Individuality and stability of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) faecal microbiota through time

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dc.contributor.authorEisenhofer Philipona, R.
dc.contributor.authorBrice, K.L.
dc.contributor.authorBlyton, M.D.
dc.contributor.authorBevins, S.E.
dc.contributor.authorLeigh, K.
dc.contributor.authorSingh, B.K.
dc.contributor.authorHelgen, K.M.
dc.contributor.authorHough, I.
dc.contributor.authorDaniels, C.B.
dc.contributor.authorSpeight, N.
dc.contributor.authorMoore, B.D.
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractGut microbiota studies often rely on a single sample taken per individual, representing a snapshot in time. However, we know that gut microbiota composition in many animals exhibits intra-individual variation over the course of days to months. Such temporal variations can be a confounding factor in studies seeking to compare the gut microbiota of different wild populations, or to assess the impact of medical/veterinary interventions. To date, little is known about the variability of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) gut microbiota through time. Here, we characterise the gut microbiota from faecal samples collected at eight timepoints over a month for a captive population of South Australian koalas (n individuals = 7), and monthly over 7 months for a wild population of New South Wales koalas (n individuals = 5). Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we found that microbial diversity was stable over the course of days to months. Each koala had a distinct faecal microbiota composition which in the captive koalas was stable across days. The wild koalas showed more variation across months, although each individual still maintained a distinct microbial composition. Per koala, an average of 57 (±16) amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected across all time points; these ASVs accounted for an average of 97% (±1.9%) of the faecal microbial community per koala. The koala faecal microbiota exhibits stability over the course of days to months. Such knowledge will be useful for future studies comparing koala populations and developing microbiota interventions for this regionally endangered marsupial.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityRaphael Eisenhofer, Kylie L. Brice, Michaela DJ Blyton, Scott E. Bevins, Kellie Leigh, Brajesh K. Singh, Kristofer M. Helgen, Ian Hough, Christopher B. Daniels, Natasha Speight and Ben D. Moore
dc.identifier.citationPeerJ, 2023; 11:e14598-1-e14598-21
dc.identifier.doi10.7717/peerj.14598
dc.identifier.issn2167-8359
dc.identifier.issn2167-8359
dc.identifier.orcidEisenhofer Philipona, R. [0000-0002-3843-0749]
dc.identifier.orcidSpeight, N. [0000-0001-5367-0241]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/137705
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherPeerJ
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/CE170100015
dc.rights© 2023 Eisenhofer et al. Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14598
dc.subject16S rRNA
dc.subjectArboreal folivore
dc.subjectAustralia
dc.subjectCaecum fermenter
dc.subjectCore microbiota
dc.subjectEucalyptus
dc.subjectKoala
dc.subjectLongitudinal
dc.subjectMarsupial
dc.subjectTime series
dc.subject.meshAnimals
dc.subject.meshPhascolarctidae
dc.subject.meshRNA, Ribosomal, 16S
dc.subject.meshIndividuality
dc.subject.meshAustralia
dc.subject.meshMicrobiota
dc.titleIndividuality and stability of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) faecal microbiota through time
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished online

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