- Colleges of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bodawatta KH, Koane B, Maiah G, Sam K, Poulsen M, Jønsson KA. Species-specific but not phylosymbiotic gut microbiomes of New Guinean passerine birds are shaped by diet and flight-associated gut modifications. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210446. [PMID: 33878920 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal hosts have evolved intricate associations with microbial symbionts, where both depend on each other for particular functions. In many cases, these associations lead to phylosymbiosis, where phylogenetically related species harbour compositionally more similar microbiomes than distantly related species. However, evidence for phylosymbiosis is either weak or lacking in gut microbiomes of flying vertebrates, particularly in birds. To shed more light on this phenomenon, we compared cloacal microbiomes of 37 tropical passerine bird species from New Guinea using 16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing. We show a lack of phylosymbiosis and document highly variable microbiomes. Furthermore, we find that gut bacterial community compositions are species-specific and tend to be shaped by host diet but not sampling locality, potentially driven by the similarities in habitats used by individual species. We further show that flight-associated gut modifications, coupled with individual dietary differences, shape gut microbiome structure and variation, contributing to the lack of phylosymbiosis. These patterns indicate that the stability of symbiosis may depend on microbial functional diversity rather than taxonomic composition. Furthermore, the more variable and fluid host-microbe associations suggest probable disparities in the potential for coevolution between bird host species and microbial symbionts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bonny Koane
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Gibson Maiah
- New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Branisovska 31, 37005, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Branisovska 1760, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Knud A Jønsson
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Sottas C, Schmiedová L, Kreisinger J, Albrecht T, Reif J, Osiejuk TS, Reifová R. Gut microbiota in two recently diverged passerine species: evaluating the effects of species identity, habitat use and geographic distance. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:41. [PMID: 33691625 PMCID: PMC7948333 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01773-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It has been proposed that divergence in the gut microbiota composition between incipient species could contribute to their reproductive isolation. Nevertheless, empirical evidence for the role of gut microbiota in speciation is scarce. Moreover, it is still largely unknown to what extent closely related species in the early stages of speciation differ in their gut microbiota composition, especially in non-mammalian taxa, and which factors drive the divergence. Here we analysed the gut microbiota in two closely related passerine species, the common nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) and the thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia). The ranges of these two species overlap in a secondary contact zone, where both species occasionally hybridize and where interspecific competition has resulted in habitat use differentiation. Results We analysed the gut microbiota from the proximal, middle and distal part of the small intestine in both sympatric and allopatric populations of the two nightingale species using sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA. We found small but significant differences in the microbiota composition among the three gut sections. However, the gut microbiota composition in the two nightingale species did not differ significantly between either sympatric or allopatric populations. Most of the observed variation in the gut microbiota composition was explained by inter-individual differences. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to assess the potential role of the gut microbiota in bird speciation. Our results suggest that neither habitat use, nor geographical distance, nor species identity have strong influence on the nightingale gut microbiota composition. This suggests that changes in the gut microbiota composition are unlikely to contribute to reproductive isolation in these passerine birds. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-021-01773-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Sottas
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Lucie Schmiedová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Kreisinger
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic.,Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Reif
- Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental Studies, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Tomasz S Osiejuk
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Radka Reifová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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
|
32
|
Turjeman S, Corl A, Wolfenden A, Tsalyuk M, Lublin A, Choi O, Kamath PL, Getz WM, Bowie RCK, Nathan R. Migration, pathogens and the avian microbiome: A comparative study in sympatric migrants and residents. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:4706-4720. [PMID: 33001530 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Animals generally benefit from their gastrointestinal microbiome, but the factors that influence the composition and dynamics of their microbiota remain poorly understood. Studies of nonmodel host species can illuminate how microbiota and their hosts interact in natural environments. We investigated the role of migratory behaviour in shaping the gut microbiota of free-ranging barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) by studying co-occurring migrant and resident subspecies sampled during the autumn migration at a migratory bottleneck. We found that within-host microbial richness (α-diversity) was similar between migrant and resident microbial communities. In contrast, we found that microbial communities (β-diversity) were significantly different between groups regarding both microbes present and their relative abundances. Compositional differences were found for 36 bacterial genera, with 27 exhibiting greater abundance in migrants and nine exhibiting greater abundance in residents. There was heightened abundance of Mycoplasma spp. and Corynebacterium spp. in migrants, a pattern shared by other studies of migratory species. Screens for key regional pathogens revealed that neither residents nor migrants carried avian influenza viruses and Newcastle disease virus, suggesting that the status of these diseases did not underlie observed differences in microbiome composition. Furthermore, the prevalence and abundance of Salmonella spp., as determined from microbiome data and cultural assays, were both low and similar across the groups. Overall, our results indicate that microbial composition differs between migratory and resident barn swallows, even when they are conspecific and sympatrically occurring. Differences in host origins (breeding sites) may result in microbial community divergence, and varied behaviours throughout the annual cycle (e.g., migration) could further differentiate compositional structure as it relates to functional needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sondra Turjeman
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ammon Corl
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Wolfenden
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Miriam Tsalyuk
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Avishai Lublin
- Division of Avian Diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Olivia Choi
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Pauline L Kamath
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Wayne M Getz
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,School Mathematical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Rauri C K Bowie
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ran Nathan
- Movement Ecology Laboratory, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Schmiedová L, Kreisinger J, Požgayová M, Honza M, Martin JF, Procházka P. Gut microbiota in a host-brood parasite system: insights from common cuckoos raised by two warbler species. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 96:5872480. [PMID: 32672792 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An animal's gut microbiota (GM) is shaped by a range of environmental factors affecting the bacterial sources invading the host. At the same time, animal hosts are equipped with intrinsic mechanisms enabling regulation of GM. However, there is limited knowledge on the relative importance of these forces. To assess the significance of host-intrinsic vs environmental factors, we studied GM in nestlings of an obligate brood parasite, the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), raised by two foster species, great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Eurasian reed warblers (A. scirpaceus), and compared these with GM of the fosterers' own nestlings. We show that fecal GM varied between cuckoo and warbler nestlings when accounting for the effect of foster/parent species, highlighting the importance of host-intrinsic regulatory mechanisms. In addition to feces, cuckoos also expel a deterrent secretion, which provides protection against olfactory predators. We observed an increased abundance of bacterial genera capable of producing repulsive volatile molecules in the deterrent secretion. Consequently, our results support the hypothesis that microbiota play a role in this antipredator mechanism. Interestingly, fosterer/parent identity affected only cuckoo deterrent secretion and warbler feces microbiota, but not that of cuckoo feces, suggesting a strong selection of bacterial strains in the GM by cuckoo nestlings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Schmiedová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-12800 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Kreisinger
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-12800 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milica Požgayová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, CZ-60365 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marcel Honza
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, CZ-60365 Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Petr Procházka
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, CZ-60365 Brno, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Valdebenito JO, Martínez-de la Puente J, Castro M, Pérez-Hurtado A, Tejera G, Székely T, Halimubieke N, Schroeder J, Figuerola J. Association of insularity and body condition to cloacal bacteria prevalence in a small shorebird. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237369. [PMID: 32804958 PMCID: PMC7430747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Do islands harbour less diverse disease communities than mainland? The island biogeography theory predicts more diverse communities on mainland than on islands due to more niches, more diverse habitats and availability of greater range of hosts. We compared bacteria prevalences of Campylobacter, Chlamydia and Salmonella in cloacal samples of a small shorebird, the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) between two island populations of Macaronesia and two mainland locations in the Iberian Peninsula. Bacteria were found in all populations but, contrary to the expectations, prevalences did not differ between islands and mainland. Females had higher prevalences than males for Salmonella and when three bacteria genera were pooled together. Bacteria infection was unrelated to bird’s body condition but females from mainland were heavier than males and birds from mainland were heavier than those from islands. Abiotic variables consistent throughout breeding sites, like high salinity that is known to inhibit bacteria growth, could explain the lack of differences in the bacteria prevalence between areas. We argue about the possible drivers and implications of sex differences in bacteria prevalence in Kentish plovers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José O. Valdebenito
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Seville, Spain
| | - Macarena Castro
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Alejandro Pérez-Hurtado
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Gustavo Tejera
- Canary Islands’ Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC), Buenavista del Norte, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- Departmen of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Julia Schroeder
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, United Kingdom
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Borrelli L, Minichino A, Pace A, Dipineto L, Fioretti A. Fecal Sample Collection Method for Wild Birds-Associated Microbiome Research: Perspectives for Wildlife Studies. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1349. [PMID: 32759733 DOI: 10.3390/ani10081349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This paper describes an easy-to-build box for the noninvasive collection of feces from wild birds or small wild animals (up to 1 kg), including a plastic storage box, a plastic tray, and a vinyl-coated hardware cloth. This method could minimize potential contamination and allow for cross-study comparisons on gut microbiomes for wildlife medicine, conservation, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Abstract Gut microbial communities play important roles in host health, modulating development, nutrient acquisition, immune and metabolic regulation, behavior and diseases. Wildlife microbiome studies and host–microbe interaction and exploration might be an important goal for evolutionary biology, conservation, and ecology. Therefore, collection and sampling methods must be considered before choosing a microbiome-based research plan. Since the fecal microbial community reflects the true gut community better than that of cloacal swab samples and only few nondestructive methods have been described, we propose an easy-to-build box for a noninvasive fecal collection method. The main components of the collection box include a plastic storage box, a plastic tray, a vinyl-coated hardware cloth, and a 10% bleach solution. In the plastic box, the tray is positioned under the raised grate, where the bird is placed, to reduce the risk of contamination of the fecal samples. This procedure could simplify handling and processing phases in wild birds or other animals. It might represent a cheap and useful method for research studies, wildlife rescue center activities, veterinary practices, and conservation practitioners.
Collapse
|
36
|
Cho H, Lee WY. Interspecific comparison of the fecal microbiota structure in three Arctic migratory bird species. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5582-5594. [PMID: 32607176 PMCID: PMC7319242 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota of birds is known to be characterized for different species, although it may change with feeding items. In this study, we compared the gut microbiota of birds with different feeding behaviors in the same habitat. We collected fecal samples from three Arctic species, snow buntings Plectrophenax nivalis, sanderlings Calidris alba, and pink-footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus that are phylogenetically quite distant in different families to evaluate effects of diet on gut microbiota. Also, we characterized the prevalence of fecal bacteria using the Illumina MiSeq platform to sequence bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Our NMDS results showed that fecal bacteria of snow buntings and sanderlings were significantly distant from those of pink-footed geese. Although all three birds were occupied by three bacterial phyla, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, dominant taxa still varied among the species. Our bacterial sequences showed that snow buntings and sanderlings were dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, while pink-footed geese were dominated by Proteobacteria. In addition, the bacterial diversity in snow buntings and sanderlings was significantly higher than that in pink-footed geese. Our results suggest that insectivorous feeding diet of snow buntings and sanderlings could be responsible for the similar bacterial communities between the two species despite the distant phylogenetic relationship. The distinctive bacterial community in pink-footed geese was discussed to be related with their herbivorous diet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjun Cho
- Division of Polar Life Sciences Korea Polar Research Institute Incheon Korea
| | - Won Young Lee
- Division of Polar Life Sciences Korea Polar Research Institute Incheon Korea
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Zhang F, Xiang X, Dong Y, Yan S, Song Y, Zhou L. Significant Differences in the Gut Bacterial Communities of Hooded Crane ( Grus monacha) in Different Seasons at a Stopover Site on the Flyway. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E701. [PMID: 32316467 PMCID: PMC7222709 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal bacterial communities form an integral component of the organism. Many factors influence gut bacterial community composition and diversity, including diet, environment and seasonality. During seasonal migration, birds use many habitats and food resources, which may influence their intestinal bacterial community structure. Hooded crane (Grus monacha) is a migrant waterbird that traverses long distances and occupies varied habitats. In this study, we investigated the diversity and differences in intestinal bacterial communities of hooded cranes over the migratory seasons. Fecal samples from hooded cranes were collected at a stopover site in two seasons (spring and fall) in Lindian, China, and at a wintering ground in Shengjin Lake, China. We analyzed bacterial communities from the fecal samples using high throughput sequencing (Illumina Mi-seq). Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, Cyanobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla across all samples. The intestinal bacterial alpha-diversity of hooded cranes in winter was significantly higher than in fall and spring. The bacterial community composition significantly differed across the three seasons (ANOSIM, P = 0.001), suggesting that seasonal fluctuations may regulate the gut bacterial community composition of migratory birds. This study provides baseline information on the seasonal dynamics of intestinal bacterial community structure in migratory hooded cranes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fengling Zhang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration (Anhui University), Hefei 230601, China
| | - Xingjia Xiang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration (Anhui University), Hefei 230601, China
| | - Yuanqiu Dong
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration (Anhui University), Hefei 230601, China
| | - Shaofei Yan
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration (Anhui University), Hefei 230601, China
| | - Yunwei Song
- Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve of Anhui Province, Dongzhi 247200, China
| | - Lizhi Zhou
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecosystem Protection and Restoration (Anhui University), Hefei 230601, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Bodawatta KH, Puzejova K, Sam K, Poulsen M, Jønsson KA. Cloacal swabs and alcohol bird specimens are good proxies for compositional analyses of gut microbial communities of Great tits (Parus major). Anim Microbiome 2020; 2:9. [PMID: 33499943 PMCID: PMC7807456 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-020-00026-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comprehensive studies of wild bird microbiomes are often limited by difficulties of sample acquisition. However, widely used non-invasive cloacal swab methods and under-explored museum specimens preserved in alcohol provide promising avenues to increase our understanding of wild bird microbiomes, provided that they accurately portray natural microbial community compositions. To investigate this assertion, we used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of Great tit (Parus major) gut microbiomes to compare 1) microbial communities obtained from dissected digestive tract regions and cloacal swabs, and 2) microbial communities obtained from freshly dissected gut regions and from samples preserved in alcohol for 2 weeks or 2 months, respectively. RESULTS We found no significant differences in alpha diversities in communities of different gut regions and cloacal swabs (except in OTU richness between the dissected cloacal region and the cloacal swabs), or between fresh and alcohol preserved samples. However, we did find significant differences in beta diversity and community composition of cloacal swab samples compared to different gut regions. Despite these community-level differences, swab samples qualitatively captured the majority of the bacterial diversity throughout the gut better than any single compartment. Bacterial community compositions of alcohol-preserved specimens did not differ significantly from freshly dissected samples, although some low-abundant taxa were lost in the alcohol preserved specimens. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that cloacal swabs, similar to non-invasive fecal sampling, qualitatively depict the gut microbiota composition without having to collect birds to extract the full digestive tract. The satisfactory depiction of gut microbial communities in alcohol preserved samples opens up for the possibility of using an enormous resource readily available through museum collections to characterize bird gut microbiomes. The use of extensive museum specimen collections of birds for microbial gut analyses would allow for investigations of temporal patterns of wild bird gut microbiomes, including the potential effects of climate change and anthropogenic impacts. Overall, the utilization of cloacal swabs and museum alcohol specimens can positively impact bird gut microbiome research to help increase our understanding of the role and evolution of wild bird hosts and gut microbial communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kasun H. Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katerina Puzejova
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Sam
- Biology Centre of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branisovska 31, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, 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
|
39
|
Capunitan DC, Johnson O, Terrill RS, Hird SM. Evolutionary signal in the gut microbiomes of 74 bird species from Equatorial Guinea. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:829-847. [PMID: 31943484 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
How the microbiome interacts with hosts across evolutionary time is poorly understood. Data sets including many host species are required to conduct comparative analyses. Here, we analyzed 142 intestinal microbiome samples from 92 birds belonging to 74 species from Equatorial Guinea, using the 16S rRNA gene. Using four definitions for microbial taxonomic units (97%OTU, 99%OTU, 99%OTU with singletons removed, ASV), we conducted alpha and beta diversity analyses. We found that raw abundances and diversity varied between the data sets but relative patterns were largely consistent across data sets. Host taxonomy, diet and locality were significantly associated with microbiomes, at generally similar levels using three distance metrics. Phylogenetic comparative methods assessed the evolutionary relationship between the microbiome as a trait of a host species and the underlying bird phylogeny. Using multiple ways of defining "microbiome traits", we found that a neutral Brownian motion model did not explain variation in microbiomes. Instead, we found a White Noise model (indicating little phylogenetic signal), was most likely. There was some support for the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model (that invokes selection), but the level of support was similar to that of a White Noise simulation, further supporting the White Noise model as the best explanation for the evolution of the microbiome as a trait of avian hosts. Our study demonstrated that both environment and evolution play a role in the gut microbiome and the relationship does not follow a neutral model; these biological results are qualitatively robust to analytical choices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darien C Capunitan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Oscar Johnson
- Museum of Natural Science, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Ryan S Terrill
- Museum of Natural Science, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.,Moore Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - 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
| |
Collapse
|