Role of coprophagy in the cecal microbiome development of an herbivorous bird Japanese rock ptarmigan.

ABSTRACT: The transgenerational maintenance of symbiotic microbes that benefit host nutrition and health is evolutionarily advantageous. In some vertebrate lineages, coprophagy is used as a strategy for effectively transmitting microbes across generations. However, this strategy has still not been studied in birds. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of maternal cecal feces consumption by Japanese rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta japonica) chicks as a strategy for acquiring essential gut microbes. Both the duration of coprophagy behavior by the chicks and the development process of the chick cecal microbiome (n=20 one- to three-week-old chicks, from three broods) were investigated. In all three broods, coprophagy behavior was only observed from 3 to 18 days of age. Further

SUBMITTER: Kobayashi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6785603 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature