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Research over the last decade has revealed the importance of the cutaneous microbiome for the health and immune function of amphibians. Thousands of Bacteria and Archaeans species living in and on the skin are able to outcompete pathogenic species of fungus or types of viruses. The relationship between microbes and their host is so intimate that the term "metaorganism" has been used to describe this phenomenon. We are, however, at the early stages of understanding what determines the composition of the cutaneous microbiome and the relative effects of factors like genetics and habitat use. Could it be that there is a species-specific “microbiome fingerprint” that is consistent across different sites? Do species inhabiting similar microhabitats host similar microbes? We have replicated a similar study performed in Sosbee Cove in Union County, with a site in Cherokee County, with multiple species that are comparable across the two sites. We present our project designed to answer these questions and report preliminary results. 

Abstract Captive breeding has become a critical tool for the restoration of amphibian populations decimated by diseases. However, much is unknown about effects of long-term captivity on amphibian health and particularly immune system function. Therefore, we have begun a project to understand the effects of captivity and captive breeding on the cutaneous microbiome of lungless salamanders. The community of microbes living in and on the skin of lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae) is an important predictor of the organisms’ ability to ward off diseases like chytridiomycosis. We compare the microbiome of wild and long-term (8 years) captive or captive-bred Ocoee and Blue Ridge two-lined salamanders (Desmognathus ocoee and Eurycea wilderae, respectively) all from the Charles H. Wharton Conservation Center in Union County, GA. Microbiome communities were estimated by amplifying the V4 region of the 16S rDNA gene and then comparing with sequences from the Greengenes database. We present our study design and preliminary results.