Darwin's finch gut microbiome

This study will characterize the gut microbial community in Darwin's finches, the iconic group of finch species endemic to the Galápagos archipelago in Ecuador, and explore how co-evolution may influence the composition of this important community. Broadly, the characterization of the gut microbiota in Darwin’s finches will add to our knowledge of gut microbiota in the natural world, potentially revealing unique clades of bacteria in the most diverse vertebrate clade – birds. Within ornithology, this project will elucidate an integral part of the biology of these well-studied bird species, which will inform any conservation efforts going forward. Finally, using the model system of Darwin’s finches will contribute to our growing understanding of how gut microbiota co-evolve with their hosts, especially in light of recent speciation events.