Gut microbiome composition is associated with spatial structuring and social interactions in semi-feral Welsh Mountain ponies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Microbiome composition is linked to host functional traits including metabolism and immune function. Drivers of microbiome composition are increasingly well-characterised; however, evidence of group-level microbiome convergence is limited and may represent a multi-level trait (i.e. across individuals and groups), whereby heritable phenotypes are influenced by social interactions. Here, we investigate the influence of spatial structuring and social interactions on the gut microbiome composition of Welsh mountain ponies.

Results

We show that semi-feral ponies exhibit variation in microbiome composition according to band (group) membership, in addition to considerable within-individual variation. Spatial structuring was also identified within bands, suggesting that d

SUBMITTER: Antwis RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6251106 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature