Bacterial microbiota similarity between predators and prey in a blue tit trophic network.

ABSTRACT: Trophic networks are composed of many organisms hosting microbiota that interact with their hosts and with each other. Yet, our knowledge of the factors driving variation in microbiota and their interactions in wild communities is limited. To investigate the relation among host microbiota across a trophic network, we studied the bacterial microbiota of two species of primary producers (downy and holm oaks), a primary consumer (caterpillars), and a secondary consumer (blue tits) at nine sites in Corsica. To quantify bacterial microbiota, we amplified 16S rRNA gene sequences in blue tit feces, caterpillars, and leaf samples. Our results showed that hosts from adjacent trophic levels had a more similar bacterial microbiota than hosts separated by two trophic levels. Our results also revealed

SUBMITTER: Dion-Phenix H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8115664 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature