Changes in intestinal microbiota across an altitudinal gradient in the lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii.

ABSTRACT: High altitude is an important driving force in animal evolution. However, the effect of altitude on gut microbial communities in reptiles has not been examined in detail. Here, we investigated the intestinal microbiota of three populations of the lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii living at different altitudes using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla. Bacteroides, Odoribacter, and Parabacteroides were the most abundant genera. Significant differences in the intestinal microbiota composition were found among the three populations from different altitudes. The proportions of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia decreased, whereas Bacteroides increased significantly with altitude. Greater abundance of Bacteroides at higher altitude led

SUBMITTER: Zhang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5938461 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature