Hi-C metagenome analyses of double-crested cormorant fecal samples

The Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritus), a fish-eating bird endemic to North America, heavily utilizes aquaculture ponds during migration and wintering. Catfish farms in the Southern United States, particularly in Mississippi, have experienced notable losses due to cormorant depredation. In this study, we analyzed fecal microbiota from two Double-crested Cormorants using sequencing data generated through Phase Genomics ProxiMeta and Hi-C platforms. Findings will help to identify that cormorants contribution to the influx of diverse bacterial species within aquaculture ponds, potentially transmitting multiple antibiotic resistance genes and disseminating antimicrobial resistance within the environment.