Journal article
City life alters the gut microbiome and stable isotope profiling of the eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)
Molecular Ecology, Vol.28(20), pp.4592-4607
2019
Abstract
Urbanisation is one of the most significant threats to biodiversity, due to the rapid and large-scale environmental alterations it imposes on the natural landscape. It is, therefore, imperative that we understand the consequences of and mechanisms by which, species can respond to it. In recent years, research has shown that plasticity of the gut microbiome may be an important mechanism by which animals can adapt to environmental change, yet empirical evidence of this in wild non-model species remains sparse. Using an empirical replicated study system, we show that city life alters the gut microbiome and stable isotope profiling of a wild native non-model species - the eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) in Queensland, Australia. City dragons exhibit a more diverse gut microbiome than their native habitat counterparts and show gut microbial signatures of a high fat and plant rich diet. Additionally, we also show that city dragons have elevated levels of the Nitrogen-15 isotope in their blood suggesting that a city diet, which incorporates novel anthropogenic food sources, may also be richer in protein. These results highlight the role that gut microbial plasticity plays in an animals' response to human-altered landscapes.
Details
- Title
- City life alters the gut microbiome and stable isotope profiling of the eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)
- Authors
- Bethan Littleford-Colquhoun (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastLaura S Weyrich (Author) - University of AdelaideNicola Kent (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastCeline H Frere (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Molecular Ecology, Vol.28(20), pp.4592-4607
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1111/mec.15240
- ISSN
- 0962-1083
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Education and Tertiary Access; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450647602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
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Source: InCites