Population and Spatial Features Impact the Gut Phageome-Bacteriome Structure and Interactions in a Mammal Species Living in Fragmented Habitats.

ABSTRACT: The mammalian gut microbiome composition has been shown to promote host adaptation to ecological environments. However, the variation in the gut phageome and bacteriome composition at both the population level and spatial scale in wild animals has not been well investigated. Here, we used viral metagenomes and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to explore how these characteristics affect the gut microbiome of Przewalski's gazelle, an endangered group-living ungulate that lives in several fragmented habitats due to anthropogenic activities. The results revealed that population and habitat geographic characteristics collectively explained much more of the variation in phageome and bacteriome compositions than did host-associated factors. Both gut phage and bacterial diversity were positively associate

SUBMITTER: Gao H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12484350 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature