Differential effects of elevated nest temperature and parasitism on the gut microbiota of wild avian hosts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Changes in wild animal gut microbiotas may influence host health and fitness. While many studies have shown correlations between gut microbiota structure and external factors, few studies demonstrate causal links between environmental variables and microbiota shifts. Here, we use a fully factorial experiment to test the effects of elevated ambient temperature and natural nest parasitism by nest flies (Protocalliphora sialia) on the gut microbiotas of two species of wild birds, the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) and the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor).

Results

We find that bacterial communities from the nestlings of each host species show idiosyncratic responses to both heat and parasitism, with gut microbiotas of eastern bluebirds more disrupted by heat and p

SUBMITTER: Ingala MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8487522 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature