Exploring the enteric microbiome of critically endangered red wolves (Canis rufus)
Advisor(s)
Dr. Katherine Krynak (k-krynak@onu.edu)
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
McIntosh Activities Room
Start Date
19-4-2024 12:00 PM
End Date
19-4-2024 12:50 PM
Abstract
Red wolves (Canis rufus), that historically roamed the eastern US from central Texas to the east coast, have dramatically declined in abundance with only 100 red wolves remaining in 1970. The species was designated Critically Endangered by the IUCN and the Red Wolf Recovery program was created in 1973. At this time the remaining red wolves were brought into captivity to establish a breeding colony. To date more than 200 red wolves are housed in more than 40 facilities with offspring being released into their native range. Housing of red wolves in captivity has met numerous challenges however, most notably the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases, also known as irritable bowel diseases (IBD), which are the second most common cause of death. In effort to better understand this disease state so as to improve the health of the wolves in this important breeding program, we are examining the enteric microbiome of captive red wolves and exploring relative abundances of known pathogenic bacterial groups in wolves with IBD. Total genomic DNA was extracted from frozen fecal samples from two wolves housed at Point Defiance Zoo (Haywood N=32, Hyde N=35). Enteric bacterial composition of the samples was examined utilizing 16S rRNA gene analysis on the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. Sequences were processed in MOTHUR (version 1.48.0) and data exploration was done in R (R version 4.3.3 (Angel Food Cake). Our goal is to explore the relative abundances of bacterial taxa looking for trends providing impetus for further study such as experimental research in the alteration of the enteric microbiome by means of dietary changes.
Recommended Citation
Stephenson, Maggie and Sproul, Breanna, "Exploring the enteric microbiome of critically endangered red wolves (Canis rufus)" (2024). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 44.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2024/Posters/44
Level of Access
Restricted to ONU Community
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Exploring the enteric microbiome of critically endangered red wolves (Canis rufus)
McIntosh Activities Room
Red wolves (Canis rufus), that historically roamed the eastern US from central Texas to the east coast, have dramatically declined in abundance with only 100 red wolves remaining in 1970. The species was designated Critically Endangered by the IUCN and the Red Wolf Recovery program was created in 1973. At this time the remaining red wolves were brought into captivity to establish a breeding colony. To date more than 200 red wolves are housed in more than 40 facilities with offspring being released into their native range. Housing of red wolves in captivity has met numerous challenges however, most notably the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases, also known as irritable bowel diseases (IBD), which are the second most common cause of death. In effort to better understand this disease state so as to improve the health of the wolves in this important breeding program, we are examining the enteric microbiome of captive red wolves and exploring relative abundances of known pathogenic bacterial groups in wolves with IBD. Total genomic DNA was extracted from frozen fecal samples from two wolves housed at Point Defiance Zoo (Haywood N=32, Hyde N=35). Enteric bacterial composition of the samples was examined utilizing 16S rRNA gene analysis on the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. Sequences were processed in MOTHUR (version 1.48.0) and data exploration was done in R (R version 4.3.3 (Angel Food Cake). Our goal is to explore the relative abundances of bacterial taxa looking for trends providing impetus for further study such as experimental research in the alteration of the enteric microbiome by means of dietary changes.