Extreme drought shapes the gut microbiota composition and function of common cranes (<i>Grus grus</i>) wintering in Poyang Lake.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Extreme weather events driven by climate change profoundly affect migratory birds by altering their habitats, food sources, and migration routes. While gut microbiota is believed to play a role in helping birds adapt to environmental changes, research on how extreme weather impacts their gut microbiota and how these microbial communities respond to such conditions has been limited.

Methods

16S rRNA gene sequencing was utilized to investigate the gut microbiota of common cranes (Grus grus) wintering at Poyang Lake from 2020 to 2023, with a particular focus on their response to extreme drought conditions on both inter-annual and monthly timescales.

Results

The results revealed that extreme drought conditions substantially impact gut microbiota, with

SUBMITTER: Wang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11614848 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature