Habitat shapes diversity of gut microbiomes in a wild population of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Microbiome constitutes and important axis of individual variation, affecting physiology and body condition via a number of pathways. Consequently, microbiome may be involved in ecological feedbacks, manifesting themselves as associations between microbiome characteristics and ecological factors experienced by individuals. In this study we report on the diversity and habitat dependence of microbiomes in a wild population of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Our results indicate, that birds nesting in different habitats (full-grown deciduous forest vs. open forest hay meadows) have microbiomes of different composition and microbial diversity, with birds nesting in dens forests having higher diversity of microbial species.