Venomous Snakes Reveal Ecological and Phylogenetic Factors Influencing Variation in Gut and Oral Microbiomes

Smith, Sierra N.; Colston, Timothy J.; Siler, Cameron D.

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.657754

Cited by 20 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Host species identity explained most of the variation in microbiotas among the two bird species (Figs. 2 and 3 , Additional file 1 : Table S2), which is consistent with previous work showing strong patterns of bacterial host specificity in other wild vertebrates [ 35 – 38 ]. The bacterial communities of the two nestling species also showed idiosyncratic responses to both heat treatment and nest parasite treatment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Differential effects of elevated nest temperature and parasitism on the gut microbiota of wild avian hosts

et al. 2021

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Background Changes in wild animal gut microbiotas may influence host health and fitness. While many studies have shown correlations between gut microbiota structure and external factors, few studies demonstrate causal links between environmental variables and microbiota shifts. Here, we use a fully factorial experiment to test the effects of elevated ambient temperature and natural nest parasitism by nest flies (Protocalliphora sialia) on the gut microbiotas of two species of wild birds, the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) and the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor). Results We find that bacterial communities from the nestlings of each host species show idiosyncratic responses to both heat and parasitism, with gut microbiotas of eastern bluebirds more disrupted by heat and parasitism than those of tree swallows. Thus, we find that eastern bluebirds are unable to maintain stable associations with their gut bacteria in the face of both elevated temperature and parasitism. In contrast, tree swallow gut microbiotas are not significantly impacted by either heat or nest parasitism. Conclusions Our results suggest that excess heat (e.g., as a result of climate change) may destabilize natural host-parasite-microbiota systems, with the potential to affect host fitness and survival in the Anthropocene.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Differential effects of elevated nest temperature and parasitism on the gut microbiota of wild avian hosts

et al. 2021

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“…Host species identity explained most of the variation in microbiotas among the two bird species (Fig. 2 & 3, Table S2), which is consistent with previous work showing strong patterns of bacterial host specificity in other wild vertebrates [33][34][35][36]. The bacterial communities of the two nestling species also showed idiosyncratic responses to both heat treatment and nest parasite treatment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Differential Effects of Elevated Nest Temperature and Parasitism on the Gut Microbiota of Wild Avian Hosts

Ingala¹,

Albert²,

Addesso³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Changes in wild animal gut microbiotas may influence host health and fitness. While many studies have shown correlations between gut microbiota structure and external factors, few studies demonstrate causal links between environmental variables and microbiota shifts. Here, we use a fully factorial experiment to test the effects of elevated ambient temperature and natural nest parasitism by nest flies (Protocalliphora sialia) on the microbiotas of two species of wild birds, the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) and the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor).Results: We find that bacterial communities from the nestlings of each host species show differential response to both heat and parasitism, with gut microbiotas of eastern bluebirds more disrupted by heat and parasitism than those of tree swallows. Thus, we find that eastern bluebirds are unable to maintain stable associations with their gut bacteria in the face of both elevated temperature and parasitism. In contrast, tree swallow gut microbiotas are not significantly impacted by either heat or nest parasitism.Conclusions: Our results suggest that excess heat (e.g., as a result of climate change) may destabilize natural host-parasite-microbiota systems, with the potential to affect host fitness and survival in the anthropocene.

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“…Often the effects of host phylogenetic relationships and ecology could not be decoupled. For instance, Smith et al . (2021) found differences among three snake species that each occupied a distinct ecological niche.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology, not host phylogeny, shapes the oral microbiome in closely related species of gorillas

Moraitou

Forsythe

Yates

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Host-associated microbiomes are essential for a multitude of biological processes. Placed at the contact zone between external and internal environments, the little-studied oral microbiome has important roles in host physiology and health. Here we investigate the contribution of host evolutionary relationships and ecology in shaping the oral microbiome in three closely related gorilla subspecies (mountain, Grauer's, and western lowland gorillas) using shotgun metagenomics of 46 museum-preserved dental calculus samples. We find that the oral microbiomes of mountain gorillas are functionally and taxonomically distinct from the other two subspecies, despite close evolutionary relationships and geographic proximity with Grauer's gorillas. Grauer's gorillas show intermediate bacterial taxonomic and functional, and dietary profiles. Altitudinal differences in gorilla subspecies ranges appear to explain these patterns, proposing a close connection between dental calculus microbiome and the environment, which is further supported by the presence of gorilla subspecies-specific phyllosphere/rhizosphere taxa. Mountain gorillas show high abundance of nitrate-reducing oral taxa, which may contribute to high altitude adaptation by modulating blood pressure. Our results suggest that ecology, rather than evolutionary relationships and geographic proximity, primarily shape the oral microbiome in these closely related species.

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Venomous Snakes Reveal Ecological and Phylogenetic Factors Influencing Variation in Gut and Oral Microbiomes

Cited by 20 publications

References 82 publications

Differential effects of elevated nest temperature and parasitism on the gut microbiota of wild avian hosts

Differential effects of elevated nest temperature and parasitism on the gut microbiota of wild avian hosts

Differential Effects of Elevated Nest Temperature and Parasitism on the Gut Microbiota of Wild Avian Hosts

Ecology, not host phylogeny, shapes the oral microbiome in closely related species of gorillas

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