The Influence of Biotic and Abiotic Factors on the Bacterial Microbiome of Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) in Their Natural Environment

The microbiome is a key factor in the health, well-being, and success of vertebrates, contributing to the adaptive capacity of the host to different environments. Yet, little is understood regarding the geographic and biotic factors that may affect the microbiome of wild birds in polar environments. To address this question, we studied pygoscelid penguin populations in the Scotia Arc. This mesopredatory group breeds in defined colonies across a wide geographic range. We employed a PCR/sequencing approach to determine both bacterial microbiome 16S rRNA gene profiles and diet-derived 18S rRNA gene signatures. By integrating wide geographic sampling with bacterial 16S rRNA gene and eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene sequencing of over 350 faecal samples, we tested for associations between the host microbiome and a suite of potential geographic and ecological factors.