Comparative Analyses of Vertebrate Gut Microbiomes Reveal Convergence between Birds and Bats

• Published in: mBio Vol. 11; no. 1
• Main Authors: Song, Se Jin, Sanders, Jon G., Delsuc, Frédéric, Metcalf, Jessica, Amato, Katherine, Taylor, Michael W., Mazel, Florent, Lutz, Holly L., Winker, Kevin, Graves, Gary R., Humphrey, Gregory, Gilbert, Jack A., Hackett, Shannon J., White, Kevin P., Skeen, Heather R., Kurtis, Sarah M., Withrow, Jack, Braile, Thomas, Miller, Matthew, McCracken, Kevin G., Maley, James M., Ezenwa, Vanessa O., Williams, Allison, Blanton, Jessica M., McKenzie, Valerie J., Knight, Rob
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 07.01.2020
• Subjects: diet; Ecological and Evolutionary Science; Editor's Pick; evolution; flight; microbiome; vertebrate; vertebrate; flight; diet; evolution; microbiome

In this comprehensive survey of microbiomes of >900 species, including 315 mammals and 491 birds, we find a striking convergence of the microbiomes of birds and animals that fly. In nonflying mammals, diet and short-term evolutionary relatedness drive the microbiome, and many microbial species ar...