A time‐lagged association between the gut microbiome, nestling weight and nestling survival in wild great tits

Davidson, Gabrielle L.; Somers, Shane E.; Wiley, Niamh; Johnson, Crystal N.; Reichert, Michael S.; Ross, R. Paul; Stanton, Catherine; Quinn, John L.

doi:10.1111/1365-2656.13428

Cited by 26 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 106 publications

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“…A small number of studies have explored interactions between GM composition and host infection in the wild [ 26 , 30 , 31 ], however, there is conflicting evidence over whether, and how, GM diversity influences host condition. For example, one study on great tits ( Parus major ) demonstrated a positive relationship between GM species richness and nestling body mass [ 32 ], while other studies on the same (and other) species have shown the opposite effect, suggesting that, although the GM can contribute to host nutrition and immunity, there could be costs to maintaining a diverse microbiome in young birds [ 33 , 34 ]. The relationship between particular component taxa in the GM and host body condition is complex and has been shown to vary across host species [ 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gut microbiome composition, not alpha diversity, is associated with survival in a natural vertebrate population

et al. 2021

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Background The vertebrate gut microbiome (GM) can vary substantially across individuals within the same natural population. Although there is evidence linking the GM to health in captive animals, very little is known about the consequences of GM variation for host fitness in the wild. Here, we explore the relationship between faecal microbiome diversity, body condition, and survival using data from the long-term study of a discrete natural population of the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis) on Cousin Island. To our knowledge, this is the first time that GM differences associated with survival have been fully characterised for a natural vertebrate species, across multiple age groups and breeding seasons. Results We identified substantial variation in GM community structure among sampled individuals, which was partially explained by breeding season (5% of the variance), and host age class (up to 1% of the variance). We also identified significant differences in GM community membership between adult birds that survived, versus those that had died by the following breeding season. Individuals that died carried increased abundances of taxa that are known to be opportunistic pathogens, including several ASVs in the genus Mycobacterium. However, there was no association between GM alpha diversity (the diversity of bacterial taxa within a sample) and survival to the next breeding season, or with individual body condition. Additionally, we found no association between GM community membership and individual body condition. Conclusions These results demonstrate that components of the vertebrate GM can be associated with host fitness in the wild. However, further research is needed to establish whether changes in bacterial abundance contribute to, or are only correlated with, differential survival; this will add to our understanding of the importance of the GM in the evolution of host species living in natural populations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gut microbiome composition, not alpha diversity, is associated with survival in a natural vertebrate population

et al. 2021

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“…We are only aware of two studies that have investigated the link between GM characteristics and survival in wild vertebrate species. In great tit nestlings, a negative, time-lagged association between GM alpha diversity and body mass was identified; while, separately in the same study, a reduced body mass was associated with a lower probability of successful fledging [33]. Similarly, in a study on adult blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), reduced species richness and the presence of pathogenic Campylobacter species in the GM was associated with reduced annual survival, although gel electrophoresis was used to assess bacterial community structure in this instance, which limited further resolution [34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Previous studies investigating the relationship between GM alpha diversity and individual condition have shown mixed results, with both positive [23,31,77] and negative [32,33,78] relationships, as well the absence of an association [79,80] being identified across various wild and captive vertebrate host species. However, these studies often focus on early life stages, despite the fact that body mass can be an important predictor of fitness in adult individuals [63,81,82].…”

Section: Gut Microbiome Diversity and Body Conditionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…This may be particularly pertinent in the Seychelles warbler as they glean insects from the undersides of leaves whilst in flight, and therefore require high flight efficiency. A study on great tits also failed to find a direct association between nestling body mass and GM alpha diversity, but identified a time-lagged relationship whereby nestling weight at day eight was negatively associated with GM alpha diversity at day fifteen [33]. It is possible that such a relationship exists in the Seychelles warbler, however a lack of faecal samples from nestlings and difficulties in catching the same individual within a short timeframe meant that it was not possible to test for this.…”

Section: Gut Microbiome Diversity and Body Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A small number of studies have explored interactions between GM composition and host infection in the wild [25,29,30], however, there is conflicting evidence over whether, and how, GM diversity influences host condition. For example, one study on great tits (Parus major) demonstrated a positive relationship between GM species richness and nestling body mass [31], while other studies on the same (and other) species have shown the opposite effect, suggesting that there could be costs to maintaining a diverse microbiome in young birds [32,33]. We are only aware of two studies that have investigated the link between GM characteristics and survival in wild vertebrate species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gut microbiome composition, not alpha diversity, is associated with survival in a natural vertebrate population

Worsley

Davies

Mannarelli

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: The vertebrate gut microbiome (GM) can vary substantially across individuals within the same natural population. Although there is evidence linking the GM to health in captive animals, very little is known about the consequences of GM variation for host fitness in the wild. Here, we explore the relationship between faecal microbiome diversity, body condition and survival using data from the long-term study of a discrete natural population of the Seychelles warbler ( Acrocephalus sechellensis ) on Cousin Island. To our knowledge, this is the first time that GM differences associated with survival have been fully characterised for a natural vertebrate species, across multiple age groups and breeding seasons. Results: We identified substantial variation in GM community structure among sampled individuals, which was partially explained by breeding season (7% of the variance), and host age class (up to 1% of the variance). We also identified significant differences in GM community membership between individuals that survived, versus those that had died by the following breeding season. Individuals that died carried reduced abundances of beneficial taxa in the bacterial order Clostridiales , but increased abundances of taxa that are known to be opportunistic pathogens (e.g. members of the Chloroflexi and Propionibacteriales ). However, there was no association between GM alpha diversity (the diversity of bacterial taxa within a sample) and survival to the next breeding season, or with individual body condition. Additionally, we found no association between GM community membership and individual body condition. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that components of the vertebrate GM can be associated with host fitness in the wild, although whether changes in bacterial abundance contribute to, or are only correlated with, the differential survival observed remains unclear. Importantly, it suggests that components of the GM may be under selection, and, thus, could have the potential to influence the evolution of host species living in natural populations.

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Responses of the gut microbiota to environmental heavy metal pollution in tree sparrow (Passer montanus) nestlings

Zhang,

Shen,

Wang

et al. 2023

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

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A time‐lagged association between the gut microbiome, nestling weight and nestling survival in wild great tits

Abstract: This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as

Cited by 26 publications

References 106 publications

Gut microbiome composition, not alpha diversity, is associated with survival in a natural vertebrate population

Gut microbiome composition, not alpha diversity, is associated with survival in a natural vertebrate population

Gut microbiome composition, not alpha diversity, is associated with survival in a natural vertebrate population

Responses of the gut microbiota to environmental heavy metal pollution in tree sparrow (Passer montanus) nestlings

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