Morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) more than environmental and social factors
Abstract Background The microbiome provides multiple benefits to animal hosts that can profoundly impact health and behavior. Microbiomes are well-characterized in humans and other animals in controlled settings, yet assessments of wild bird microbial communities remain vastly understudied. This is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Microbiome |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-017-0365-4 |
| _version_ | 1819054236798812160 |
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| author | Douglas S. Pearce Brian A. Hoover Sarah Jennings Gabrielle A. Nevitt Kathryn M. Docherty |
| author_facet | Douglas S. Pearce Brian A. Hoover Sarah Jennings Gabrielle A. Nevitt Kathryn M. Docherty |
| author_sort | Douglas S. Pearce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The microbiome provides multiple benefits to animal hosts that can profoundly impact health and behavior. Microbiomes are well-characterized in humans and other animals in controlled settings, yet assessments of wild bird microbial communities remain vastly understudied. This is particularly true for pelagic seabirds with unique life histories that differ from terrestrial bird species. This study was designed to examine how morphological, genetic, environmental, and social factors affect the microbiome of a burrow-nesting seabird species, Leach’s storm petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa). These seabirds are highly olfactory and may rely on microbiome-mediated odor cues during mate selection. Composition and structure of bacterial communities associated with the uropygial gland and brood patch were assessed using 16S rRNA amplicon-based Illumina Mi-Seq analysis and compared to burrow-associated bacterial communities. This is the first study to examine microbial diversity associated with multiple body sites on a seabird species. Results Results indicate that sex and skin site contribute most to bacterial community variation in Leach’s storm petrels and that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotype may impact the composition of bacterial assemblages in males. In contrast to terrestrial birds and other animals, environmental and social interactions do not significantly influence storm petrel-associated bacterial assemblages. Thus, individual morphological and genetic influences outweighed environmental and social factors on microbiome composition. Conclusions Contrary to observations of terrestrial birds, microbiomes of Leach’s storm petrels vary most by the sex of the bird and by the body site sampled, rather than environmental surroundings or social behavior. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:48:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ab64d336e854c5a9bf8a79db8796017 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2049-2618 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:48:25Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiome |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ab64d336e854c5a9bf8a79db87960172022-12-21T19:03:34ZengBMCMicrobiome2049-26182017-10-015111610.1186/s40168-017-0365-4Morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) more than environmental and social factorsDouglas S. Pearce0Brian A. Hoover1Sarah Jennings2Gabrielle A. Nevitt3Kathryn M. Docherty4Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan UniversityDepartment of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, One Shields Avenue, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, One Shields Avenue, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, One Shields Avenue, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan UniversityAbstract Background The microbiome provides multiple benefits to animal hosts that can profoundly impact health and behavior. Microbiomes are well-characterized in humans and other animals in controlled settings, yet assessments of wild bird microbial communities remain vastly understudied. This is particularly true for pelagic seabirds with unique life histories that differ from terrestrial bird species. This study was designed to examine how morphological, genetic, environmental, and social factors affect the microbiome of a burrow-nesting seabird species, Leach’s storm petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa). These seabirds are highly olfactory and may rely on microbiome-mediated odor cues during mate selection. Composition and structure of bacterial communities associated with the uropygial gland and brood patch were assessed using 16S rRNA amplicon-based Illumina Mi-Seq analysis and compared to burrow-associated bacterial communities. This is the first study to examine microbial diversity associated with multiple body sites on a seabird species. Results Results indicate that sex and skin site contribute most to bacterial community variation in Leach’s storm petrels and that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotype may impact the composition of bacterial assemblages in males. In contrast to terrestrial birds and other animals, environmental and social interactions do not significantly influence storm petrel-associated bacterial assemblages. Thus, individual morphological and genetic influences outweighed environmental and social factors on microbiome composition. Conclusions Contrary to observations of terrestrial birds, microbiomes of Leach’s storm petrels vary most by the sex of the bird and by the body site sampled, rather than environmental surroundings or social behavior.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-017-0365-4Leach’s storm petrelSkin microbiomeBrood patchUropygial gland |
| spellingShingle | Douglas S. Pearce Brian A. Hoover Sarah Jennings Gabrielle A. Nevitt Kathryn M. Docherty Morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) more than environmental and social factors Microbiome Leach’s storm petrel Skin microbiome Brood patch Uropygial gland |
| title | Morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) more than environmental and social factors |
| title_full | Morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) more than environmental and social factors |
| title_fullStr | Morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) more than environmental and social factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) more than environmental and social factors |
| title_short | Morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) more than environmental and social factors |
| title_sort | morphological and genetic factors shape the microbiome of a seabird species oceanodroma leucorhoa more than environmental and social factors |
| topic | Leach’s storm petrel Skin microbiome Brood patch Uropygial gland |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-017-0365-4 |
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