Intra- and interindividual variations mask interspecies variation in the microbiota of sympatric peromyscus populations.

ABSTRACT: Using populations of two sympatric Peromyscus species, we characterized the importance of the host species, physiology, environment, diet, and other factors in shaping the structure and dynamics of their gut microbiota. We performed a capture-mark-release experiment in which we obtained 16S rRNA gene sequence data from 49 animals at multiple time points. In addition, we performed 18S rRNA gene sequencing of the same samples to characterize the diet of each individual. Our analysis could not distinguish between the two species of Peromyscus on the basis of the structures of their microbiotas. However, we did observe a set of bacterial populations that were found in every animal. Most notable were abundant representatives of the genera Lactobacillus and Helicobacter. When we combined the 16S

SUBMITTER: Baxter NT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4272734 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature