Spatiotemporal variation in the fecal microbiota of mule deer is associated with proximate and future measures of host health.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mule deer rely on fat and protein stored prior to the winter season as an energy source during the winter months when other food sources are sparse. Since associated microorganisms ('microbiota') play a significant role in nutrient metabolism of their hosts, we predicted that variation in the microbiota might be associated with nutrient storage and overwintering in mule deer populations. To test this hypothesis we performed a 16S rRNA marker gene survey of fecal samples from two deer populations in the western United States before and after onset of winter.

Results

PERMANOVA analysis revealed the deer microbiota varied interactively with geography and season. Further, using metadata collected at the time of sampling, we were able to identify different fecal bacter

SUBMITTER: Eddington HS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8323208 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature