Age-Related Variation in the Scent Pouch Bacterial Communities of Striped Hyenas ( Hyaena hyaena )

摘要: Our understanding of the contributions symbiotic microbes to animal behavior is being greatly facilitated by technological advances in characterizing host-associated microbial communities and their synergistic metabolic activities. A particularly promising line inquiry elucidate how can mediate animals’ chemical communication systems. Using a combination next-generation DNA sequencing targeted metabolite analyses, we recently found that bacterial appear contribute scent pouch odors among wild striped hyenas. Here characterize these juvenile, young adult, adult Akin pouches, juvenile pouches are populated fermentative bacteria from known odor-producing clades. However, composition structure different from, more variable than, those inhabiting adults. Adult hyenas possess core community—12 types were shared all sampled adults consistently accounted for than 90 % recovered 16S rRNA gene sequences. These less widespread abundant juveniles. Although verification will ultimately require longitudinal sampling individual throughout ontogeny, data consistent with hypothesis hyena converge on stereotypical phenotype during host development. We discuss this could be transmission community members juveniles occupying same spaces, coming into recurrent physical contact, and/or overmarking each other.