Characterizing the oral and distal gut microbiota of the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) to enhance conservation practice
Abstract The southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) is a threatened sub‐species in coastal ecosystems. To understand better the role of diet, monitor health, and enhance management of this and other marine mammal species, we characterized the oral (gingival) and distal gut (rectal and fecal) mic...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12640 |
| _version_ | 1828734157256130560 |
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| author | Natasha K. Dudek Alexandra D. Switzer Elizabeth K. Costello Michael J. Murray Joseph A. Tomoleoni Michelle M. Staedler M. Tim Tinker David A. Relman |
| author_facet | Natasha K. Dudek Alexandra D. Switzer Elizabeth K. Costello Michael J. Murray Joseph A. Tomoleoni Michelle M. Staedler M. Tim Tinker David A. Relman |
| author_sort | Natasha K. Dudek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) is a threatened sub‐species in coastal ecosystems. To understand better the role of diet, monitor health, and enhance management of this and other marine mammal species, we characterized the oral (gingival) and distal gut (rectal and fecal) microbiota of 158 wild southern sea otters living off the coast of central California, USA, and 12 captive sea otters, some of which were included in a diet shift experiment. We found that the sea otter fecal microbiota was distinct from that of three other otter species, and that captivity does not significantly alter the community structure of the sea otter gingival or distal gut microbiota. Metagenomic analysis unexpectedly revealed that the majority of sea otter fecal DNA is derived from prey, rather than from indigenous bacteria or host cells as with most other mammals. We speculate that a reduced bacterial biomass in the sea otter gut reflects rapid gut transit time and a particular strategy for foraging and energy harvest. This study establishes a reference for the healthy sea otter microbiota, highlights how a marine lifestyle may shape the mammalian microbiota, and may inform future health assessments and conservation management of sea otter populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:43:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0408a278384e491680401fb4aaf8aeda |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:43:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-0408a278384e491680401fb4aaf8aeda2022-12-22T03:13:38ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542022-04-0144n/an/a10.1111/csp2.12640Characterizing the oral and distal gut microbiota of the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) to enhance conservation practiceNatasha K. Dudek0Alexandra D. Switzer1Elizabeth K. Costello2Michael J. Murray3Joseph A. Tomoleoni4Michelle M. Staedler5M. Tim Tinker6David A. Relman7Department of Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford California 94305 USADepartment of Microbiology & Immunology Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford California USADepartment of Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford California 94305 USAMonterey Bay Aquarium Monterey California USAU.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center Santa Cruz California USAMonterey Bay Aquarium Monterey California USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz California USADepartment of Medicine Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford California 94305 USAAbstract The southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) is a threatened sub‐species in coastal ecosystems. To understand better the role of diet, monitor health, and enhance management of this and other marine mammal species, we characterized the oral (gingival) and distal gut (rectal and fecal) microbiota of 158 wild southern sea otters living off the coast of central California, USA, and 12 captive sea otters, some of which were included in a diet shift experiment. We found that the sea otter fecal microbiota was distinct from that of three other otter species, and that captivity does not significantly alter the community structure of the sea otter gingival or distal gut microbiota. Metagenomic analysis unexpectedly revealed that the majority of sea otter fecal DNA is derived from prey, rather than from indigenous bacteria or host cells as with most other mammals. We speculate that a reduced bacterial biomass in the sea otter gut reflects rapid gut transit time and a particular strategy for foraging and energy harvest. This study establishes a reference for the healthy sea otter microbiota, highlights how a marine lifestyle may shape the mammalian microbiota, and may inform future health assessments and conservation management of sea otter populations.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12640apex predatorconservationkeystone speciesmarine mammalmicrobiomewild population |
| spellingShingle | Natasha K. Dudek Alexandra D. Switzer Elizabeth K. Costello Michael J. Murray Joseph A. Tomoleoni Michelle M. Staedler M. Tim Tinker David A. Relman Characterizing the oral and distal gut microbiota of the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) to enhance conservation practice Conservation Science and Practice apex predator conservation keystone species marine mammal microbiome wild population |
| title | Characterizing the oral and distal gut microbiota of the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) to enhance conservation practice |
| title_full | Characterizing the oral and distal gut microbiota of the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) to enhance conservation practice |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing the oral and distal gut microbiota of the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) to enhance conservation practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing the oral and distal gut microbiota of the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) to enhance conservation practice |
| title_short | Characterizing the oral and distal gut microbiota of the threatened southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) to enhance conservation practice |
| title_sort | characterizing the oral and distal gut microbiota of the threatened southern sea otter enhydra lutris nereis to enhance conservation practice |
| topic | apex predator conservation keystone species marine mammal microbiome wild population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12640 |
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