A comprehensive comparison of fecal microbiota in three ecological bird groups of raptors, waders, and waterfowl.

ABSTRACT: Gut microbiota plays a vital role in maintaining the health and immunity of wild birds. However, less is known about the comparison of fecal microbiota between different ecological groups of wild birds, particularly in the Yellow River National Wetland in Baotou, China, an important transit point for birds migrating all over the East Asia-Australian and Central Asian flyways. In this study, we characterized the fecal microbiota and potential microbial function in nine bird species of raptors, waders, and waterfowl using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to reveal the microbiota differences and interaction patterns. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in α-diversity, but a significant difference in β-diversity between the three groups of birds. The fecal bacterial

SUBMITTER: Zhao C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9393522 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature