The latest study published in Molecular Ecology delves into changes in gut microbial communities among small mammals across varying habitats in Borneo, encompassing both city and rainforest environments. The research, led by Swansea University PhD student Alessandra Giacomini, involved analyzing the intestinal biomes of three rat species and one shrew species.
The study was under the supervision of Dr. Tamsyn Uren Webster and Dr. Konstans Wells, who are part of the university’s team focusing on biodiversity and animal health. Their research revealed that the black rat, an invasive species prevalent in urban settings, displays a gut microbiome more closely resembling that of the native rainforest rat than that of its fellow invasive counterpart, the Norway rat.
Ms. Giacomini remarked, “Our findings suggest that shared environmental use can drive microbiome similarity as much or even more than the genetic relatedness of host species.”
The shrew, another species that has adapted to urban life, exhibited a distinctly different microbiome profile. This highlights the varied responses of species to the microbial influences present in habitats altered by human activity.
The investigation found notable differences in microbiomes between Norway rats residing in urban and suburban locations, suggesting that environmental factors and usage directly impact both inter and intra-species microbial interactions.
Dr. Wells noted, "This raises important questions about the role of gut microbiomes in helping animals adapt to new and changing environments.”
The findings provide new perspectives on the impact of urbanization on wildlife, influencing not only their living environments but also the microbial ecosystems within them. Such changes may affect animal health and the potential spread of diseases.
Dr. Uren Webster and Dr. Wells plan to expand their research to include other species and ecosystems, further examining how shifts in microbiomes can predict the adaptability of various species in dynamically changing environments.