Microbiome differences between wild and aquarium whitespotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Animal-associated microbiomes can be influenced by both host and environmental factors. Comparing wild animals to those in zoos or aquariums can help disentangle the effects of host versus environmental factors, while also testing whether managed conditions foster a 'natural' host microbiome. Focusing on an endangered elasmobranch species-the whitespotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari-we compared the skin, gill, and cloaca microbiomes of wild individuals to those at Georgia Aquarium. Whitespotted eagle ray microbiomes from Georgia Aquarium were also compared to those of cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) in the same exhibit, allowing us to explore the effect of host identity on the ray microbiome.

Results

Long-term veterinary monitoring indicated that the rays in ma

SUBMITTER: Clavere-Graciette AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9128078 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature