Gut microbiome composition predicts summer core range size in two divergent ungulates

ABSTRACT The gut microbiome of animals vary by age, diet, and habitat, directly influences an individual's health. Similarly, variation in home ranges is linked to feeding strategies fitness. Ungulates (hooved mammals) exhibit species-specific microbiomes habitat use patterns. We combined movement data assess relationships between space the a specialist generalist ungulate. GPS radiocollared 24 mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) 34 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), collected fecal samples, conducted high-throughput sequencing 16S rRNA gene. generated diversity metrics key bacterial ratios. Our research question centred around idea that larger Firmicutes Bacteroidetes ratios confer body size or fat advantages allow for ranges, disproportionate are stronger goat. were positively correlated with core range area both species. Mountain exhibited negative relationship proportional treed areas escape terrain, no detected deer. This first study relate wild ungulates important proof concept advances information can be gleaned from non-invasive sampling.