Impact of changing environments on the gut microbiome of a migratory songbird

Gut microbiota are increasingly recognized as an integral aspect of host health, and are influenced by environmental factors, host diet, and regular physiological stressors such as seasonal host movement ecologies. Migratory animals experiencing substantial change in diet and habitat across the annual cycle may have corresponding shifts in host-associated microbial diversity. Yet, challenges associated with sample collection from wild animals often inhibit resampling of the same populations and individuals which in turn decreases the ability to understand within-individual changes to gut microbiota over time.Using automated telemetry and radio tags to recapture birds, we examined gut microbiome structure in the same population and often same individuals of Kirtland’s Warblers (Setophaga kirtlandii) on their wintering grounds in The Bahamas and breeding territories in Michigan, USA. The community composition of gut microbiota varied significantly between locations with microbial diversity decreasing from The Bahamas to Michigan. We identified a species-specific core microbial profile that spans multiple time periods and environments. Our research highlights, at the individual and population level, that the avian gut microbiome is dynamic over time and is significantly impacted by changing environments associated with migration. These results support the need for full annual cycle monitoring of migratory bird microbiota to improve understanding of seasonal host movement ecologies and response to recurrent physiological stressors.