Local, environmental and trace metal effects on gut microbiota diversity in urban feral pigeons

In this study, we experimentally exposed urban feral pigeons to trace metals, previously captured in Paris - France. First, we compared the gut microbiota diversity (Alpha and Beta) among sites of capture before the TE exposure experiment to explore how geographical zone affect the gut microbiota. Second, we examined how TE treatments affect the gut microbiota over the course of the experiment : right before the exposure (d0), and then 45 (d45) and 90 (d90) days after the beginning of the exposure. Finally, we compared how the captivity altered the gut microbiota diversity by comparing their dynamic over time (after 45 and 90 days of exposure to metals) in captivity. We first expected that the gut microbiota in terms of species richness and composition differed among the different geographical sites and the different conditions (urban versus captivity). Second, we expected that TE exposure altered the species richness and changed the composition of gut microbiota.