Comparative Study of the Gut Microbiota Among Four Different Marine Mammals in an Aquarium.

ABSTRACT: Despite an increasing appreciation in the importance of host-microbe interactions in ecological and evolutionary processes, information on the gut microbial communities of some marine mammals is still lacking. Moreover, whether diet, environment, or host phylogeny has the greatest impact on microbial community structure is still unknown. To fill part of this knowledge gap, we exploited a natural experiment provided by an aquarium with belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) affiliated with family Monodontidae, Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) and common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) affiliated with family Delphinidae, and Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) affiliated with family Otariidae. Results show significant differe

SUBMITTER: Bai S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8567075 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature