Multi-Omics Reveals Divergent Gut Microbiome-Metabolome Associations Between High-Altitude Snowcock and Low-Altitude Pheasant

ABSTRACT: The gut microecological mechanisms underlying high-altitude adaptation remain poorly understood. The Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus), a high-altitude bird endemic to the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and the low-altitude Pheasant exhibit striking contrasts in altitude and diet, providing an ideal comparative model. Fecal samples from six Snowcocks and six Pheasants were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and UPLC-MS/MS untargeted metabolomics. Multi-omics integration was performed via Procrustes analysis, correlation networks, and Random Forest classification. Snowcocks displayed significantly lower alpha diversity and distinct beta diversity clustering compared with Pheasants. Their microbiota was dominated by Actinobacteriota and enriched in cold-tolerant genera such as Psychrobacillus, whereas the Pheasant microbiota showed higher diversity with prevalent Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. Metabolomics revealed that differential metabolites enriched in Pheasants were predominantly mapped to amino acid metabolism and terpenoid biosynthesis pathways, while those enriched in Snowcocks were linked to glycerophospholipid metabolism and antibiotic intermediate-related pathways. Multi-omics integration demonstrated a highly coordinated microbiome–metabolome association, and the Random Forest model achieved perfect discrimination between the two species. The gut microecology and metabolic profiles of Snowcocks and Pheasants show systematic divergence. The simplified microbiota enriched with psychrophilic genera and the specific glycerophospholipid metabolic signatures in Snowcocks likely represent key microecological adaptations to the harsh plateau environment, providing multi-omics insights into high-altitude adaptation in wild birds

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - hilic, Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - hilic

PROVIDER: MTBLS16145 | MetaboLights | 2026-10-24

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights