The relationships between box turtle gut microbiomes and personality.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Microbiology
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• The microbiome-brain axis is crucial for wildlife health, influencing ecosystem dynamics through host behavior and personality.
• Eastern Box Turtles, a threatened vertebrate group, are understudied regarding their behavior and gut microbiome.
• Personality traits like boldness and shyness may be shaped by an organism's microbiome composition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between gut microbial composition and personality types (bold vs. shy) in Eastern Box Turtles.
• To identify specific bacteria, metabolic pathways, and microbial modules associated with different personality traits in this species.

Main Methods:

• Free-ranging Eastern Box Turtles were assessed for personality (boldness/shyness).
• Cloacal, skin, and oral swab samples were collected for microbial DNA analysis.
• Microbial DNA was amplified and sequenced to compare gut microbiota between bold and shy individuals.

Main Results:

• Female turtles exhibited higher alpha microbial diversity than males.
• Shy turtles displayed significantly higher microbial diversity compared to bold turtles.
• Distinct bacterial communities and overrepresented metabolic pathways (steroid biosynthesis in bold; bile acid biosynthesis and purine degradation in shy) were identified.

Conclusions:

• Specific bacteria (Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria) and metabolic pathways are implicated in Eastern Box Turtle personality.
• The study suggests a potential microbial influence on the personality of Eastern Box Turtles.
• Findings highlight the importance of the microbiome-brain axis in wildlife, particularly for threatened species.