Diversity of fecal microbiota of endangered Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Raznolikost mikrobiote izmeta ugroženog tetrijeba gluhana (Tetrao urogallus)
• Author: Charlotte Francesca Stiles
• Mentor: Dean Konjević (mentor)
• Mentor: Željko Gottstein (mentor)
• Committee member: Danijela Horvatek Tomić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Dean Konjević (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Željko Gottstein (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-07, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Veterinary Medicine; Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety

Abstract

Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) are a large galliform species that inhabits
mostly coniferous forests at altitudes above 1000 m.a.s.l. Over the last 60 years, a sharp decline
in capercaillie populations was observed in many of central European habitats, especially at the
peripheral range of the species distribution. Accordingly, recent monitoring data in Croatia
indicate a 77% decrease in lek numbers. Measures aimed at recovery and restoration of the
capercaillie population are complex and include a variety of factors such as habitat modelling,
pest control, and the potential reintroduction or supplementation of captive bred animals. The
breeding of animals in captivity may result in behavioural, morphological and health
differences that may reduce post-release survival rates. The aim of this study was to analyse the
faecal microbiome of captive birds from the aviary in the Gorski Kotar region (which has a
more coniferous forest) with that from wild birds in Lička Plješivica (premontane beech forests)
and Northern Velebit Mountain (more coniferous forests). Samples were collected from known
animals in the aviary and opportunistically from wild animals, kept cold using ice packs and
transported to the Veterinary Faculty. The DNA of the microbiota was isolated using a
commercial kit, purified and then sent for sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to an external
service. In total, 11 microbial phyla were detected with Firmicutes, Proteobacteria,
Actynobacteria and Bacteroidetes being the most abundant. Juvenile animals had higher
proportions of Firmicutes indicating a higher ratio of animal protein in the diet. With increasing
age, proportions of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased, because of the shift to a more
plant oriented diet. The richness and diversity of the microbiome was higher in samples from
wild animals. The gut microbiome of captive animals was more similar to that of wild birds
from Northern Velebit, indicating similar dietary conditions. By adjusting the gut microbiota
according to a specific habitat, post-release survival rates and the efficiency of conservation
programs should improve.

Abstract (croatian)

Tetrijeb gluhan (Tetrao urogallus) je velika ptica iz porodice kokoški koja nastanjuje
pretežito crnogorične šume na nadmorskim visinama iznad 1000 m. Značajan pad brojnosti
populacije tetrijeba zabilježen je tijekom proteklih 60 godina u većini staništa središnje Europe,
a posebice na rubnim područjima rasprostiranja ove vrste. Slično, i noviji podatci praćenja ove
vrste u Hrvatskoj ukazuju na 77%-tni pad brojnosti pjevališta. Mjere oporavka i obnove
populacije tetrijeba su složene i uključuju brojne aktivnosti poput modeliranja staništa, kontrolu
vrsta s negativnim utjecajem na tetrijeba te potencijalnu reintrodukciju/popunu populacije
pticama iz umjetnog uzgoja. Uzgoj u zatočeništvu može mijenjati biheviorističke, morfološke
i zdravstvene značajke jedinki te dovesti do njihovog smanjenog preživljenja po ispuštanju. Cilj
ovoga istraživanja bio je analizirati mikrobiom izmeta ptica iz volijere na području Gorskog
kotara (pretežito crnogorične sastojine) s mikrobiomom divljih jedinki s područja Ličke
Plješivice (pretplaninska šuma bukve) i Sjevernog Velebita (crnogorične šume). Uzorci su
prikupljeni od poznatih jedinki u volijeri i oportunistički od divljih jedinki u prirodi, zamrznuti
na -20oC i prevezeni na Veterinarski fakultet. DNK mikrobiote izolirana je komercijalnim
kitom, pročišćena i poslana na sekvenciranje i bioinformatičku analizu u komercijalni servis.
Utvrđeno je ukupno 11 skupina, pri čemu su najzastupljenije bile Firmicutes, Proteobacteria,
Actynobacteria i Bacteroidetes. Mlade ptice imale su veći udio skupine Firmicutes što ukazuje
na pretežitu prehranu hranom životinjskog podrijetla. Odrastanjem jedinki povećavaju se i
udjeli skupina Proteobacteria i Bacteroidetes. Broj vrsta i raznolikost mikrobioma bila je veća
u uzorcima od divljih tetrijeba. Mikrobiom crijeva tetrijeba iz uzgoja usporedljiviji je s divljim
jedinkama sa sjevernog Velebita što ukazuje na slične prehrambene uvjete u tim staništima.
Prilagodba crijevne mikrobiote specifičnom staništu trebala bi povećati preživljavanje jedinki
nakon ispuštanja, kao i učinkovitost programa očuvanja.

• Keywords: capercaillie; captive birds; wild birds; gut microbiome; habitat conditions
• Keywords (croatian): tetrijeb gluhan; ptice iz umjetnog uzgoja; divlje ptice; mikrobiom crijeva; uvjeti staništa
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:178:506539
• Study programme: Title: Veterinary Medicine; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine (doktor/doktorica veterinarske medicine)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-07-19 13:30:04