Integrating Gut Bacterial Diversity and Captive Husbandry to Optimize Vulture Conservation

Frontiers in Microbiology
Anne A M J BeckerKatherine M Whitehouse-Tedd

Abstract

Endangered species recovery plans often include captive breeding and reintroduction, but success remains rare. Critical for effective recovery is an assessment of captivity-induced changes in adaptive traits of reintroduction candidates. The gut microbiota is one such trait and is particularly important for scavengers exposed to carcass microbiomes. We investigated husbandry-associated differences in the gut microbiota of two Old World vulture species using 16S RNA gene amplicon sequencing. Increased abundance of Actinobacteria occurred when vultures were fed quail but not rat or chicken. Conversely, diet preparation (sanitization) had no effect, although bacterial diversity differed significantly between vulture species, likely reflective of evolved feeding ecologies. Whilst the relative lack of influence of a sanitized diet is encouraging, changes in bacterial abundance associated with the type of prey occurred, representing a dietary influence on host-microbiome condition warranting consideration in ex situ species recovery plans. Incorporation of microbiome research in endangered species management, therefore, provides an opportunity to refine conservation practice.

References

Apr 27, 2002·Nature·J J NegroM Barcell
Jul 6, 2006·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·T Z DeSantisG L Andersen
May 24, 2008·Science·Ruth E LeyJeffrey I Gordon
Feb 18, 2009·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Andrew E Bowkett
Apr 13, 2010·Nature Methods·J Gregory CaporasoRob Knight
Jun 11, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J Gregory CaporasoRob Knight
Sep 10, 2010·The ISME Journal·Catherine LozuponeRob Knight
Mar 17, 2011·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Aymé SporRuth Ley
Jun 28, 2011·Bioinformatics·Robert C EdgarRob Knight
Jul 13, 2011·Frontiers in Microbiology·François ThomasGurvan Michel
Sep 3, 2011·Science·Gary D WuJames D Lewis
Mar 27, 2012·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Kent H RedfordDenise McAloose
May 11, 2012·Gut Microbes·Siobhan F ClarkePaul D Cotter
Oct 22, 2013·Bioinformatics·Jiajie ZhangAlexandros Stamatakis
Jun 7, 2014·Frontiers in Microbiology·David W Waite, Michael W Taylor
Jul 26, 2014·Bioinformatics·Donovan H ParksRobert G Beiko
Sep 30, 2014·FEMS Microbiology Letters·Brian B OakleyNelson A Cox
Nov 26, 2014·Nature Communications·Michael RoggenbuckLars H Hansen
Dec 3, 2014·Molecular Ecology·Janna R WilloughbyJ Andrew DeWoody
Jul 21, 2015·Frontiers in Microbiology·David W Waite, Michael W Taylor
Oct 27, 2016·PeerJ·Torbjørn RognesFrédéric Mahé
Jan 10, 2017·MSystems·André M ComeauMorgan G I Langille
Feb 23, 2017·Emerging Microbes & Infections·Xiangli MengJianguo Xu
Apr 5, 2017·Scientific Reports·Dongyao LiWei Chen
Jun 3, 2017·Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews : MMBR·Essaid Ait BarkaGilles P van Wezel
Oct 3, 2019·Animal Microbiome·Rowena ChongKatherine Belov

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 10, 2021·Animal Microbiome·Priscilla A San JuanManpreet K Dhami

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Datasets Mentioned

BETA
PRJNA621094

Methods Mentioned

BETA
amplicon sequencing
scraping
electrophoresis

Software Mentioned

QIIME
RStudio
FastQC
Microbiome Helper 16S Workflow
VSEARCH
PEAR
STAMP
ANOSIM

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved