Change of bacterial diversity within the fecal samples of Gopherus polyphemus for one month

The microbiome plays a significant role in the strength of the immune system; it aids in the recovery of nutrition, is essential for the prevention of invading pathogens, and helps in the remediation of harmful toxicants. The microbiome is largely unknown, especially in reptiles like the gopher tortoise. Gopher tortoises are threatened in Florida and multiple other states. Therefore, it is important to understand how the bacterial population changes over time outside of the organism. We humanely harvested fresh feces from three gopher tortoises in the Jupiter Abacoa greenway, and left the feces in the field. We re-took samples at the cites every day for a week, then once a week for the next three weeks. DNA was isolated and sent to Zymo laboratories to amplify the 16S rDNA V1-V3 regions. The data analyzed showed a decrease in the quantity of bacteria as well as a decrease in biodiversity after Day 8 of collection. Our findings demonstrate substantial changes in the feces microbiome, which could impact any potential nutritional benefits for other organisms.