Individuality and stability of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) faecal microbiota through time.

ABSTRACT: Gut microbiota studies often rely on a single sample taken per individual, representing a snapshot in time. However, we know that gut microbiota composition in many animals exhibits intra-individual variation over the course of days to months. Such temporal variations can be a confounding factor in studies seeking to compare the gut microbiota of different wild populations, or to assess the impact of medical/veterinary interventions. To date, little is known about the variability of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) gut microbiota through time. Here, we characterise the gut microbiota from faecal samples collected at eight timepoints over a month for a captive population of South Australian koalas (n individuals = 7), and monthly over 7 months for a wild population of New So

SUBMITTER: Eisenhofer R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9879153 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature