Characterization of the cloacal microbiota of wild Magellanic Penguins

The aim of this study was to broaden current knowledge of gut microbiota communities in wild penguins. Our purpose was to characterize the cloacal microbiota of wild Magellanic Penguins; to determine if microbiota would vary significantly between body condition (emaciated and under-conditioned); and to verify through the metagenomic analyses the functional prediction of the microbiota, focusing on their involvement in the protection against bacterial infections and degradation of xenobiotics.