A framework for disentangling drivers of microbiome composition for wildlife conservation

Animals’ microbiomes are important to individual health and population viability. Failure to incorporate microbiomes into conservation actions may have profound consequences. In a changing world, whether microbiomes of wild populations are shaped by endogenous (e.g. host) or exogenous (e.g. environment) drivers requires disentangling. This remains a challenge. To identify the dominant driver, we propose a comparative framework that uses population comparisons to systematically assess host and environmental drivers. In the same way that there has been a revolution in understanding microbiomes in human health, applying this framework will facilitate a more holistic approach to the conservation of animals and their microbes. Taking a precautionary approach to wildlife conservation, we should be protecting microbiomes before it is too late to understand the implication of changes to microbiomes.