Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota of central and eastern black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) wintering in Yunnan Province, China

The black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) is the sole crane species globally that inhabits, breeds, and flourishes in high plateau environments. There are many microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract of birds, which play an important role in the health, nutrition, and physiology of birds...

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Main Authors: Ruimei Wang, Yixuan Wang, Lulu Deng, Binghui Wang, Mingfei Shi, Zeya Yang, Dong Hu, Zijiao Zhao, Ruiling Yuan, Jiuxuan Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2025-05-01
Series:PeerJ
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Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/19520.pdf
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author Ruimei Wang
Yixuan Wang
Lulu Deng
Binghui Wang
Mingfei Shi
Zeya Yang
Dong Hu
Zijiao Zhao
Ruiling Yuan
Jiuxuan Zhou
author_facet Ruimei Wang
Yixuan Wang
Lulu Deng
Binghui Wang
Mingfei Shi
Zeya Yang
Dong Hu
Zijiao Zhao
Ruiling Yuan
Jiuxuan Zhou
author_sort Ruimei Wang
collection DOAJ
description The black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) is the sole crane species globally that inhabits, breeds, and flourishes in high plateau environments. There are many microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract of birds, which play an important role in the health, nutrition, and physiology of birds. This study utilized high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to investigate and compare the core gut microbiota of black-necked cranes in two overwintering populations of Yunnan Province, China. A total of 34,297 operational taxonomic units were identified, belonging to 49 phyla, 130 classes, 276 orders, 365 families, and 775 genera. Alpha diversity analysis indicated significant differences in the diversity of gut microbial communities between the two wintering populations, with the central population exhibiting markedly higher diversity and richness compared to the eastern population. Principal coordinate analysis revealed a clear separation of the two populations of fecal samples, suggesting notable differences in microbial communities between the populations. The dominant phyla in the eastern population were Firmicutes, followed by Proteobacteria, whereas the central population was primarily dominated by Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. At the genus level, Lactobacillus had the highest abundance in the intestinal microbiota of the two populations. Additionally, a variety of potential pathogenic bacteria was also found, including Enterococcus, Acinetobacter, Campylobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, and Streptococcus, which may pose a risk of transmission among local black-necked crane populations. Appropriate measures should be taken to protect the health of black-necked cranes and reduce the spread of diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-e27f80cea925461a9defb2c29dcca5662025-08-20T03:22:22ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592025-05-0113e1952010.7717/peerj.19520Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota of central and eastern black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) wintering in Yunnan Province, ChinaRuimei Wang0Yixuan Wang1Lulu Deng2Binghui Wang3Mingfei Shi4Zeya Yang5Dong Hu6Zijiao Zhao7Ruiling Yuan8Jiuxuan Zhou9Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaYunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaFaculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Kunming Medical University, Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaFaculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaFaculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaForestry and Grassland Bureau of Zhaotong City, Yunnan, Zhaotong, ChinaDashanbao National Nature Reserve Management and Protection Bureau, Yunnan, Zhaotong, ChinaYunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaYunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Yunnan, Kunming, ChinaThe black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) is the sole crane species globally that inhabits, breeds, and flourishes in high plateau environments. There are many microbial communities in the gastrointestinal tract of birds, which play an important role in the health, nutrition, and physiology of birds. This study utilized high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to investigate and compare the core gut microbiota of black-necked cranes in two overwintering populations of Yunnan Province, China. A total of 34,297 operational taxonomic units were identified, belonging to 49 phyla, 130 classes, 276 orders, 365 families, and 775 genera. Alpha diversity analysis indicated significant differences in the diversity of gut microbial communities between the two wintering populations, with the central population exhibiting markedly higher diversity and richness compared to the eastern population. Principal coordinate analysis revealed a clear separation of the two populations of fecal samples, suggesting notable differences in microbial communities between the populations. The dominant phyla in the eastern population were Firmicutes, followed by Proteobacteria, whereas the central population was primarily dominated by Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. At the genus level, Lactobacillus had the highest abundance in the intestinal microbiota of the two populations. Additionally, a variety of potential pathogenic bacteria was also found, including Enterococcus, Acinetobacter, Campylobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, and Streptococcus, which may pose a risk of transmission among local black-necked crane populations. Appropriate measures should be taken to protect the health of black-necked cranes and reduce the spread of diseases.https://peerj.com/articles/19520.pdfBlack-necked craneCentral populationEastern populationGut microbiotaPotential pathogenic genera
spellingShingle Ruimei Wang
Yixuan Wang
Lulu Deng
Binghui Wang
Mingfei Shi
Zeya Yang
Dong Hu
Zijiao Zhao
Ruiling Yuan
Jiuxuan Zhou
Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota of central and eastern black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) wintering in Yunnan Province, China
PeerJ
Black-necked crane
Central population
Eastern population
Gut microbiota
Potential pathogenic genera
title Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota of central and eastern black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) wintering in Yunnan Province, China
title_full Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota of central and eastern black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) wintering in Yunnan Province, China
title_fullStr Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota of central and eastern black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) wintering in Yunnan Province, China
title_full_unstemmed Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota of central and eastern black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) wintering in Yunnan Province, China
title_short Comparative analysis of fecal microbiota of central and eastern black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis) wintering in Yunnan Province, China
title_sort comparative analysis of fecal microbiota of central and eastern black necked cranes grus nigricollis wintering in yunnan province china
topic Black-necked crane
Central population
Eastern population
Gut microbiota
Potential pathogenic genera
url https://peerj.com/articles/19520.pdf
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