Individual fate and gut microbiome composition in the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

ABSTRACT: Studies connecting microbiome composition and functional performance in wildlife have received little attention and understanding their connections with wildlife physical condition are sorely needed. We studied the variation in gut microbiota (hard fecal pellets) between allopatric subspecies of the European wild rabbit in wild populations and in captured individuals studied under captivity. We evaluated the influence of environmental and host-specific factors. The microbiome of wild rabbit populations reduced its heterogeneity under controlled conditions. None of the host-specific factors tested correlated with the microbiota composition. We only observed significant intra-group dispersion for the age factor. The most diverse microbiomes were rich in Ruminococcaceae potentially holding an

SUBMITTER: Funosas G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7804928 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature