Wild Prairie Grouse Diet and Microbiomes Vary Between Cropland and Grassland Habitats
USGS Scientists Study Stressors that Affect Wildlife Health
Wild prairie grouse residing in croplands had altered diets and gut microbiome imbalances characterized by a greater abundance of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes in comparison to those residing in grasslands. Similar gut microbiome imbalances are rarely associated with lethal outcomes, but rather linked to sublethal health effects including growth, development, behavior, immune suppression, survival, and reproduction.
The microbial community in the digestive system (gut microbiome) of living things is crucial for maintaining an organism’s health. The gut microbiome plays a role in food digestion, protection from pathogens and environmental toxins; detoxification; host immune system function; vitamin and hormone production; and regulation of brain function, behavior, and reproduction. An imbalance in the types of microbes present within the digestive system, favoring fewer beneficial microbes and increased pathogens (dysbiosis), has been linked to dietary changes and exposure to environmental contaminants in laboratory studies, but little is known about how these factors affect the microbiome or health of free-ranging wildlife.
To fill this gap, researchers set out to determine if the gut microbiome of the wild sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) and greater prairie chicken (T. cupido); collectively called wild prairie grouse, differed based on their habitat. They compared the ceca (microbial fermentation chambers that aid in digestion) microbiomes from prairie grouse harvested from cropland (11 greater prairie chicken and 9 sharp-tailed grouse) and in uncultivated grasslands in the Nebraska Sandhills (11 greater prairie chicken and 18 sharp-tailed grouse).
Researchers used molecular (deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA]) techniques to identify and estimate abundance of bacteria in the ceca and used genetic markers to identify both virulence (genes whose presence, when active, has the potential to be pathogenic to the host organism) and antibiotic-resistant genes. Bird diets were characterized by investigating crop content.
The diets and microbiomes of wild prairie grouse differed between cropland and grassland habitats. The diets of birds inhabiting grassland habitat contained fruits and insects in contrast to primarily grain and seeds in diets of birds inhabiting croplands. There was also a greater abundance of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes in microbiomes of birds inhabiting croplands as compared to those inhabiting prairie habitat.
This pioneering study is an important step to increase our understanding of the factors that affect wildlife health, including changes in their gut microbiome. Understanding the cascading set of factors, such as quality food sources and contaminant exposure, is key to developing sustainable agricultural practices that balance the needs for food production while maintaining wildlife health. Changes in the gut microbiome are not often associated with lethal outcomes but rather linked to sublethal health effects (growth, development, behavior, immune suppression, survival, and reproduction) in wildlife that can slowly erode populations over longer time periods. Additional studies could provide information to understand if and how diet and pesticide exposure are linked to microbiome imbalances in prairie grouse and if there are any associated adverse outcomes.
This study was supported, in part, by the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area through the Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology) and by the Shealy family through the Basis Foundation (https://thebasisfoundation.weebly.com) Seed Grant to Gary Graves, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of National History.
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Wild prairie grouse residing in croplands had altered diets and gut microbiome imbalances characterized by a greater abundance of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes in comparison to those residing in grasslands. Similar gut microbiome imbalances are rarely associated with lethal outcomes, but rather linked to sublethal health effects including growth, development, behavior, immune suppression, survival, and reproduction.
The microbial community in the digestive system (gut microbiome) of living things is crucial for maintaining an organism’s health. The gut microbiome plays a role in food digestion, protection from pathogens and environmental toxins; detoxification; host immune system function; vitamin and hormone production; and regulation of brain function, behavior, and reproduction. An imbalance in the types of microbes present within the digestive system, favoring fewer beneficial microbes and increased pathogens (dysbiosis), has been linked to dietary changes and exposure to environmental contaminants in laboratory studies, but little is known about how these factors affect the microbiome or health of free-ranging wildlife.
To fill this gap, researchers set out to determine if the gut microbiome of the wild sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) and greater prairie chicken (T. cupido); collectively called wild prairie grouse, differed based on their habitat. They compared the ceca (microbial fermentation chambers that aid in digestion) microbiomes from prairie grouse harvested from cropland (11 greater prairie chicken and 9 sharp-tailed grouse) and in uncultivated grasslands in the Nebraska Sandhills (11 greater prairie chicken and 18 sharp-tailed grouse).
Researchers used molecular (deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA]) techniques to identify and estimate abundance of bacteria in the ceca and used genetic markers to identify both virulence (genes whose presence, when active, has the potential to be pathogenic to the host organism) and antibiotic-resistant genes. Bird diets were characterized by investigating crop content.
The diets and microbiomes of wild prairie grouse differed between cropland and grassland habitats. The diets of birds inhabiting grassland habitat contained fruits and insects in contrast to primarily grain and seeds in diets of birds inhabiting croplands. There was also a greater abundance of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes in microbiomes of birds inhabiting croplands as compared to those inhabiting prairie habitat.
This pioneering study is an important step to increase our understanding of the factors that affect wildlife health, including changes in their gut microbiome. Understanding the cascading set of factors, such as quality food sources and contaminant exposure, is key to developing sustainable agricultural practices that balance the needs for food production while maintaining wildlife health. Changes in the gut microbiome are not often associated with lethal outcomes but rather linked to sublethal health effects (growth, development, behavior, immune suppression, survival, and reproduction) in wildlife that can slowly erode populations over longer time periods. Additional studies could provide information to understand if and how diet and pesticide exposure are linked to microbiome imbalances in prairie grouse and if there are any associated adverse outcomes.
This study was supported, in part, by the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area through the Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology) and by the Shealy family through the Basis Foundation (https://thebasisfoundation.weebly.com) Seed Grant to Gary Graves, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of National History.