Shades of grey: host phenotype dependent effect of urbanization on the bacterial microbiome of a wild mammal.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Host-associated microbiota are integral to the ecology of their host and may help wildlife species cope with rapid environmental change. Urbanization is a globally replicated form of severe environmental change which we can leverage to better understand wildlife microbiomes. Does the colonization of separate cities result in parallel changes in the intestinal microbiome of wildlife, and if so, does within-city habitat heterogeneity matter? Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we quantified the effect of urbanization (across three cities) on the microbiome of eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Grey squirrels are ubiquitous in rural and urban environments throughout their native range, across which they display an apparent coat colour polymorphism (agouti,

SUBMITTER: Stothart MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8256534 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature