Distinct gut microbiomes in two polar bear subpopulations inhabiting different sea ice ecoregions
Abstract Gut microbiomes were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the southern Beaufort Sea (SB), where sea ice loss has led to increased use of land-based food resources by bears, and from East Greenland (EG), where persistent sea ice has allowed hunting o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04340-2 |
| _version_ | 1819006744956764160 |
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| author | Megan Franz Lyle Whyte Todd C. Atwood Kristin L. Laidre Denis Roy Sophie E. Watson Esteban Góngora Melissa A. McKinney |
| author_facet | Megan Franz Lyle Whyte Todd C. Atwood Kristin L. Laidre Denis Roy Sophie E. Watson Esteban Góngora Melissa A. McKinney |
| author_sort | Megan Franz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Gut microbiomes were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the southern Beaufort Sea (SB), where sea ice loss has led to increased use of land-based food resources by bears, and from East Greenland (EG), where persistent sea ice has allowed hunting of ice-associated prey nearly year-round. SB polar bears showed a higher number of total (940 vs. 742) and unique (387 vs. 189) amplicon sequence variants and higher inter-individual variation compared to EG polar bears. Gut microbiome composition differed significantly between the two subpopulations and among sex/age classes, likely driven by diet variation and ontogenetic shifts in the gut microbiome. Dietary tracer analysis using fatty acid signatures for SB polar bears showed that diet explained more intrapopulation variation in gut microbiome composition and diversity than other tested variables, i.e., sex/age class, body condition, and capture year. Substantial differences in the SB gut microbiome relative to EG polar bears, and associations between SB gut microbiome and diet, suggest that the shifting foraging habits of SB polar bears tied to sea ice loss may be altering their gut microbiome, with potential consequences for nutrition and physiology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:13:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f1f1f99af53472589331eac7d521c76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:13:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f1f1f99af53472589331eac7d521c762022-12-21T19:22:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-01-0112111510.1038/s41598-021-04340-2Distinct gut microbiomes in two polar bear subpopulations inhabiting different sea ice ecoregionsMegan Franz0Lyle Whyte1Todd C. Atwood2Kristin L. Laidre3Denis Roy4Sophie E. Watson5Esteban Góngora6Melissa A. McKinney7Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill UniversityDepartment of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill UniversityUnited States Geological Survey (USGS), Alaska Science CenterPolar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of WashingtonDepartment of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill UniversitySchool of Biosciences, Cardiff UniversityDepartment of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill UniversityDepartment of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill UniversityAbstract Gut microbiomes were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the southern Beaufort Sea (SB), where sea ice loss has led to increased use of land-based food resources by bears, and from East Greenland (EG), where persistent sea ice has allowed hunting of ice-associated prey nearly year-round. SB polar bears showed a higher number of total (940 vs. 742) and unique (387 vs. 189) amplicon sequence variants and higher inter-individual variation compared to EG polar bears. Gut microbiome composition differed significantly between the two subpopulations and among sex/age classes, likely driven by diet variation and ontogenetic shifts in the gut microbiome. Dietary tracer analysis using fatty acid signatures for SB polar bears showed that diet explained more intrapopulation variation in gut microbiome composition and diversity than other tested variables, i.e., sex/age class, body condition, and capture year. Substantial differences in the SB gut microbiome relative to EG polar bears, and associations between SB gut microbiome and diet, suggest that the shifting foraging habits of SB polar bears tied to sea ice loss may be altering their gut microbiome, with potential consequences for nutrition and physiology.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04340-2 |
| spellingShingle | Megan Franz Lyle Whyte Todd C. Atwood Kristin L. Laidre Denis Roy Sophie E. Watson Esteban Góngora Melissa A. McKinney Distinct gut microbiomes in two polar bear subpopulations inhabiting different sea ice ecoregions Scientific Reports |
| title | Distinct gut microbiomes in two polar bear subpopulations inhabiting different sea ice ecoregions |
| title_full | Distinct gut microbiomes in two polar bear subpopulations inhabiting different sea ice ecoregions |
| title_fullStr | Distinct gut microbiomes in two polar bear subpopulations inhabiting different sea ice ecoregions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distinct gut microbiomes in two polar bear subpopulations inhabiting different sea ice ecoregions |
| title_short | Distinct gut microbiomes in two polar bear subpopulations inhabiting different sea ice ecoregions |
| title_sort | distinct gut microbiomes in two polar bear subpopulations inhabiting different sea ice ecoregions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04340-2 |
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