Does solar irradiation drive community assembly of vulture plumage microbiotas?
Gary R GravesKenan O MattersonChristopher M MilenskyBrian K SchmidtMichael J V O'MahoneySergei V DrovetskiPublished in: Animal microbiome (2020)
Bacterial rank-abundance profiles from melanized vulture plumage have no known analog in the integumentary systems of terrestrial vertebrates. The prominence of UV-resistant extremophiles suggests that solar irradiation may play a significant role in the assembly of vulture plumage microbiotas. Our results highlight the need for controlled in vivo experiments to test the effects of UV on microbial communities of avian plumage.