Variation in Plumage Microbiota Depends on Season and Migration

Bisson, Isabelle-A.; Marra, Peter P.; Burtt, Edward H.; Sikaroodi, Masoumeh; Gillevet, Patrick M.

doi:10.1007/s00248-009-9490-3

Cited by 41 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Our results showed a strong effect of spatial proximity on bird plumage bacterial community, with birds in closer aviaries showing more similar bacterial communities. In accordance with other studies (Bisson et al , , Saag et al ), they point out the relatively small spatial scale transmission of plumage bacteria. While bacteria are likely transmitted through close contacts (Kulkarni and Heeb ) and reciprocal delousing, some bacteria may be able to survive on non‐feather substrates and, therefore, be transmitted through bathwater, perches, soil and the grids separating the aviaries (Bisson et al ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Experimental exposure to trace metals affects plumage bacterial community in the feral pigeon

Chatelain

Frantz

Gasparini

et al. 2016

Journal of Avian Biology

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Bacteria are fundamental associates of animals, and recent studies have highlighted their major role in host behaviour, immunity or reproductive investment. Thus, any environmental factor modifying bacterial community may affect host fitness. In birds, trace metals emitted by anthropogenic activities accumulate onto the plumage where they may alter bacterial community and ultimately affect bird fitness. Although trace metals are current major environmental issues in urban habitats, their effects on feather bacterial community have never been investigated. Here, we supplemented feral pigeons (Columba livia), an emblematic urban species, with zinc and/or lead in drinking and bath water. As expected, lead and zinc supplementations modified plumage bacterial community composition. Zinc decreased bacterial load, while lead decreased bacterial richness and the frequency of preening behaviour in birds, known to regulate feather bacteria. Our results demonstrate for the first time the effects of common urban trace metals on plumage bacterial community and shed light on one of the mechanisms by which trace metals can affect bird fitness. Further studies are now needed to investigate how this effect modulates avian life history traits known to depend on plumage bacterial community

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Experimental exposure to trace metals affects plumage bacterial community in the feral pigeon

Chatelain

Frantz

Gasparini

et al. 2016

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…Feathers harbour a complex bacterial community that commonly includes feather‐degrading bacteria (Shawkey, Pillai & Hill 2003; Bisson et al. 2007, 2009; Gunderson 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Goshawk prey have more bacteria than non‐prey

Møller

Peralta‐Sánchez

Nielsen³

et al. 2011

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Summary1. Predators often prey on individuals that are sick or otherwise weakened. Although previous studies have shown higher abundance of parasites in prey, whether prey have elevated loads of micro-organisms remains to be determined. 2. We quantified the abundance of bacteria and fungi on feathers of woodpigeons Columba palumbus L., jays Garrulus glandarius L. and blackbirds Turdus merula L. that either fell prey to goshawks Accipiter gentilis L. or were not depredated. 3. We found an almost three-fold increase in bacterial load of prey compared with non-prey, while there was no significant difference between prey and non-prey in level of fungal infection of the plumage. 4. The results were not confounded by differences in size or mass of feathers, date of collection of feathers, or date of analysis of feathers for micro-organisms. 5. These findings suggest a previously unknown contribution of bacteria to risk of predation, with important implications for behaviour, population ecology and community ecology.

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“…Th is will be most effi cient for bird s living in wetlands and ground-nesting and/or feeding taxa. Although several studies have shown that bird s can transport high numbers of microorganisms (Wuthrich and Matthey, 1980 ;Bisson et al, 2009 ), we are far from having a clear image of the local and global potential dispersal of free-living microorganisms by bird s. A potential limitation of bird s as vectors of free-living microorganisms is that the nesting habitat of many long-distance migratory bird s is very diff erent from their wintering habitats. For example, many shorebirds nest in freshwater wetlands and bogs in the boreal and arctic regions but winter in brackish water wetlands.…”

Section: Potential Factors Governing the Distribution Of Arcellinidamentioning

confidence: 98%

Arcellinida testate amoebae (Amoebozoa: Arcellinida): model of organisms for assessing microbial biogeography

Heger

Lara

Mitchell

2011

Biogeography of Microscopic Organisms

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Variation in Plumage Microbiota Depends on Season and Migration

Abstract: Migratory birds can be efficient dispersers of pathogens, yet we know little about the effect of migration and season on the microbial community in avian plumage.

Cited by 41 publications

References 28 publications

Experimental exposure to trace metals affects plumage bacterial community in the feral pigeon

Experimental exposure to trace metals affects plumage bacterial community in the feral pigeon

Goshawk prey have more bacteria than non‐prey

Arcellinida testate amoebae (Amoebozoa: Arcellinida): model of organisms for assessing microbial biogeography

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