Microbiome resilience of three-toed box turtles (Terrapene carolina triunguis) in response to rising temperatures.

ABSTRACT: The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome of chelonians (testudines) plays an important role in their metabolism, nutrition, and overall health but the GI microbiome of three-toed box turtles (Terrapene carolina triunguis) has yet to be characterized. How the GI microbiome responds to rapidly rising environmental temperatures has also not been studied extensively in ectotherms, specifically chelonians. In this study, twenty (20) T.c.triunguis were split into control and experimental groups. The experimental group experienced 4.5°C increases every two weeks while the control group stayed at a constant ambient temperature (24°C) through the entirety of the experiment. Before each temperature increase, all turtles had cloacal swab samples taken. These samples underwent DNA extraction

SUBMITTER: Guan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11402899 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature