In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 17, No. 11 ( 2022-11-3), p. e0275850-
Abstract:
Carnivores are ecologically important and sensitive to habitat loss and anthropogenic disruption. Here we measured trophic level and gut bacterial composition as proxies of carnivore ecological status across the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, for wild American marten ( Martes americana ; hereafter marten). In contrast to studies that have focused on omnivorous and herbivorous species, we find that marten, like other carnivore species without a cecum, are dominated by Firmicutes (52.35%) and Proteobacteria (45.31%) but lack Bacteroidetes. Additionally, a majority of the 12 major bacterial genera (occurring at ≥1%) are known hydrogen producers, suggesting these taxa may contribute to host energy requirements through fermentative production of acetate. Our study suggests that live trapping and harvest methods yield similar marten gut microbiome data. In addition, preserving undisturbed forest likely impacts marten ecology by measurably increasing marten trophic level and altering the gut microbiome. Our study underscores the utility of the gut microbiome as a tool to monitor the ecological status of wild carnivore populations.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.t004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.t005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0275850.t006
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2022
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3
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