The Effect of the Microalgae on the Gut Microbiota of Juvenile Nile Tilapia () Is Feeding-Time Dependent.

is one of the most commonly used microalgae in aquaculture feeds. It contains high concentrations of various kinds of nutritional elements that are involved in the physiological regulation of aquaculture animals. However, few studies have been conducted to illustrate their influence on the gut microbiota in fish. In this work, the gut microbiota of Nile tilapia () (average weight is 6.64 g) was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene after feeding with 0.5% and 2% additives in diets for 15 and 30 days (average water temperature was 26 °C). We found that the impact of on the gut microbiota of Nile tilapia was feeding-time dependent. Only by feeding for 30 days (not 15 days) did the addition of 2% to diets significantly elevate the alpha diversity (Chao1, Faith pd, Shannon, Simpson, and the number of observed species) of the gut microbiota. Similarly, exerted a significant effect on the beta diversity (Bray-Curtis similarity) of the gut microbiota after feeding for 30 days (not 15 days). During the 15-day feeding trial, LEfSe analysis showed that , , , and were enriched under 2% treatment. During the 30-day feeding trial, , , , , , and were more abundant in 2% treated fish. promoted the interaction of gut microbiota in juvenile Nile tilapia by increasing the abundance of . Moreover, during the feeding time of 15 days, the gut microbes interacted more closely than those during the feeding time of 30 days. This work will be valuable for understanding how in diets impacts the gut microbiota in fish.