Species that scavenge on dead animals are exposed to enhanced disease risks. Eight
hypotheses have been suggested to explain how scavengers avoid becoming sick from their …

Recent developments in next-generation sequencing technologies have greatly facilitated
the study of whole transcriptomes in model and non-model species. Studying the …

Due to their small population sizes, threatened and endangered species frequently suffer
from a lack of genetic diversity, potentially leading to inbreeding depression and reduced …

Background There are three main dietary groups in mammals: carnivores, omnivores, and
herbivores. Currently, there is limited comparative genomics insight into the evolution of …

Diet and gut microbiomes are intricately linked on both short and long timescales. Changes
in diet can alter the microbiome, while microbes in turn allow hosts to access novel diets …

Vultures provide an essential ecosystem service through removal of carrion, but globally,
many populations are collapsing and several species are threatened with extinction …

Background Vultures have adapted the remarkable ability to feed on carcasses that may
contain microorganisms that would be pathogenic to most other animals. The holobiont …

Vultures constitute an important functional group in many ecosystems, providing crucial
ecosystem services both in natural and humanized environments. These scavengers are …

Background The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is the largest scavenger in South America.
This predatory bird plays a crucial role in their ecological niche by removing carcasses. We …

Obligate scavenging on the dead and decaying animal matter is a rare dietary specialization
that in extant vertebrates is restricted to vultures. These birds perform essential ecological …