Tag: microbiome

#StoryBehindThePaper, Guest post

Parasites are just the strings: Microbes as the real puppet masters in phenotypic manipulations of parasitized animals

This blog post is provided by Priscila Salloum, Fátima Jorge and Robert Poulin and tells the #StoryBehindThePaper for the paper “Inter-individual variation in parasite manipulation of host phenotype: a role for parasite microbiomes?“, which was recently published in the Journal of Animal Ecology. They explore how differences in the microbiome of parasites might impact the way that those parasites can manipulate their hosts’ behaviour. Many parasites … Continue reading Parasites are just the strings: Microbes as the real puppet masters in phenotypic manipulations of parasitized animals

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#StoryBehindThePaper, Guest post

Songbirds harbour different microbes depending on where they live

This blog post is provided by Leanne Grieves and tells the #StoryBehindThePaper for the paper ‘Preen gland microbiota of songbirds differ across populations but not sexes’, which was recently published in the Journal of Animal Ecology. Microbiome research is a hot topic. Exciting new studies have found links between the symbiotic microbes (bacteria, fungi, archaea and protists) that live naturally on animals’ bodies and animal health, fitness … Continue reading Songbirds harbour different microbes depending on where they live

Beth Preston1 Comment
#StoryBehindThePaper

Untangling community dynamics using spatially explicit Bayesian networks

In this article, Nick Fountain-Jones from the University of Tasmania introduces how advances in Bayesian networks can be used to untangle community dynamics and, in particular, the moose microbiome by telling us the #StoryBehindThePaper. Microbial communities are inherently complex systems with potentially hundreds of millions of interacting species. Every surface of the body is occupied by a diverse set of microbes; interactions between them, mediated … Continue reading Untangling community dynamics using spatially explicit Bayesian networks

Journal of Animal Ecology1 Comment
Book review

Microbiomes of soils, plants and animals

A new book in the BES Ecological Reviews series explores how microbiomes contribute to a range of important functions in their hosts, from nutrition, to behaviour and disease susceptibility. Here, lead editor Dr Rachael Antwis explains more. Research on the ubiquity and function of host microbiomes is one of the fastest growing areas across ecology, biomedicine and biotechnology. As a result of rapid advancements in … Continue reading Microbiomes of soils, plants and animals

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Guest post

Manipulation of gut microbiota during critical developmental windows affect host physiological performance and disease susceptibility across ontogeny

Colonisation of gut microbiomes during early life can shape metabolism and immunity of adult animals. However, most data are derived from antibiotic‐treated or germ‐free laboratory mammals. Furthermore, few studies have explored how microbial colonization during critical windows influences a suite of other fitness‐related traits in wild animals. A recent study in the Journal of Animal Ecologytested whether hatching constitutes a critical development window for microbiome … Continue reading Manipulation of gut microbiota during critical developmental windows affect host physiological performance and disease susceptibility across ontogeny

Sarah MarleyLeave a comment
Press release

Dodgy gut? Have a lemur cuddle!

According to new research published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, physical contact may be good for your health.  Well, at least if you’re a lemur. Scientists have found a direct link between physical contact and gut bacteria in red-bellied lemurs (Eulemur rubriventer).  The study aim was to better understand causes of diversity within the animal’s gut microbiome.  These communities of belly bacteria play a key … Continue reading Dodgy gut? Have a lemur cuddle!

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Special features

Video: Animal host–microbe interactions special feature open call – find out more

There is only one month to go before the open call for papers for the special feature on animal host-microbe interactions closes. In this video Executive Editor Ken Wilson chats about what types of papers he is looking for and why he believes this topic is going to be a growth area in the future.

Continue reading “Video: Animal host–microbe interactions special feature open call – find out more”

Journal of Animal Ecology1 Comment
Special features

Animal host–microbe interactions Special Feature Open call – Only 2 months to go!

There armicrobal-large-web-ade only 2 months left to submit your paper to the Journal of Animal Ecology Special Feature on animal host–microbe interactions. Through this open call, launched by Executive Editor Ken Wilson in June, we aim to open up the process of publishing Special Features by inviting potential authors from emerging fields to contribute. We welcome papers that take differing, or even contrary, viewpoints as we hope to publish a broad spectrum of ideas on animal host–microbe interactions. The Journal has a long history of publishing papers on parasite and disease ecology, as far back as the first issue of the journal in 1932 with a paper by A.D. Middleton on “Syphilis as a disease of wild rabbits and hares” and most recently on the blog we have an excellent post by Associate Editor Andy Fenton on “The role of ecology in managing vector-borne diseases: Zika and beyond”. Continue reading “Animal host–microbe interactions Special Feature Open call – Only 2 months to go!”

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Senior editor post

Special Special Features

Special Features (SFs) are collections of papers on a specific research theme. For example, here at Journal of Animal Ecology we have had recent SFs on movement ecology and metabolic currencies and constraints, as well as a cross-journal British Ecological Society SF on demography. Recently, the senior editors of JAE met to discuss the role of SFs in our journal and how we could shake things up a little. Continue reading “Special Special Features”

Journal of Animal Ecology1 Comment