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The microbiome of New World vultures

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Roggenbuck

    (Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen)

  • Ida Bærholm Schnell

    (Center for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen
    Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo)

  • Nikolaj Blom

    (Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark
    Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark)

  • Jacob Bælum

    (Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark)

  • Mads Frost Bertelsen

    (Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo)

  • Thomas Sicheritz-Pontén

    (Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Technical University of Denmark)

  • Søren Johannes Sørensen

    (Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen)

  • M. Thomas P. Gilbert

    (Center for GeoGenetics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen)

  • Gary R. Graves

    (National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
    Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen)

  • Lars H Hansen

    (Aarhus University)

Abstract

Vultures are scavengers that fill a key ecosystem niche, in which they have evolved a remarkable tolerance to bacterial toxins in decaying meat. Here we report the first deep metagenomic analysis of the vulture microbiome. Through face and gut comparisons of 50 vultures representing two species, we demonstrate a remarkably conserved low diversity of gut microbial flora. The gut samples contained an average of 76 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) per specimen, compared with 528 OTUs on the facial skin. Clostridia and Fusobacteria, widely pathogenic to other vertebrates, dominate the vulture’s gut microbiota. We reveal a likely faecal–oral–gut route for their origin. DNA of prey species detectable on facial swabs was completely degraded in the gut samples from most vultures, suggesting that the gastrointestinal tracts of vultures are extremely selective. Our findings show a strong adaption of vultures and their bacteria to their food source, exemplifying a specialized host–microbial alliance.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Roggenbuck & Ida Bærholm Schnell & Nikolaj Blom & Jacob Bælum & Mads Frost Bertelsen & Thomas Sicheritz-Pontén & Søren Johannes Sørensen & M. Thomas P. Gilbert & Gary R. Graves & Lars H Hansen, 2014. "The microbiome of New World vultures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6498
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6498
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    Cited by:

    1. Carucci, Tomaso & Whitehouse-Tedd, Katherine & Yarnell, Richard W. & Collins, Alan & Fitzpatrick, Fran & Botha, Andre & Santangeli, Andrea, 2022. "Ecosystem services and disservices associated with vultures: A systematic review and evidence assessment," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).

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