Cloacal microbiomes of sympatric and allopatric Sceloporus lizards vary with environment and host relatedness.

ABSTRACT: Animals and their microbiomes exert reciprocal influence; the host's environment, physiology, and phylogeny can impact the composition of the microbiome, while the microbes present can affect host behavior, health, and fitness. While some microbiomes are highly malleable, specialized microbiomes that provide important functions can be more robust to environmental perturbations. Recent evidence suggests Sceloporus virgatus has one such specialized microbiome, which functions to protect eggs from fungal pathogens during incubation. Here, we examine the cloacal microbiome of three different Sceloporus species (spiny lizards; Family Phrynosomatidae)-Sceloporus virgatus, Sceloporus jarrovii, and Sceloporus occidentalis. We compare two species with different reproductive modes (oviparous vs. viv

SUBMITTER: Bunker ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9779040 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature