# @floridaatlantic on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DcdySdYkmfC
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/69510689-floridaatlantic-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/d89790db42.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-25T13:51:22.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Florida Atlantic University (@floridaatlantic) — https://gondola.cc/floridaatlantic

## Caption

🐦‍🔥 Florida Atlantic scientists studied bird guts to learn more about how stressful situations disrupt the balance of bacteria, fungi and other microbes affecting songbirds’ health in ways that are not immediately visible. 

Male northern cardinals — bright red, tufted and one of the country’s most common and identifiable birds — were exposed to one of three situations: 
1) territorial interactions with other males 
2) being briefly captured or 
3) no treatment. 

Birds exposed to stress showed changes in the composition of their gut bacteria, while those not exposed showed no changes. The research highlights how short departures from normal routines can have measurable biological effects. The findings underscore the importance of studying animals in their natural habitats, where behaviors and environmental conditions can shape biology in ways that captivity studies may miss. 

#songbirds #cardinals #stress #birds

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 194
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 2

## Tags

stress, songbirds, cardinals, birds

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