A Faithful Gut: Core Features of Gastrointestinal Microbiota of Long-Distance Migratory Bats Remain Stable despite Dietary Shifts Driving Differences in Specific Bacterial Taxa
Luis Víquez-R, Kelly Speer, Kerstin Wilhelm, Nancy Simmons, Rodrigo A. Medellín, Simone Sommer, Marco Tschapka
Abstract
Migratory animals live in a world of constant change. The whole-body ecosystem needs a strong adapting capacity to thrive despite the changes. Our study used next-generation sequencing to determine how gut microbial change along the migratory path of the nectar-feeding tequila bats. The study of the gut microbiome is a great tool that can provide important insights that are relevant not just for management and conservation but also an initial investigation of the extent of the adaptation and preparedness of the individual animals, with respect not just to their current environment but also to all the environments involved in their yearly cycle.