Microbiomes: the invisible world that ties together animal health and ecosytem function

Citation

Dutton CL. 2025. Microbiomes: the invisible world that ties together animal health and ecosytem function. In Treiber K, Brooks M, D’amato-Anderson J, Nylander J, Eds. Proceedings of the Sixteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Oklahoma City, OK.

Abstract

Longitudinal microbiome research is a powerful approach to advancing animal health and nutritional management in zoological collections. Collaborations with accredited zoological facilities demonstrate how repeated fecal sampling across diverse species can generate dynamic gut microbiome profiles over time. These data can identify microbial tracers and biomarkers of dysbiosis directly relevant to nutrition, supporting new strategies for diet assessment, early detection of gastrointestinal disturbances, and targeted feeding interventions in managed populations. Expanding beyond the zoo, complementary studies among Congolese children illustrate how gut microbiota serve as key predictors of malaria susceptibility, underscoring the broader connections between nutritional status, immune function, and microbial ecology in shaping health outcomes. Insights from wild hippopotamus populations further contextualize the interplay between large herbivore diets, gut communities, and environmental health, with implications for conservation management as well as zoological nutrition program design.

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