TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes of gut microbiota diversity and stability over the reproduction process in captive female Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua)
AU - Tian, Jiashen
AU - Sanganyado, Edmond
AU - Li, Duohui
AU - Li, Yanqiu
AU - Gao, Xianggang
AU - Lu, Zhichuang
AU - Liu, Wenhua
PY - 2024/7/1
Y1 - 2024/7/1
N2 - Homeostasis of gut microbiota is critical for growth and health of animals. However, the impact of reproduction on penguin gut microbiota remains unclear, despite penguins being sentinel species of the marine environment. Through high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene, we examined changes in gut microbiota structure and function in captive female Gentoo penguins during the reproductive process, and also assessed the community stability and assembly mechanism. We found that gut microbiota alpha diversity decreased significantly in captive female Gentoo penguins after egg laying. Based on the comparison of gut microbiota compositions and their predicted functions, the Fusobacteria and pathogenicity increased after laying eggs, while Bacteroidetes and carbohydrate metabolism decreased. After laying eggs, the diversity of the gut microbiota decreased continuously until chicks left the nest. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the gut microbiota of captive female Gentoo penguins was less complex and more stable after egg laying. On the basis of the null model, deterministic processes drove the gut microbiota assembly in gravid Gentoo penguins, whereas reproductive processes elevated the contribution of stochastic processes. Our study provides insights into the reproductive physiology and gut microbiota assembly in penguins.
AB - Homeostasis of gut microbiota is critical for growth and health of animals. However, the impact of reproduction on penguin gut microbiota remains unclear, despite penguins being sentinel species of the marine environment. Through high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene, we examined changes in gut microbiota structure and function in captive female Gentoo penguins during the reproductive process, and also assessed the community stability and assembly mechanism. We found that gut microbiota alpha diversity decreased significantly in captive female Gentoo penguins after egg laying. Based on the comparison of gut microbiota compositions and their predicted functions, the Fusobacteria and pathogenicity increased after laying eggs, while Bacteroidetes and carbohydrate metabolism decreased. After laying eggs, the diversity of the gut microbiota decreased continuously until chicks left the nest. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the gut microbiota of captive female Gentoo penguins was less complex and more stable after egg laying. On the basis of the null model, deterministic processes drove the gut microbiota assembly in gravid Gentoo penguins, whereas reproductive processes elevated the contribution of stochastic processes. Our study provides insights into the reproductive physiology and gut microbiota assembly in penguins.
KW - Community assembly
KW - Gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua
KW - Gut microbiota
KW - High-throughput sequencing
KW - Reproductive process
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85193000940&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00300-024-03260-x
DO - 10.1007/s00300-024-03260-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85193000940
SN - 0722-4060
VL - 47
SP - 651
EP - 662
JO - Polar Biology
JF - Polar Biology
IS - 7
ER -