Changes to the gut microbiota of a wild juvenile passerine in a multidimensional urban mosaic

Maraci, Öncü; Corsini, Michela; Antonatou-Papaioannou, Anna; Jünemann, Sebastian; Sudyka, Joanna; Lecce, Irene Di; Caspers, Barbara A.; Szulkin, Marta

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-10734-7

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…incubation or brooding behaviour (Ospina et al 2018, Mueller et al 2019)), but only to a certain extent. For example, nest microclimate can alter parasite loads – due to material accumulation when nest‐boxes are not routinely cleaned, as opposed to natural cavities where nesting material usually decomposes naturally over one year (Wesołowski 2000) – or affect the avian gut microbiome (Maraci et al 2022). Moreover, higher temperatures in nest‐boxes may be relevant for reproduction onset because the temperature is a cue for egg‐laying (Dhondt and Eyckerman 1979).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest‐boxes alter the reproductive ecology of urban cavity‐nesters in a species‐dependent way

Sudyka

Lecce

Wojas

et al. 2022

Journal of Avian Biology

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To mitigate the shortage of natural breeding sites in cities, nest-boxes are provided for cavity-nesters. However, these are not the breeding sites these animals originally evolved in and optimised their breeding performance to. It thus remains inconclusive if nest-boxes can provide adequate substitutes, ensuring equivalent fitness returns for breeding animals. Additionally, the majority of knowledge on the ecology of urban birds comes from nest-box populations, but no study to date directly compared fitness consequences of breeding inside nest-boxes in relation to natural-cavities in an urban context. This limits our understanding of the urban ecology of cavity-nesters and addressing its functional meaning. We investigate fitness consequences and life-history trait variation according to the nesting site type to provide a comprehensive understanding of conservation potential of nest-boxes in cities and to support/question generalisations stemming from nest-box studies on urbanization. We directly compare the reproductive performance of two small passerines, blue tits and great tits, breeding in nest-boxes as opposed to natural-cavities in a seminatural forest of a capital city using a quasi-experimental setting. We show that the effects of nest type vary between species: in blue tits, fitness proxies were negatively affected by nest-boxes (lower fledging success and fledgling numbers, longer time spent in nest and later fledging date in comparison to natural-cavities), while great tit performance appeared to be unaffected by nest type. We detected that both species breeding in nest-boxes accelerated incubation onset, but since there were no major differences in pre-hatching traits (lay date, clutch size, hatching rates) between the nest types, we attribute the fitness deterioration to post-hatching effects. Interestingly, overall breeding density of tits in urban natural-cavities was higher than observed in a primeval habitat. Nestboxes may become an ecological trap for some species and the unaffected species can consequently outcompete them, decreasing overall biodiversity in cities. We highlight the ecological importance of oldgrowth tree stands, providing natural tree cavities for city-breeding animals. Due to the detected nest type-dependent variation in reproductive performance, we support the criticism regarding the 3 unconditional extrapolation of evolutionary and ecological interpretations of nest-box studies to general populations. Supporting InformationNest-boxes alter the reproductive ecology of urban cavity-nesters in a species-dependent way

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest‐boxes alter the reproductive ecology of urban cavity‐nesters in a species‐dependent way

Sudyka

Lecce

Wojas

et al. 2022

Journal of Avian Biology

Self Cite

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“…Eleven research papers were carefully chosen for their relevance, methodological rigor, and clarity of the presented alpha diversity indexes. (Prabhu & Kamalakkannan, 2020)(Zhao et al, 2021)(Gibson et al, 2019)(Metcalf et al, 2017)(Sugden et al, 2020)(Maraci et al, 2022)(Colquhoun et al, 2019)(“Inside the Guts of the City: Urban-Induced Alterations of the Gut Microbiota in a Wild Passerine,” 2018)(Conteville et al, 2019)(Gomez et al, 2016)(Rosas-plaza et al, 2022)…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From the Wild to the City: How Domestication and Urbanization Reshape Animal Gut Microbiome

Das,

Das

2023

Preprint

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This review explores the profound effects of domestication and urbanization on the gut microbiota of animals. It delves into the complex interplay between these two processes and their transformative impact on the microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tracts of a wide range of species. Domestication, the centuries-old practice of taming and breeding animals for human use, has led to significant shifts in the gut microbiomes of domesticated animals. This shift is a result of altered diets, living conditions, and reduced exposure to natural environments. The paper examines the consequences of these changes on animal health, behavior, and their adaptation to domestic life. Conversely, urbanization, characterized by the rapid expansion of cities and human habitats, has driven wild animals to adapt to urban environments. This review investigates how the urban landscape, pollution, and dietary changes reshape the gut microbiomes of urban wildlife. It explores the potential implications of these alterations on the animals’ resilience to urban stressors and disease. Drawing parallels between domestication and urbanization, the paper reveals intriguing similarities and differences in gut microbiome transformations across various species. It also assesses the broader implications of these shifts on ecological dynamics, zoonotic disease transmission, and the potential for microbial interactions between domesticated animals, urban wildlife, and humans. Ultimately, this review consolidates current knowledge on the topic, shedding light on the shared mechanisms and unique adaptations that drive microbial changes in animals undergoing domestication and those adapting to urban environments. It concludes with a discussion of the implications for animal conservation, animal-human interactions, and the One Health perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding these intricate icrobial relationships in our ever-changing world. By enhancing our comprehension of these complex dynamics, this paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge that informs our coexistence with the animals we share our lives and cities with, highlighting the critical role of gut microbiota in these processes.

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“…Initial evidence from across phylogenetically‐diverse species suggests that urbanisation is associated with a more ‘humanised’ gut microbiota, with a higher proportion of opportunistic pathogens (Alpízar et al, 2021; Berlow, Phillips, et al, 2021; Dillard et al, 2022; Fackelmann et al, 2021; Murray et al, 2020; Ruiz‐Calderon et al, 2016). Disentangling which urban characteristics are predominantly associated with changes to the gut microbiota and their rhythms is challenging and may differ between species, yet recent evidence from wild great tits indicate that multiple urban factors act together to generate shifts in microbial composition (Maraci et al, 2022).…”

Section: Relevance Of Microbial Oscillations To Outstanding Questions...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Circadian rhythms of hosts and their gut microbiomes: Implications for animal physiology and ecology

et al. 2023

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1. Daily light-dark cycles shape the circadian physiology and behaviour of nearly all organisms, with variation in circadian phenotypes having cascading effects on individual fitness, species interactions and species co-evolution.2. Recent evidence that circadian rhythms in host immunity and metabolism are synchronised by the gut microbiota suggest that the circadian dynamics of gut microbes are a crucial component of their function. However, there remains little knowledge or understanding of the diurnal dynamics of gut microbiomes in natural populations or the consequences for host physiology and ecology.3. Here, we summarise the hallmarks of gut microbiota oscillations reported to date and the mechanisms by which they synchronise rhythms in host immunity and metabolism. We outline the consequences for diverse biological processes such as host pathogen susceptibility and seasonal switches in metabolism, and discuss how the breakdown of these circadian interactions, for example during senescence or because of light pollution, may affect wildlife infection risk and disease.4. We also provide practical guidelines for the measurement of microbial oscillations in wildlife, highlighting that whilst faecal samples of wild animals are rarely available over a 24-h period, characterising even parts of the gut microbial cycle can be informative.5. An improved understanding of how gut microbial diurnal rhythms manifest in wildlife is essential to fully comprehend their role in shaping variation in host circadian phenotypes and the consequences for host physiology and ecology.

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Changes to the gut microbiota of a wild juvenile passerine in a multidimensional urban mosaic

Cited by 15 publications

References 83 publications

Nest‐boxes alter the reproductive ecology of urban cavity‐nesters in a species‐dependent way

Nest‐boxes alter the reproductive ecology of urban cavity‐nesters in a species‐dependent way

From the Wild to the City: How Domestication and Urbanization Reshape Animal Gut Microbiome

Circadian rhythms of hosts and their gut microbiomes: Implications for animal physiology and ecology

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