A short-term sublethal oral exposure to microcystin-LR disrupts cecal microbiome homeostasis in mallard
Our results suggest that MC-LR exposure had a stochastic (rather than deterministic) effect on cecal microbiota, especially its function. Observed disturbance of the microbiota homeostasis is consistent with the Anna Karenina Principle. This principle has been documented in a wide range of eukaryotes using primarily microbial community metabarcoding. Although stochastic disturbance of microbiota function has been hypothesized, our study seems to be the first to demonstrate this in an experimental study.
Authors
- Erik K. Hofmeister (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2305-519X)
- Sergei V. Drovetski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1832-5597)
- Natalie K. Karouna‐Renier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7127-033X)
- Valerie Shearn-Bochsler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5590-6518)
- Robert J. Dusek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6177-7479)
Institutions
- United States Geological Survey (US)
- National Wildlife Health Center (US)
- Eastern Ecological Science Center
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Toxicology
- Published
- 2025-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2025.1634241
- Primary Topic
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- U.S. Geological Survey