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Effect of urbanization and parasitism on the gut microbiota of Darwin's finch nestlings
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  • Gabrielle Solomon,
  • Ashley Love,
  • Grace Vaziri,
  • Johanna Harvey,
  • Taylor Verrett,
  • Kiley Chernicky,
  • Shelby Simons,
  • Lauren Albert,
  • Jaime Chaves,
  • Sarah Knutie
Gabrielle Solomon
University of Connecticut
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Ashley Love
University of Connecticut
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Grace Vaziri
University of Connecticut
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Johanna Harvey
University of Connecticut
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Taylor Verrett
University of Connecticut
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Kiley Chernicky
University of Connecticut
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Shelby Simons
University of Connecticut
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Lauren Albert
University of Connecticut
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Jaime Chaves
San Francisco State University
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Sarah Knutie
University of Connecticut

Corresponding Author:saknutie@gmail.com

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Abstract

Host-associated microbiota can be affected by factors related to environmental change, such as urbanization and invasive species. For example, urban areas often affect food availability for animals, which can change their gut microbiota. Invasive parasites can also influence microbiota through either competition or indirectly through a change in the host immune response. These interacting factors can have complex effects on host fitness, but few studies have disentangled the relationship between urbanization and parasitism on an organism’s gut microbial composition. To address this gap in knowledge, we investigated the effects of urbanization and parasitism by the invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi) on the gut microbiota of nestling small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) on San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos. We conducted a factorial study in which we experimentally manipulated parasite presence in an urban and non-urban area. Feces were then collected when nestlings to characterize the gut microbiota (i.e., alpha and beta diversity, community composition). Although we did not find an interactive effect of urbanization and parasitism on the microbiota, we did find main effects of each variable. Urban and parasitized nestlings had lower bacterial diversity and differences in relative abundance of bacterial phyla and genera compared to non-urban non-parasitized nestlings, respectively. Overall, this study advances our understanding of the complex effects of anthropogenic stressors on the gut microbiota of birds.
03 Jul 2023Submitted to Molecular Ecology
04 Jul 2023Submission Checks Completed
04 Jul 2023Assigned to Editor
04 Jul 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Jul 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
20 Sep 20231st Revision Received
21 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
21 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
21 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Accept