Age-related differences revealed in Australian fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus gut microbiota
journal contribution
posted on 2013-01-01, 00:00 authored by Stuart Smith, A Chalker, Meagan DewarMeagan Dewar, John ArnouldJohn ArnouldThe 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 ecologyVolume
86Issue
2Pagination
246 - 255Publisher
WileyLocation
Chichester, EnglandPublisher DOI
ISSN
0168-6496eISSN
1574-6941Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2013, Federation of European Microbiological SciencesUsage metrics
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Categories
Keywords
16S rRNA gene pyrosequencingfluorescent in situ hybridisationgastrointestinal tract bacteriasealsScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineMicrobiologySEGMENTED FILAMENTOUS BACTERIAIN-SITU HYBRIDIZATIONRNA-BASED PROBESINTESTINAL MICROBIOTAEXTENSIVE SETFATTY-ACIDSHUMAN FECESDIETCONSUMPTIONDIVERSITY