Differences in Intestinal Microbiota Between White and Common Cranes in the Yellow River Delta During Winter

The avian intestinal microbiota is a vital interface for host/environment interactions, playing a pivotal role in nutrient metabolism, immune regulation, and ecological adaptation. In the Yellow River Delta region, common cranes and white cranes coexist in mixed flocks. During the winter, when food...

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Main Authors: Xiaodong Gao, Yunpeng Liu, Zhicheng Yao, Yuelong Chen, Lei Li, Shuai Shang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/704
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author Xiaodong Gao
Yunpeng Liu
Zhicheng Yao
Yuelong Chen
Lei Li
Shuai Shang
author_facet Xiaodong Gao
Yunpeng Liu
Zhicheng Yao
Yuelong Chen
Lei Li
Shuai Shang
author_sort Xiaodong Gao
collection DOAJ
description The avian intestinal microbiota is a vital interface for host/environment interactions, playing a pivotal role in nutrient metabolism, immune regulation, and ecological adaptation. In the Yellow River Delta region, common cranes and white cranes coexist in mixed flocks. During the winter, when food resources are scarce, studying their gut microbiota can effectively reveal the feeding patterns of these two crane species, thereby providing valuable data for crane conservation efforts. This study systematically investigated and compared the intestinal microbiota structures of white cranes (<i>Grus leucogeranus</i>) and common cranes (<i>Grus grus</i>) inhabiting the Yellow River Delta region. The results demonstrated that the predominant phyla of the intestinal microbiota in white and common cranes are Firmicutes and Proteobacteria at the phylum level; <i>Catellicoccus</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i> were the predominant genera in the crane species. LEfse was used to analyze the differential flora of the intestinal bacterial communities of white cranes and common cranes and to detect the marker species with significant differences between the groups. Based on the COG database, a preliminary functional prediction of the intestinal microbiota was conducted, and 16 metabolic pathways relating to the COG pathway were obtained. In general, although both types of cranes belong to the <i>Grus</i> genus and are distributed in the same area, there are significant differences in the composition and functional characteristics of their intestinal microbiota due to the differences in their feeding composition.
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spelling doaj-art-cbf0a93e13fc487a9bc91ced37d616d42025-08-20T03:32:32ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-06-0114670410.3390/biology14060704Differences in Intestinal Microbiota Between White and Common Cranes in the Yellow River Delta During WinterXiaodong Gao0Yunpeng Liu1Zhicheng Yao2Yuelong Chen3Lei Li4Shuai Shang5College of Life Sciences, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, ChinaCollege of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shandong University of Aeronautics, Binzhou 256600, ChinaZibo Forestry Protection and Development Center, Zibo 255000, ChinaNanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo, Nanjing 210018, ChinaCollege of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shandong University of Aeronautics, Binzhou 256600, ChinaCollege of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shandong University of Aeronautics, Binzhou 256600, ChinaThe avian intestinal microbiota is a vital interface for host/environment interactions, playing a pivotal role in nutrient metabolism, immune regulation, and ecological adaptation. In the Yellow River Delta region, common cranes and white cranes coexist in mixed flocks. During the winter, when food resources are scarce, studying their gut microbiota can effectively reveal the feeding patterns of these two crane species, thereby providing valuable data for crane conservation efforts. This study systematically investigated and compared the intestinal microbiota structures of white cranes (<i>Grus leucogeranus</i>) and common cranes (<i>Grus grus</i>) inhabiting the Yellow River Delta region. The results demonstrated that the predominant phyla of the intestinal microbiota in white and common cranes are Firmicutes and Proteobacteria at the phylum level; <i>Catellicoccus</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i> were the predominant genera in the crane species. LEfse was used to analyze the differential flora of the intestinal bacterial communities of white cranes and common cranes and to detect the marker species with significant differences between the groups. Based on the COG database, a preliminary functional prediction of the intestinal microbiota was conducted, and 16 metabolic pathways relating to the COG pathway were obtained. In general, although both types of cranes belong to the <i>Grus</i> genus and are distributed in the same area, there are significant differences in the composition and functional characteristics of their intestinal microbiota due to the differences in their feeding composition.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/704intestinal microorganisms<i>Grus</i>LEfse16S rDNA
spellingShingle Xiaodong Gao
Yunpeng Liu
Zhicheng Yao
Yuelong Chen
Lei Li
Shuai Shang
Differences in Intestinal Microbiota Between White and Common Cranes in the Yellow River Delta During Winter
Biology
intestinal microorganisms
<i>Grus</i>
LEfse
16S rDNA
title Differences in Intestinal Microbiota Between White and Common Cranes in the Yellow River Delta During Winter
title_full Differences in Intestinal Microbiota Between White and Common Cranes in the Yellow River Delta During Winter
title_fullStr Differences in Intestinal Microbiota Between White and Common Cranes in the Yellow River Delta During Winter
title_full_unstemmed Differences in Intestinal Microbiota Between White and Common Cranes in the Yellow River Delta During Winter
title_short Differences in Intestinal Microbiota Between White and Common Cranes in the Yellow River Delta During Winter
title_sort differences in intestinal microbiota between white and common cranes in the yellow river delta during winter
topic intestinal microorganisms
<i>Grus</i>
LEfse
16S rDNA
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/704
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