Characterising the fungal component of the Seychelles warbler gut microbiome

Fungi are an understudied component of the vertebrate gut microbiome despite implications that they may play an important role in host processes. In this study we investigate the environmental and genetic drivers of fungal GM variation in a natural population of the Seychelles warbler. We also investigate the relationship between fungal GM differences and host survival; to our knowledge, this is the first time this has been characterised in a natural vertebrate species.