Geospiza fuliginosa gut microbiota
We investigated the effects of urbanization and parasitism by the invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi) on the gut microbiota of nestling small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) on San Cristobal Island, Galapagos. We conducted a factorial study in which we experimentally manipulated parasite presence in an urban and non-urban area. Feces were then collected from nestlings to characterize the gut microbiota.