Wild gut microbiomes reveal individuals, species, and location as drivers of variation in two critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers.

backgroundThe gut microbiome of animals is an important component that has strong influence on the health, fitness, and behavior of its host. Most research in the microbiome field has focused on human populations and commercially important species. However, researchers are now considering the link between endangered species conservation and the microbiome. In Hawai'i, several threats (

methodsWe collected 13 and 42 fecal samples, respectively, from two critically endangered honeycreeper species, the 'akikiki (

resultsA total of 8,958 bacterial ASVs were identified from the fecal samples. Intraspecific differences in the gut microbiome among individual birds explained most of the variation present in the dataset, however differences between species did exist. Both species had distinct microbiomes with minimal overlap in beta diversity. 'Akikiki had a more diverse microbiome compared to 'akeke'e. Additionally, small but stastically significant differences in beta diversity also exist between sampling location and sexes in 'akikiki.

conclusion'Akikiki and 'akeke'e are currently the focus of captive breeding efforts and plans to translocate the two species to other islands are underway. This baseline knowledge will help inform management decisions for these honeycreeper species in their native habitats, on other islands, and in captivity.