Deakin University
Browse

Age-related differences revealed in Australian fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus gut microbiota

Version 2 2024-06-03, 07:12
Version 1 2014-10-28, 10:10
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-03, 07:12 authored by S Smith, A Chalker, M Dewar, John ArnouldJohn Arnould
The gut microbiota of Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) was examined at different age classes using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) and 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. The FISH results indicated that in the fur seal groups, the predominant phyla are Firmicutes (22.14-67.33%) followed by Bacteroidetes (3.11-15.45%) and then Actinobacteria (1.4-5.9%) consistent with other mammals. Phylum Proteobacteria had an initial abundance of 1.8% in the 2-month-old pups, but < 1% of bacterial numbers for the other fur seal age groups. Significant differences did occur in the abundance of Clostridia, Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria between 2 months pups and 9 months pups and adult fur seals. Results from the 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing supported the FISH data and identified significant differences in the composition of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Fusobacteria at all ages. Class Clostridia in phylum Firmicutes dominates the microbiota of the 2 months and 9 months seal pups, whilst class Bacilli dominates the 6 months pups. In addition, a high level of dissimilarity was observed between all age classes. This study provides novel insight into the gut microbiota of Australian fur seals at different age classes.

History

Journal

FEMS microbiology ecology

Volume

86

Pagination

246-255

Location

Chichester, England

Open access

  • Yes

ISSN

0168-6496

eISSN

1574-6941

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2013, Federation of European Microbiological Sciences

Issue

2

Publisher

Wiley

Usage metrics

    Research Publications

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC