Comparative Shotgun Metagenomic Analysis of the Cloacal Microbiome in Wild and Captive Eastern Indigo Snakes (Drymarchon couperi)
This project investigates the cloacal microbiome of 80 Eastern Indigo Snakes (Drymarchon couperi), a federally threatened species native to the southeastern United States. Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we compare microbial community composition and functional potential between wild and captive individuals. The study aims to characterize microbiome diversity, assess differences due to captivity, and explore potential implications for health, conservation, and captive management of this species. This dataset provides a valuable reference for future microbiome-based studies in reptile conservation biology.