The Relationship Between Soil and Gut Microbiota Influences the Adaptive Strategies of Goitered Gazelles in the Qaidam Basin

The gut microbiota is integral to the health and adaptability of wild herbivores. Interactions with soil microbiota can shape the composition and function of the gut microbiota, thereby influencing the hosts’ adaptive strategies. As a result, soil microbiota plays a pivotal role in enabling wild her...

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Main Authors: Yiran Wang, Bin Li, Bo Xu, Wen Qin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/24/3621
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author Yiran Wang
Bin Li
Bo Xu
Wen Qin
author_facet Yiran Wang
Bin Li
Bo Xu
Wen Qin
author_sort Yiran Wang
collection DOAJ
description The gut microbiota is integral to the health and adaptability of wild herbivores. Interactions with soil microbiota can shape the composition and function of the gut microbiota, thereby influencing the hosts’ adaptive strategies. As a result, soil microbiota plays a pivotal role in enabling wild herbivores to thrive in extreme environments. However, the influence of soil microbiota from distinct regions on host’s gut microbiota has often been overlooked. We conducted the first comprehensive analysis of the composition and diversity of gut and soil microbiota in goitered gazelles across six regions in the Qaidam Basin, utilizing source tracking and ecological assembly process analyses. Significant differences were observed in the composition and diversity of soil and gut microbiota among the six groups. Source tracking analysis revealed that soil microbiota in the GangciGC (GC) group contributed the highest proportion to fecal microbiota (8.94%), while the Huaitoutala (HTTL) group contributed the lowest proportion (1.80%). The GC group also exhibited the lowest α-diversity in gut microbiota. The observed differences in gut microbial composition and diversity among goitered gazelles from six regions in the Qaidam Basin were closely tied to their adaptive strategies. Ecological assembly process analysis indicated that the gut microbiota were primarily influenced by stochastic processes, whereas deterministic processes dominated most soil microbial groups. Both the differences and commonalities in gut and soil microbiota play essential roles in enabling these gazelles to adapt to diverse environments. Notably, the utilization pattern of soil microbiota by gut microbiota did not align with regional trends in gut microbial α-diversity. This discrepancy may be attributed to variations in environmental pressures and the gut’s filtering capacity, allowing gazelles to selectively acquire microbiota from soil to maintain homeostasis. This study highlights the significant regional variation in gut and soil microbiota diversity among goitered gazelle populations in the Qaidam Basin and underscores the critical role of soil-derived microbiota in their environmental adaptation.
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spelling doaj-art-ecb4055ecfa543df9baa596f41ae65732025-08-20T02:55:42ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-12-011424362110.3390/ani14243621The Relationship Between Soil and Gut Microbiota Influences the Adaptive Strategies of Goitered Gazelles in the Qaidam BasinYiran Wang0Bin Li1Bo Xu2Wen Qin3State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaKey Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, ChinaKey Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaThe gut microbiota is integral to the health and adaptability of wild herbivores. Interactions with soil microbiota can shape the composition and function of the gut microbiota, thereby influencing the hosts’ adaptive strategies. As a result, soil microbiota plays a pivotal role in enabling wild herbivores to thrive in extreme environments. However, the influence of soil microbiota from distinct regions on host’s gut microbiota has often been overlooked. We conducted the first comprehensive analysis of the composition and diversity of gut and soil microbiota in goitered gazelles across six regions in the Qaidam Basin, utilizing source tracking and ecological assembly process analyses. Significant differences were observed in the composition and diversity of soil and gut microbiota among the six groups. Source tracking analysis revealed that soil microbiota in the GangciGC (GC) group contributed the highest proportion to fecal microbiota (8.94%), while the Huaitoutala (HTTL) group contributed the lowest proportion (1.80%). The GC group also exhibited the lowest α-diversity in gut microbiota. The observed differences in gut microbial composition and diversity among goitered gazelles from six regions in the Qaidam Basin were closely tied to their adaptive strategies. Ecological assembly process analysis indicated that the gut microbiota were primarily influenced by stochastic processes, whereas deterministic processes dominated most soil microbial groups. Both the differences and commonalities in gut and soil microbiota play essential roles in enabling these gazelles to adapt to diverse environments. Notably, the utilization pattern of soil microbiota by gut microbiota did not align with regional trends in gut microbial α-diversity. This discrepancy may be attributed to variations in environmental pressures and the gut’s filtering capacity, allowing gazelles to selectively acquire microbiota from soil to maintain homeostasis. This study highlights the significant regional variation in gut and soil microbiota diversity among goitered gazelle populations in the Qaidam Basin and underscores the critical role of soil-derived microbiota in their environmental adaptation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/24/3621goitered gazellessoil-derived microorganismecological assembly processsource tracking analysis
spellingShingle Yiran Wang
Bin Li
Bo Xu
Wen Qin
The Relationship Between Soil and Gut Microbiota Influences the Adaptive Strategies of Goitered Gazelles in the Qaidam Basin
Animals
goitered gazelles
soil-derived microorganism
ecological assembly process
source tracking analysis
title The Relationship Between Soil and Gut Microbiota Influences the Adaptive Strategies of Goitered Gazelles in the Qaidam Basin
title_full The Relationship Between Soil and Gut Microbiota Influences the Adaptive Strategies of Goitered Gazelles in the Qaidam Basin
title_fullStr The Relationship Between Soil and Gut Microbiota Influences the Adaptive Strategies of Goitered Gazelles in the Qaidam Basin
title_full_unstemmed The Relationship Between Soil and Gut Microbiota Influences the Adaptive Strategies of Goitered Gazelles in the Qaidam Basin
title_short The Relationship Between Soil and Gut Microbiota Influences the Adaptive Strategies of Goitered Gazelles in the Qaidam Basin
title_sort relationship between soil and gut microbiota influences the adaptive strategies of goitered gazelles in the qaidam basin
topic goitered gazelles
soil-derived microorganism
ecological assembly process
source tracking analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/24/3621
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