Age-related differences in the cloacal microbiota of a wild bird species.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gastrointestinal bacteria play a central role in the health of animals. The bacteria that individuals acquire as they age may therefore have profound consequences for their future fitness. However, changes in microbial community structure with host age remain poorly understood. We characterised the cloacal bacteria assemblages of chicks and adults in a natural population of black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), using molecular methods.

Results

We show that the kittiwake cloaca hosts a diverse assemblage of bacteria. A greater number of total bacterial OTUs (operational taxonomic units) were identified in chicks than adults, and chicks appeared to host a greater number of OTUs that were only isolated from single individuals. In contrast, the number of bacteri

SUBMITTER: van Dongen WF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3668179 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature