Linking current levels of microplastic pollution with changes in wild seabird gut microbiomes

In this study, we sequenced the proventricular and cloacal microbiome of two different seabird species: northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) and Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris borealis). The aim of the study was to investigate whether microplastics (plastic particles smaller than 5 mm) are associated with changes in proventricular and cloacal microbiomes in two seabird species that chronically ingest microplastics. Results from this study illustrate that current and environmentally-relevant microplastic concentrations and mixtures affect both diversity and composition of gut microbiomes in wild seabirds.The hypervariable V4 Region of bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified using the primer pair 515F/806R and sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. The uploaded samples are already demultiplexed.