Metabolic and microbial changes in light-vented bulbul during recent northward range expansion.

ABSTRACT: Endotherms recently expanding to cold environments generally exhibit strong physiological acclimation to sustain high body temperature. During this process, gut microbes likely play a considerable role in host physiological functions, including digestion and thermogenesis. The light-vented bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis represents one such species. It used to be restricted to the Oriental realm but expanded its distribution range north to the Palearctic areas during the past few decades. Here, we explored the seasonal dynamics of the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and microbiota for local and newly colonized populations of the species. Our results showed that the mass-adjusted RMR and body mass were positively correlated with latitude variations in both seasons. Consistently, the gut micr

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10926257 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature