Seasonal variation in the stomach microbiota of two sympatrically breeding Pygoscelis penguin species at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands

Yew, Wen Chyin and Adlard, Stacey and Dunn, Michael James and Alias, Siti Aisyah and Pearce, David Anthony and Abu Samah, Azizan and Convey, Peter (2024) Seasonal variation in the stomach microbiota of two sympatrically breeding Pygoscelis penguin species at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Microbiology-SGM, 170 (9). 001503. ISSN 1350-0872, DOI https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001503.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001503

Abstract

The gut microbiomes of Antarctic penguins are important for the fitness of the host birds and their chicks. The compositions of microbial communities in Antarctic penguin guts are strongly associated with the birds' diet, physiological adaptation and phylogeny. Whilst seasonal changes in food resources, distribution and population parameters of Antarctic penguins have been well addressed, little research is available on the stability or variability of penguin stomach microbiomes over time. Here, we focused on two Pygoscelis penguin species breeding sympatrically in the maritime Antarctic and analysed their stomach contents to assess whether penguin gut microbiota differed over three austral summer breeding seasons. We used a high- throughput DNA sequencing approach to study bacterial diversity in stomach regurgitates of Ad & eacute;lie ( Pygoscelis adeliae) ) and chinstrap ( Pygoscelis antarctica) ) penguins that have a similar foraging regime on Signy Island (South Orkney Islands). Our data revealed significant differences in bacterial alpha and beta diversity between the study seasons. We also identified bacterial genera that were significantly associated with specific breeding seasons, diet compositions, chick- rearing stages and sampling events. This study provides a baseline for establishing future monitoring of penguin gut microbiomes in a rapidly changing environment.

Item Type: Article
Funders: Sultan Mizan Antarctic Research Foundation (YPASM), Universiti Malaya (UMRG: RP007-2012A), UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Antarctic krill; diet; microbiome; penguins; sea ice; seasonal variation
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions: Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Office > Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences
Universiti Malaya
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 28 Nov 2024 05:11
Last Modified: 28 Nov 2024 05:11
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/47129

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