Microbial Ecology

The microbiome is essential for the physiology and survival of crickets, and it is likely that the external environment plays a role in the composition of the microbiome community, since crickets search the soil in search of food and the soil is very rich in microbial communities.

​

Our study therefore focuses on the variation in diversity and the structure of the microbial communities (bacteria and eukaryotes) that make up the microbiome in the cricket Gryllus firmus. We are working on crickets raised on soils collected from different parks in the city of Montreal. We also study different internal organs of the cricket, such as the digestive system or the reproductive organs.

​

Project led by Divya Patel (undergraduate almuni)

​

Collaboration: Prof. Clint Kelly (UQAM)