Meeting Abstract
There has been recent interest in the role that host-associated microbes play in the ecology and evolution of animal hosts. However, many environmental factors can influence these relationships. Here, we investigated the gut microbial community structure of salamanders held at 10°C, 15°C, and 20°C. Fecal samples were collected to inventory the gut microbial communities by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Also, food intake and production of feces were used to calculate assimilation efficiency. Temperature significantly changed gut microbial community membership and structure. Salamanders held at 20°C had lower microbial diversity compared to those at 10°C or 15°C, as measured by Shannon index, Faith’s phylogenetic diversity, observed number of microbial taxa, and evenness. Salamanders at higher temperatures had higher relative abundances of the bacterial phylum Bacteroidetes and lower abundances of Actinobacteria. We will also investigate for correlations between relative abundances of microbial taxa and measured whole-animal assimilation efficiencies. Our results highlight that environmental temperatures may influence the function of host-associated microbial communities.
