Virtual Posters
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Virtual Posters
CHANGES IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL MICROBIOTA DURING FASTING IN PENGUINS
Marine
1st World Seabird Conference, 7-11th September 2010, Victoria British Columbia, Canada
2010
Fasting is common in many seabird species including penguins and Procellariiforme seabirds, due to food availability, moult, migration and reproduction. In this study we focused our attention on penguins fasting during moult. In the past many studies have focused their attention on understanding the physiology of fasting and re-feeding. However, little attention has been paid to the affects of fasting on the gastrointestinal microbiota.
Recent studies on the affects of fasting in mammalian species, has shown that long-term fasting not only alters the diversity and species richness of the gut microbiota, but also affects the host’s immune systems response and ability to prevent infection and disease.
Therefore the aims of this study were to examine the affect that fasting has on the gastrointestinal microbiota of penguins. Utilising group specific 16S rRNA DNA primers changes in diversity, species richness and quantity of the major bacterial phyla were analysed in moulting and non moulting King, Gentoo and Little penguins using PCR- Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative Real Time PCR.
Results have indicated that fasting during moult alters the diversity and species richness in the gastrointestinal microbiota of penguins, with major differences between the DGGE profiles of moulting and non-moulting king penguins, resulting in changes in the pre-dominant bacterial species, indicating a shift in dominance.
Recent studies on the affects of fasting in mammalian species, has shown that long-term fasting not only alters the diversity and species richness of the gut microbiota, but also affects the host’s immune systems response and ability to prevent infection and disease.
Therefore the aims of this study were to examine the affect that fasting has on the gastrointestinal microbiota of penguins. Utilising group specific 16S rRNA DNA primers changes in diversity, species richness and quantity of the major bacterial phyla were analysed in moulting and non moulting King, Gentoo and Little penguins using PCR- Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative Real Time PCR.
Results have indicated that fasting during moult alters the diversity and species richness in the gastrointestinal microbiota of penguins, with major differences between the DGGE profiles of moulting and non-moulting king penguins, resulting in changes in the pre-dominant bacterial species, indicating a shift in dominance.
Bacteria, Penguins, moult, fasting
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