Abstract Nitrogen isotope analysis is a common technique for investigating dietary behaviour in modern and archaeological populations. One of its primary uses to provide trophic level information. This application possible because ∼3‰ enrichment 15 N along each step the food chain, resulting carnivores having higher δ values than herbivores, which turn have plants. Much variation has also been observed within level, although reasons this are poorly understood. Here we present results...

Abstract The foraging ecology of mammalian herbivores is strongly shaped by plant secondary compounds ( PSC s) that defend plants against herbivory. Conventional wisdom holds gut microbes facilitate the ingestion toxic plants; however, this notion lacks empirical evidence. We investigated microbiota desert woodrats Neotoma lepida ), some populations which specialise on highly creosote bush Larrea tridentata) . Here, we demonstrate are crucial in allowing to consume plants. Creosote toxins...

Many animals face unpredictable food sources and periods of prolonged fasting, which likely present significant challenges to gut microorganisms. While several studies have demonstrated that fasting impacts the microbiota, experiments not been carried out in a comparative context. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing document changes colonic cecal microbiomes representing five classes vertebrates at four time points through fasting: tilapia, toads, geckos, quail, mice. found differences...

The carbon-isotope composition of hair and feces offers a glimpse into the diets mammalian herbivores. It is particularly useful for determining relative consumption browse graze in tropical environments, as these foods have strongly divergent compositions. Fecal δ 13 C values reflect last few days consumption, whereas provides longer term dietary information. Previous studies shown, however, that some fractionation occurs between those feces. Accurate reconstruction requires an...

▪ Abstract Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) significantly impact the nutritional ecology of terrestrial vertebrate herbivores. Herbivores have a wide range mechanisms (herbivore offenses) to mitigate negative effects PSMs. We discuss several behavioral and physiological offenses used by vertebrates. Several newly recognized herbivore such as regulated absorption regulation toxin intake are presented. give detailed description biotransformation system with respect also summarize recent...

The gastrointestinal tracts of animals contain diverse communities microbes that provide a number services to their hosts. There is recent concern these may be lost as enter captive breeding programmes, due changes in diet and/or exposure environmental sources. However, empirical evidence documenting the effects captivity and birth on gut lacking. We conducted three studies advance our knowledge this area. First, we compared microbial diversity two species woodrats (Neotoma albigula, dietary...

Vertebrates maintain complex symbioses with a diverse community of microbes residing within their guts. The microbial players in these differ between major taxa vertebrates, such that fish and amniotes notably different communities. To date, there has not been culture-independent inventory an amphibian gut community. Here, we compared communities tadpoles frogs the Northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens). We utilized Illumina sequencing, which allowed us to more than 450 000 sequences....

Abstract For decades, ecologists have hypothesised that exposure to plant secondary compounds ( PSCs ) modifies herbivore‐associated microbial community composition. This notion has not been critically evaluated in wild mammalian herbivores on evolutionary timescales. We investigated responses of the communities two woodrat species N eotoma bryanti and . lepida ). each species, we compared experienced populations independently converged feed same toxic (creosote bush, L arrea tridentata...

Significance Understanding the factors that sculpt gut microbial communities in mammals is of great interest. Here, we studied a diverse clade herbivorous rodents (woodrats, Neotoma ) with variable but well-characterized diets and habitats to quantify relative contributions host genetics, geography, diet, alongside neutral processes, structuring microbiome under natural controlled conditions. While diet geography made significant structure, phylogeny explained greatest proportion observed...

Ingestion of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) presents a physiological and behavioral challenge for mammalian herbivores. Herbivores must not only detoxify PSMs, but they may also deal with energetic constraints such as reduced food intake, mass loss, increased excretion energy, metabolic demands. We hypothesized that the consequences consuming PSMs will significantly compromise apparent metabolizable energy intake (AMEI) expenditure in Furthermore, we foraging strategy would influence...

Experiments conducted on captive animals allow scientists to control many variables; however, these settings are highly unnatural. Previous research has documented a large difference in microbial communities between wild and captive-bred individuals. However, wild-caught brought into captivity might retain their natural microbiota thus provide better study system which investigate the ecology of gut microbiome. We collected individuals desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida) from nature investigated...

1 Many mammalian herbivores continually face the possibility of being poisoned by natural toxins in plants they consume. A recent key discovery this area is that are capable regulating dose plant secondary compounds (PSCs) ingested. 2 The 'regulation model' describes factors driving ingestion PSCs mammals and can be dissected into two separate hypotheses related to meal size inter-meal interval (IMI). Testing these independently yields a more thorough understanding underlying potentially...

Summary It has been hypothesized that herbivores host tannin‐degrading bacteria ( TDB ) to overcome the toxic challenges posed by plant tannins. While have isolated from guts of numerous mammals, their functional significance hosts never explicitly tested. We introduced into lab rats, which do not , and measured performance on tannin‐rich diets. first three species E scherichia coli B acillus subtilis nterococcus faecalis desert woodrat N eotoma lepida ), regularly feeds plants. Then, we...

ABSTRACT The microbiota inhabiting the mammalian gut is a functional organ that provides number of services for host. One factor may regulate composition and function microbial communities dietary toxins. Oxalate toxic plant secondary compound (PSC) produced in all major taxa vascular plants consumed by variety animals. herbivore Neotoma albigula capable consuming degrading large quantities oxalate. We isolated characterized oxalate-degrading bacteria from contents wild-caught animals used...

Symbiotic gut microbes have facilitated the success of herbivorous mammals, which are generally grouped into foregut- and hindgut-fermenters. However, rodents primarily exhibit a variety gastrointestinal anatomies. Most house in hindgut chambers, such as caecum colon. Some also stomach segmentation with foregut chamber proximal to stomach. For over century, scientists hypothesized that this houses microbial community, yet has never been explicitly examined. We investigated capacity each...

Abstract Host‐associated microbial communities consist of stable and transient members that can assemble through purely stochastic processes associated with the environment or by interactions host. Phylosymbiosis predicts if host–microbiota impact assembly patterns, then one conceivable outcome is concordance between host evolutionary histories (phylogeny) ecological similarities in community structures (microbiota dendrogram). This pattern has been demonstrated several clades animal hosts...