The Relationship between Gut Microbiome Diversity and Levels of Blood Glucose and Hematocrit in Birds

The gut microbiome is known to harbor commensal bacteria crucial to maintaining host homeostasis, physiology, and health. With growing emphasis on birds as at-risk indicator species and sequencing technology advancements, research is necessary and possible for understanding how changes in the avian gut microbiota impact metabolic pathways. Here, we investigate the relationship between gut microbial diversity (16S fecal metabarcoding) and plasma blood glucose/hematocrit levels in Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows captured in central PA.