Abstract Background Host-associated microbiota are integral to the ecology of their host and may help wildlife species cope with rapid environmental change. Urbanization is a globally replicated form severe change which we can leverage better understand microbiomes. Does colonization separate cities result in parallel changes intestinal microbiome wildlife, if so, does within-city habitat heter...

The ability of environmental factors to shape health and disease involves epigenetic mechanisms that mediate gene-environment interactions. Epigenetic gene regulation comprises the heritable changes in gene expression that occur in the absence of changes to the DNA sequence itself. Epigenetic mechanisms include chromatin folding and attachment to the nuclear matrix, packaging of DNA around nucl...