The gut microbiome of hooded cranes (Grus monacha) wintering at Shengjin Lake, China

Abstract

Gut microbes of animals play critical roles in processes such as digestion and immunity. Therefore, identifying gut microbes will shed light on understanding the annual life of animal species, particularly those that are threatened or endangered. In the present study, we conducted nucleotide sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA genes of gut microbiome of the hooded cranes (Grus monacha) wintering at Shengjin Lake, China, by Illumina high‐throughput sequencing technology. We acquired 503,398 high‐quality sequences and 785 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from 15 fecal samples from different cranes, representing 22 phyla that were dominated by Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. A total of 305 genera were identified that were dominated by Clostridium, Lysinibacillus, and Enterobacter. The core gut microbiome comprised 26 genera, including many probiotic species such as Clostridium, Bacillus, Cellulosilyticum, and Cellulomonas that could catabolize cellulose. The findings reported here contribute to our knowledge of the microbiology of hooded cranes and will likely advance efforts to protect waterbirds that inhabit Shengjin Lake Reserve during winter.

Characterization and comparison of gut microbiomes in nine species of parrots in captivity

“…There are obvious differences in the bacterial genera of the gut microbiome of juvenile and adult kakapo in different populations (Waite et al 2014). Even so, Clostridium and Lactobacillus dominate the gut microbiomes of most herbivorous birds, as shown here and in previous studies (Waite et al 2014;Yang et al 2016;Zhao et al 2017).…”

“…These bacterial phyla are also dominant in the guts of kakapo and other herbivorous birds (Waite et al 2012;Waite et al 2014;Yang et al 2016;Zhao et al 2017). However, the dominant bacterial genera can vary among bird species (Waite et al 2014;Yang et al 2016;Zhao et al 2017). Even in the same host species, there were often changes in the relative abundance of the common bacterial genera.…”

“…The basic characteristics and dynamic change in the gut microbiomes of threatened birds have drawn increasing attention (Waite et al 2012;Waite et al 2014;Yang et al 2016;Zhao et al 2017). However, to our knowledge, there are few studies investigating the gut microbiomes of parrots and their dynamic changes, except the kakapo (Strigops habroptila) (Waite et al 2012;Waite et al 2014).…”

Significant Differences in the Gut Bacterial Communities of Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) in Different Seasons at a Stopover Site on the Flyway

“…Firmicutes can help hosts degrade non-digestible carbohydrates (i.e., dietary fiber) [21,36]. Thus, the enrichment of Firmicutes in guts of hooded cranes may contribute to energy intake and nutrient absorption [37].…”

“…To reduce the likelihood of any repetition in terms of sampling, interval distances were set as ≥5 meters. Samples were collected into sterile tubes when the cranes vacated the sampling site and immediately stored on ice prior to assessment [21]. All samples were collected with disposable gloves to avoid contamination across samples.…”