GELIFES Seminars - Melissah Rowe

Melissah Rowe (NIOO-KNAW)

From guts to gametes

Insights into wild animal microbiomes from the house sparrow

Microbiomes have emerged as fundamental modulators of host biology. At the forefront of our knowledge is the gut microbiome. The vertebrate gut harbours complex microbial communities which provide a range of health benefits to the host. How the gut microbiome influences host biology in non-model organisms, however, remains poorly understood. Moreover, knowledge of how gut microbiota are acquired and how early-life microbial interactions impact host biology is limited. At the same time, microbiomes associated with other niches within and on the bodies of animals are also emerging as potentially important for host biology. Notably, reproductive microbiomes may have critical consequences for host reproduction but remain largely unstudied, especially in wild animals. In this talk, I will present our work on microbiomes in the house sparrow, a widespread and charismatic bird species that has lived alongside humans for thousands of years. I will present our ongoing research on the microbiome of eggs and embryos, the impact of early-life microbial exposure on nestling digestive function and immunity, and the microbial communities present in the ejaculates of male sparrows. Finally, I will briefly present our work exploring the potential contribution of the gut microbiome in facilitating dietary adaptation to a human-commensal lifestyle in the house sparrow. Together, these studies provide new insights into the importance of microbiomes in wild animals.

Biosketch:
My research centres on understanding how ecology and evolution shape the reproductive biology and behaviour of individuals and the consequences of variation in sexual traits for fitness. I am particularly interested in the evolution and functional significance of animal ejaculates, and in how biotic and abiotic factors shape variation in fertility. Current research in my group focuses on reproductive microbiomes in house sparrows, including the in ovo transfer of microbes from parent to offspring and the interactions between microbes and antimicrobial proteins in male ejaculates. More broadly. I am interested in understanding how ecology and sexual selection shape adaptations that enable animals to survive and reproduce in different environments.