Figure 6: Relative stability of dolphin-associated microbial communities. | Nature Communications

Figure 6: Relative stability of dolphin-associated microbial communities.

From: Marine mammals harbor unique microbiotas shaped by and yet distinct from the sea

Figure 6

(a) Oral communities, (b) gastric communities and (c) rectal communities. NMDS Bray–Curtis ordination of PS reads for each body site individually for the seven dolphins sampled monthly for 5 or 6 months. Six of these were sampled 3 years later as well (open circles). For each of the three body sites, intra-individual specimens were significantly more similar than interindividual specimens during the monthly sampling period (P<0.001, Mantel test). This heightened intra-individual similarity decayed or disappeared entirely at three years, although conclusions are limited by the small number of animals.

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