scholarly journals Captivity causes taxonomic and functional convergence of gut microbial communities in bats

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhong Xiao ◽  
Guohong Xiao ◽  
Heng Liu ◽  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Congnan Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Rhinolophus Ferrumequinum ◽  
Kegg Pathways ◽  
Functional Convergence ◽  
Rdna Sequencing ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rule Out

Background Diet plays a crucial role in sculpting microbial communities. Similar diets appear to drive convergence of gut microbial communities between host species. Captivity usually provides an identical diet and environment to different animal species that normally have similar diets. Whether different species’ microbial gut communities can be homogenized by a uniform diet in captivity remains unclear. Methods In this study, we compared gut microbial communities of three insectivorous bat species (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Vespertilio sinensis, and Hipposideros armiger) in captivity and in the wild using 16S rDNA sequencing. In captivity, R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis were fed yellow mealworms, while H. armiger was fed giant mealworms to rule out the impact of an identical environment on the species’ gut microbial communities. Results We found that the microbial communities of the bat species we studied clustered by species in the wild, while the microbial communities of R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis in captivity clustered together. All microbial functions found in captive V. sinensis were shared by R. ferrumequinum. Moreover, the relative abundances of all metabolism related KEGG pathways did not significantly differ between captive R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis; however, the relative abundance of “Glycan Biosynthesis and Metabolism” differed significantly between wild R. ferrumequinum and V. sinensis. Conclusion Our results suggest that consuming identical diets while in captivity tends to homogenize the gut microbial communities among bat species. This study further highlights the importance of diet in shaping animal gut microbiotas.

scholarly journals Can Zoos Ever Be Big Enough for Large Wild Animals? A Review Using an Expert Panel Assessment of the Psychological Priorities of the Amur Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) as a Model Species

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1536
Author(s):  
Jake Stuart Veasey
Keyword(s):  
Expert Panel ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Amur Tiger ◽  
Habitat Size ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Panthera Tigris Altaica ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Management Paradigms ◽  
The Impact

The ecology of large, wide-ranging carnivores appears to make them vulnerable to conservation challenges in the wild and welfare challenges in captivity. This poses an ethical dilemma for the zoo community and supports the case that there is a need to reconsider prevailing management paradigms for these species in captivity. Whilst the welfare challenges wide ranging carnivores face have been attributed to reduced ranging opportunities associated with the decreased size of captive habitats, attempts to augment wild carnivore welfare in captivity typically focus on behaviours linked to hunting. Thus far, this has yet to result in the systematic elimination of signs of compromised welfare amongst captive carnivores. Here an assessment is carried out to identify the likely welfare priorities for Amur tigers, which, as one of the widest ranging terrestrial carnivores, serves as an excellent exemplar for species experiencing extreme compression of their ranging opportunities in captivity. These priorities are then used to consider novel strategies to address the welfare challenges associated with existing management paradigms, and in particular, attempt to overcome the issue of restricted space. The insights generated here have wider implications for other species experiencing substantive habitat compression in captivity. It is proposed here that the impact of habitat compression on captive carnivore welfare may not be a consequence of the reduction in habitat size per se, but rather the reduction in cognitive opportunities that likely covary with size, and that this should inform strategies to augment welfare.

scholarly journals Captivity systematically alters the composition yet not the diversity of vertebrate gut microbiomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antton Alberdi ◽  
Garazi Martin ◽  
Ostaizka Aizpurua
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
New Taxa ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Vertebrate Species ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Open Debate ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Compositional Changes

Abstract There is an open debate on whether and how captivity alters the gut microbiota of vertebrates, due to the contrasting results reported in different taxa and the absence of systematic multi-species analyses. We performed a meta-analysis of gut microbiota profiles of 322 captive and 322 wild specimens from 24 vertebrate species, including fish, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. We found no evidence that captivity either systematically depletes or increases their gut microbiota. In 88% of the species analysed, although captivity entailed a loss of a fraction of the diversity found in the wild, this was compensated through recruitment of a proportionally similar amount of new taxa only found in captivity. We show such compositional changes can impact evolutionary and ecological inferences that rely on hierarchical clustering-based comparative analyses of gut microbial communities across species.

scholarly journals Deploying and in vitro gut model to assay the impact of a mannan-oligosaccharide prebiotic, Bio-MOS® on the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) gut microbiome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kazlauskaite ◽  
B. Cheaib ◽  
J. Humble ◽  
C. Heys ◽  
U. Ijaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Salmon ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Microbial Community Composition ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Gut Health ◽  
Mannan Oligosaccharide ◽  
Rdna Sequencing ◽  
The Impact

AbstractMannose-oligosaccharide (MOS) pre-biotics are widely deployed in animal agriculture as immunomodulators as well as to enhance growth and gut health. Their mode of action is thought to be mediated through their impact on host microbial communities and associated metabolism. Bio-MOS is a commercially available pre-biotic currently used in the agri-feed industry. To assay Bio-MOS for potential use as a pre-biotic growth promotor in salmonid aquaculture, we modified an established Atlantic salmon in vitro gut model, SalmoSim, to evaluate its impact on host microbial communities. In biological triplicate, microbial communities were stabilised in SalmoSim followed by twenty-day exposure to the pre-biotic and then an eight day ‘wash out’ period. Exposure the MOS resulted in a significant increase in formate (p=0.001), propionate (p=0.037) and isovalerate (p=0.024) levels, correlated with increased abundances of several principally anaerobic microbial genera (Fusobacteria, Agarivorans, Pseudoalteromonas, Myroides). 16S rDNA sequencing confirmed a significant shift in microbial community composition in response to supplementation. In conjunction with previous in vivo studies linking enhanced VFA production alongside MOS supplementation to host growth and performance, our data suggest that Bio-MOS may be of value in salmonid production. Furthermore, our data highlight the potential role of in vitro gut models to augment in vivo trials of microbiome modulators.

scholarly journals Effects of Captivity on the Morphology of the Insertion Sites of the Palmar Radiocarpal Ligaments in Hominoid Primates

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1856
Author(s):  
Aroa Casado ◽  
Yasmina Avià ◽  
Miquel Llorente ◽  
David Riba ◽  
Juan Francisco Pastor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Anatomical Changes ◽  
Different Types ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Insertion Sites ◽  
The Impact

The environmental conditions of captive hominoid primates can lead to modifications in several aspects of their behavior, including locomotion, which can then alter the morphological characteristics of certain anatomical regions, such as the knee or wrist. We have performed tridimensional geometric morphometrics (3D GM) analyses of the distal radial epiphysis in wild and captive gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans. Our objective was to study the morphology of the insertion sites of the palmar radiocarpal ligaments, since the anatomical characteristics of these insertion sites are closely related to the different types of locomotion of these hominoid primates. We have identified significant differences between the wild and captive specimens that are likely related to their different types of locomotion. Our results indicate that the habitat conditions of captive hominoid primates may cause them to modify their locomotor behavior, leading to a greater use of certain movements in captivity than in the wild and resulting in the anatomical changes we have observed. We suggest that creating more natural environments in zoological facilities could reduce the impact of these differences and also increase the well-being of primates raised in captive environments.

The impact of stress on cytokine and haptoglobin mRNA expression in blood samples from harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena)

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fonfara ◽  
U. Siebert ◽  
A. Prange ◽  
F. Colijn
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Cytokine Mrna ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Necrosis Factor

Cytokines are important cell mediators involved in immune responses. Their expression can be modulated by numerous factors, including stress. The aim of this study was to compare cytokine mRNA expression from harbour porpoises exposed to different environments. Blood samples were taken from two healthy porpoises living in captivity at the Fjord and Belt Centre Kerteminde, Denmark, and from four wild porpoises accidentally caught in Danish waters. Real-time RT-PCR was used to quantify the transcription of interleukin-(IL)-1β, IL-2, -4, -6, -10, tumour necrosis factor-(TNF)-α, transforming growth factor-(TGF)-β and the acute phase protein haptoglobin. This revealed downregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and TNFα, and a switch towards the T-helper-cell-(Th)2- and Th3-cytokines, IL-4 and TGFβ, in blood samples of the wild-captured animals. This indicated a shift towards immunomodulatory cytokines. In addition, cortisol levels were increased in the wild-caught porpoises. These results are suggestive of stress-induced modulation of the immune responses in the accidentally caught animals. The current study indicates that the expression pattern of these cytokines and the estimation of the Th1- to Th2- and Th3-cytokine mRNA ratios might be a useful indicator to analyse the influence of stress on the immune system in harbour porpoises.

scholarly journals A novel bioaugmentation technique effectively increases the skin-associated microbial diversity of captive eastern hellbenders

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin K Kenison ◽  
Obed Hernández-Gómez ◽  
Rod N Williams
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
River Water ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Future Work

Abstract Captive environments are maintained in hygienic ways that lack free-flowing microbes found in animals’ natural environments. As a result, captive animals often have depauperate host-associated microbial communities compared to conspecifics in the wild and may have increased disease susceptibility and reduced immune function. Eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) have suffered precipitous population declines over the past few decades. To bolster populations, eastern hellbenders are reared in captivity before being translocated to the wild. However, the absence of natural microbial reservoirs within the captive environment diminishes the diversity of skin-associated bacteria on hellbender skin and may negatively influence their ability to defend against pathogenic species once they are released into the wild. To prepare hellbenders for natural bacteria found in riverine environments, we devised a novel bioaugmentation method to increase the diversity of skin microbial communities within a captive setting. We exposed juvenile hellbenders to increasing amounts of river water over 5 weeks before translocating them to the river. We genetically identified and phylogenetically compared bacteria collected from skin swabs and river water for alpha (community richness) and beta (community composition) diversity estimates. We found that hellbenders exposed to undiluted river water in captivity had higher alpha diversity and distinct differentiation in the community composition on their skin, compared to hellbenders only exposed to well water. We also found strong evidence that hellbender skin microbiota is host-specific rather than environmentally driven and is colonized by rare environmental operational taxonomic units in river water. This technique may increase hellbender translocation success as increasing microbial diversity is often correlated with elevated disease resistance. Future work is necessary to refine our methods, investigate the relationship between microbial diversity and hellbender health and understand how this bioaugmentation technique influences hellbenders’ survival following translocation from captivity into the wild.

Modernism, Empiricism, and Rationalism

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-47
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Squires
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
The Other ◽  
Modern Poetry ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Irish Poetry ◽  
Dimensional Spectrum ◽  
Culture History ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rule Out

Modernism is usually defined historically as the composite movement at the beginning of the twentieth century which led to a radical break with what had gone before in literature and the other arts. Given the problems of the continuing use of the concept to cover subsequent writing, this essay proposes an alternative, philosophical perspective which explores the impact of rationalism (what we bring to the world) on the prevailing empiricism (what we take from the world) of modern poetry, which leads to a concern with consciousness rather than experience. This in turn involves a re-conceptualisation of the lyric or narrative I, of language itself as a phenomenon, and of other poetic themes such as nature, culture, history, and art. Against the background of the dominant empiricism of modern Irish poetry as presented in Crotty's anthology, the essay explores these ideas in terms of a small number of poets who may be considered modernist in various ways. This does not rule out modernist elements in some other poets and the initial distinction between a poetics of experience and one of consciousness is better seen as a multi-dimensional spectrum that requires further, more detailed analysis than is possible here.

scholarly journals The environmental and ecological determinants of elevated Ross River Virus exposure in koalas residing in urban coastal landscapes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Johnson ◽  
Amy Robbins ◽  
Narayan Gyawali ◽  
Oselyne Ong ◽  
Joanne Loader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Movement ◽  
Ross River Virus ◽  
Mosquito Vector ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Culex Annulirostris ◽  
Coastal Landscapes ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Virus Exposure ◽  
Elevated Exposure ◽  
The Impact

AbstractKoala populations in many areas of Australia have declined sharply in response to habitat loss, disease and the effects of climate change. Koalas may face further morbidity from endemic mosquito-borne viruses, but the impact of such viruses is currently unknown. Few seroprevalence studies in the wild exist and little is known of the determinants of exposure. Here, we exploited a large, spatially and temporally explicit koala survey to define the intensity of Ross River Virus (RRV) exposure in koalas residing in urban coastal environments in southeast Queensland, Australia. We demonstrate that RRV exposure in koalas is much higher (> 80%) than reported in other sero-surveys and that exposure is uniform across the urban coastal landscape. Uniformity in exposure is related to the presence of the major RRV mosquito vector, Culex annulirostris, and similarities in animal movement, tree use, and age-dependent increases in exposure risk. Elevated exposure ultimately appears to result from the confinement of remaining coastal koala habitat to the edges of permanent wetlands unsuitable for urban development and which produce large numbers of competent mosquito vectors. The results further illustrate that koalas and other RRV-susceptible vertebrates may serve as useful sentinels of human urban exposure in endemic areas.

scholarly journals On the modulation and maintenance of hibernation in captive dwarf lemurs

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina B. Blanco ◽  
Lydia K. Greene ◽  
Robert Schopler ◽  
Cathy V. Williams ◽  
Danielle Lynch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Restriction ◽  
Metabolic Disorders ◽  
Biological Rhythms ◽  
Food Ingestion ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Cheirogaleus Medius ◽  
Save Energy ◽  
Metabolic Strategies

AbstractIn nature, photoperiod signals environmental seasonality and is a strong selective “zeitgeber” that synchronizes biological rhythms. For animals facing seasonal environmental challenges and energetic bottlenecks, daily torpor and hibernation are two metabolic strategies that can save energy. In the wild, the dwarf lemurs of Madagascar are obligate hibernators, hibernating between 3 and 7 months a year. In captivity, however, dwarf lemurs generally express torpor for periods far shorter than the hibernation season in Madagascar. We investigated whether fat-tailed dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus medius) housed at the Duke Lemur Center (DLC) could hibernate, by subjecting 8 individuals to husbandry conditions more in accord with those in Madagascar, including alternating photoperiods, low ambient temperatures, and food restriction. All dwarf lemurs displayed daily and multiday torpor bouts, including bouts lasting ~ 11 days. Ambient temperature was the greatest predictor of torpor bout duration, and food ingestion and night length also played a role. Unlike their wild counterparts, who rarely leave their hibernacula and do not feed during hibernation, DLC dwarf lemurs sporadically moved and ate. While demonstrating that captive dwarf lemurs are physiologically capable of hibernation, we argue that facilitating their hibernation serves both husbandry and research goals: first, it enables lemurs to express the biphasic phenotypes (fattening and fat depletion) that are characteristic of their wild conspecifics; second, by “renaturalizing” dwarf lemurs in captivity, they will emerge a better model for understanding both metabolic extremes in primates generally and metabolic disorders in humans specifically.

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