Abstract
The digestive systems of vertebrates contain diverse and abundant microbiota presenting key systems to investigate ecoevolutionary dynamics at both marco- and microevolutionary scales. As these systems provide valuable services to their host including nutrition, and immune and developmental regulation identifying the genetic and environment factors that regulate the composition and diversity of these communities is of considerable interest, particularly as they can inform on improving animal health and productivity. This project will exploit the vertebrate gut microbiome, focusing an a classic evolutionary model system – cichlids fishes, with the aim to examine evolutionary convergence, influence of diet, and the impact of human disturbance on microbial communities.
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