Host traits rather than migration and molting strategies explain feather bacterial load in Palearctic passerines
Veronika Gvoždíková Javůrková,
Vojtěch Brlík,
Petr Heneberg,
Milica Požgayová,
Petr Procházka,
Maurine W. Dietz,
Joana Falcao Salles,
B. Irene Tieleman
Affiliations
Veronika Gvoždíková Javůrková
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands; Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; Corresponding author
Vojtěch Brlík
Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Department of Ecology, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic; Corresponding author
Petr Heneberg
Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Milica Požgayová
Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
Petr Procházka
Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 603 65 Brno, Czech Republic
Maurine W. Dietz
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
Joana Falcao Salles
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
B. Irene Tieleman
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
Summary: Feather bacterial load affects key avian life-history traits such as plumage condition, innate immunity, and reproductive success. Investigating the interplay between life-history traits and feather microbial load is critical for understanding mechanisms of host-microbiome interactions. We hypothesize that spatiotemporal variation associated with migration and molting, body size affecting colonizable body surface area, and preening intensity could shape feather bacterial load. Integrating 16S rDNA-qPCR and flow cytometry, we examined total and viable bacterial loads in the feathers of 316 individuals of 24 Palearctic passerine species. We found that viable bacterial load in feathers was lower in larger species and higher in residents compared to migrants. In contrast, total bacterial load was not explained by any of the life-history traits but varied considerably among species, sampling sites, and years. By pinpointing main drivers of bacterial loads on avian body surfaces, we identify key mechanisms shaping host-microbiome interactions and open alternative research directions.
