Effects of captivity, diet, and relocation on the gut bacterial communities of white-footed mice.

ABSTRACT: Microbes can have important impacts on their host's survival. Captive breeding programs for endangered species include periods of captivity that can ultimately have an impact on reintroduction success. No study to date has investigated the impacts of captive diet on the gut microbiota during the relocation process of generalist species. This study simulated a captive breeding program with white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to describe the variability in gut microbial community structure and composition during captivity and relocation in their natural habitat, and compared it to wild individuals. Mice born in captivity were fed two different diets, a control with dry standardized pellets and a treatment with nonprocessed components that reflect a version of their wild diet that

SUBMITTER: van Leeuwen P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7297780 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature