The bacterial world inside New Zealand's 'living fossil'

New Zealand’s tuatara are the last remaining species of an order of reptile that was alive alongside the dinosaurs 240 million years ago. The rest died out about 65 million years ago, but in Aotearoa the tuatara live on, found on 32 offshore islands and in a small number of ecosanctuaries and zoos on the mainland. Now one researcher is investigating the microbial community that lives inside their gut. Are there also bacterial ‘living fossils’ to be found? And has their gut microbiome changed as a result of living in captivity on the mainland?

Guests:

• Cam Hoffbeck, PhD candidate, Taylor lab, University of Auckland
• Chye-Mei Huang, Ectotherm ranger, Auckland Zoo

Learn more:

• Read the article that accompanies this episode.
• Hear from another researcher who has been exploring the viruses found in tuatara.
• Cam has also spoken to Emile Donovan on Nights about her research.
• In 2014 Alison Ballance visited Orokonui Ecosanctuary to learn about the tuatara who had recently made the move to the cold climes of Dunedin.
• Our own microbiome may affect our brain, moods and behaviour, and changes across our lives.

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Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details