The effects of social rank on the gut microbiome of Astatotilapia burtoni

A comparison of the gut microbiome of subordinate and dominant Astatotilapia burtoni males in a social dominance hierarchy. Fecal samples were used to track changes in the microbiome during social transition. Results indicate that there is a lag between changes in the microbiome and the behavioral and physiological correlations of rank shifts. Given this, subordinates had lower alpha diversity and hosted higher abundances of pathogenic clades. Dominants had higher alpha diversities and hosted higher abundances of protective clades.