Effects of social behavior on fecal gut microbiome

We examined the effects of social interactions on the gut microbiome of a social rodent, the California ground squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi). Contrary to expectation, we found little to no relationship between social behavior and either gut microbial composition or diversity. Instead, measures of the gut microbiome were most related to individual identity and year of data collection. These findings suggest that factors other than social behavior may be most important for the acquisition and maintenance of the gut microbiome in some group living animals, with the importance of such behavior potentially varying with elements of group structure.