Yang Pengcheng, Bati Habib, Feng Erhui, Hu Jingyao, An Xian, Tan Rongzeng, Dou Xinyue, Chen Taoyue, Tao Yifan, Liu Shuqiang, Yang Liangliang
Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.
Front Microbiol. 2025 Jun 5;16:1551391. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1551391. eCollection 2025.
The black-faced spoonbill () is a critically endangered, first-class protected bird species in China, and its gut microbiota is thought to play a crucial role in the bird's ecological adaptability. However, regional variations in the gut microbiota of this species remain poorly understood. We aimed to investigate how the gut microbiota of differs across distinct regions in China to identify key factors influencing its composition and function. Fecal samples from black-faced spoonbills were collected in four regions of China (Shenzhen, Dongfang, Danzhou, and Xinying). We performed high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatics analyses to characterize the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota at various taxonomic levels (phylum and family). Across all regions, the gut microbiota of was dominated by the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Nevertheless, significant regional differences in microbial composition and predicted functional pathways were observed. Notably, the Shenzhen population's microbiota showed the highest diversity in pathways related to light and chemical energy utilization. In contrast, the Danzhou population's microbiota exhibited a higher representation of pathways related to metabolism and cellular repair. These findings indicate that gut microbiota profiles differ substantially by region. Our results suggest that regional environmental and dietary factors shape the gut microbiota of , which in turn may influence the species' ecological adaptation. This study provides new insights into the ecological adaptability of the black-faced spoonbill and offers a scientific basis for developing effective conservation and habitat management strategies for this endangered species.
黑脸琵鹭（）是中国极度濒危的一级保护鸟类，其肠道微生物群被认为在该鸟类的生态适应性中发挥着关键作用。然而，人们对该物种肠道微生物群的区域差异仍知之甚少。我们旨在研究黑脸琵鹭的肠道微生物群在中国不同地区是如何变化的，以确定影响其组成和功能的关键因素。在中国的四个地区（深圳、东方、儋州和新英）采集了黑脸琵鹭的粪便样本。我们进行了高通量16S rRNA基因测序和生物信息学分析，以表征不同分类水平（门和科）下肠道微生物群的多样性和丰度。在所有地区，黑脸琵鹭的肠道微生物群均以厚壁菌门和变形菌门为主。然而，观察到微生物组成和预测功能途径存在显著的区域差异。值得注意的是深圳种群的微生物群在与光能和化学能利用相关的途径中表现出最高的多样性。相比之下儋州种群的微生物群在与代谢和细胞修复相关的途径中表现出更高的占比。这些发现表明肠道微生物群的特征因地区而异。我们的结果表明区域环境和饮食因素塑造了黑脸琵鹭的肠道微生物群，这反过来可能会影响该物种的生态适应性。本研究为黑脸琵鹭的生态适应性提供了新的见解，并为制定该濒危物种的有效保护和栖息地管理策略提供了科学依据。
