Â鶹app
McNair Scholar, 2025
Major: Biomedical Sciences: Medical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Dr. Adrienne Kovach
Research Title: Comparison of the Gut Microbiomes of Captive-Bred versus Wild New England Cottontails
Abstract:
The gut microbiome is a crucial factor in maintaining health across species. The focus in this proposal is how the gut microbiomes influence the survival and well-being of New England cottontail rabbits. The New England cottontail rabbit faces threats from habitat loss and invasive species, becoming the subject of conservation programs aiming to bolster the population. This proposal seeks to investigate the differences in gut microbiomes between wild and captive-born New England cottontails, focusing on the microbial diversity within their digestive systems. By comparing the gut bacteria of rabbits from both environments, this research will provide evidence for dietary disparities in captivity, resulting in a conceivably less diverse and potentially less resilient microbiome. It is hypothesized that captive-bred rabbits may have less diversity due to a possible lack of nutrients in their food in zoos. In contrast, the wild population of rabbits should display a higher diversity of gut microbiomes due to the ingestion of environmental microbes in the ecosystem. Understanding these gut microbiome differences is likely to help refine conservation strategies and improve captive breeding programs. The methodology includes collecting fecal samples from wild and captive rabbits, extracting microbial DNA, and using metabarcoding techniques to identify bacterial species. This research has the potential to provide insights into how microbial health influences the reintroduction success of captive-bred rabbits, potentially informing broader conservation efforts for New England cottontail rabbits.
