The environment can have lasting effects on the development and physiology of an organism over its lifetime. The rapid expansion of human modified landscapes has led to novel stressors forcing species to adapt. For my MSc research (2022-Present), I am evaluating the role of maternal stress and diet on offspring gut-microbiome. I hope to explore the impacts of urbanization on juvenile fitness in wild Eastern Grey Squirrels through evaluation of metabolite signalling bacteria and microbiome diversity. Gaining insight into the heritability of stress in relation to anthropogenic effects is fundamental for exploring the unseen impacts of urbanization, in addition to informing future urban planning and conservation initiatives.
