Gut microbiota contribute to high-altitude adaptation in tree sparrows.

ABSTRACT: The intricate relationship between gut microbiota and various physiological functions in animals has emerged as a focal point in understanding host adaptability. Unlike the native birds of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), the tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is believed to have colonized the plateau within the last few thousand years. Given the vast expanse and harsh conditions of the plateau, the role of gut microbiota in facilitating the tree sparrow's adaptation to this high-altitude habitat remains largely unexplored and holds significant scientific interest. Therefore, we employed a multidisciplinary approach combining amplicon sequencing, transcriptome analysis, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to investigate the functional role of gut microbiota in high-altitude tree

SUBMITTER: Bo T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12363230 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature