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Ecology and evolution2023; 13(5); e10079; doi: 10.1002/ece3.10079

Out of the stable: Social disruption and concurrent shifts in the feral mare (Equus caballus) fecal microbiota.

Abstract: The disruption of animals' symbiotic bacterial communities (their microbiota) has been associated with myriad factors including changes to the diet, hormone levels, and various stressors. The maintenance of healthy bacterial communities may be especially challenging for social species as their microbiotas are also affected by group membership, social relationships, microbial transfer between individuals, and social stressors such as increased competition and rank maintenance. We investigated the effects of increased social instability, as determined by the number of group changes made by females, on the microbiota in free-living, feral horses () on Shackleford Banks, a barrier island off the North Carolina coast. Females leaving their groups to join new ones had fecal microbial communities that were similarly diverse but compositionally different than those of females that did not change groups. Changing groups was also associated with the increased abundance of a several bacterial genera and families. These changes may be significant as horses are heavily dependent upon their microbial communities for nutrient absorption. Though we cannot identify the particular mechanism(s) driving these changes, to the best of our knowledge, ours is the first study to demonstrate an association between acute social perturbations and the microbiota in a free-ranging mammal.
© 2023 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-05-11 PubMed ID: 37187967PubMed Central: PMC10175550DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10079Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research studied how social upheavals can affect the microbial diversity in the gut of wild horses. It discovered that female horses that changed their group affiliations had different microbial makeups compared to those that didn’t change groups, though the diversity remained about the same.

Intro and research objectives

  • The research begins by exploring the idea that the microbiota, the symbiotic bacterial communities that exist within animals, can be influenced by a variety of factors, including changes in diet, hormonal changes, and the presence of stress.
  • For social animals, the microbiota is also said to be influenced by group membership, interpersonal relationships, microbial transfers between individuals, and social stressors such as competition and the struggle to maintain a certain rank within the social structure.
  • The objective of this study was to understand how increased social instability, as evidenced by a number of group changes by females, affects the microbiota in wild horses living in Shackleford Banks, North Carolina.

Research findings

  • Females who left their groups and joined other groups showed comparably diverse but compositionally different fecal microbial communities from females who did not change groups.
  • Transitioning from one group to another was associated with an increased presence of several bacterial genera and families.
  • These changes could be significant because horses heavily rely on their microbial communities for nutrient absorption.
  • The researchers however could not identify the specific mechanisms behind these changes.
  • This study is unique in that it is the first to demonstrate a link between acute social disturbances and changes in the microbiota in a free-ranging mammal.

Significance and implications

  • Understanding that social changes can have effects on the microbiota of animals adds to our understanding of the complex and multi-layered interactions between animal behaviour, social structures, and health.
  • This discovery could inform future research into the impact social interactions have on the health and well-being of not only wild horses, but potentially other social animal species as well.
  • Understanding these microbial changes can give insight to veterinary and wildlife practices, potentially providing the tools for enhancing the health and survival of wild populations.

Cite This Article

APA
Vaziri GJ, Jones MM, Carr HA, Nuñez CMV. (2023). Out of the stable: Social disruption and concurrent shifts in the feral mare (Equus caballus) fecal microbiota. Ecol Evol, 13(5), e10079. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10079

Publication

Ecology and evolution
ISSN: 2045-7758
NlmUniqueID: 101566408
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 5
Pages: e10079
PII: e10079

Researcher Affiliations

Vaziri, Grace J
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Mansfield Connecticut USA.
Jones, Maggie M
  • Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management Iowa State University Ames, Iowa USA.
  • Present address: School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA.
Carr, Haley A
  • Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management Iowa State University Ames, Iowa USA.
Nuñez, Cassandra M V
  • Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management Iowa State University Ames, Iowa USA.
  • Department of Biological Sciences The University of Memphis Memphis Tennessee USA.

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