Characterization of the cecum microbiome from wild and captive rock ptarmigans indigenous to Arctic Norway

Abstract

Rock ptarmigans (Lagopus muta) are gallinaceous birds inhabiting arctic and sub-arctic environments. Their diet varies by season, including plants or plant parts of high nutritional value, but also toxic plant secondary metabolites (PSMs). Little is known about the microbes driving organic matter decomposition in the cecum of ptarmigans, especially the last steps leading to methanogenesis. The cecum microbiome in wild rock ptarmigans from Arctic Norway was characterized to unveil their functional potential for PSM detoxification, methanogenesis and polysaccharides degradation. Cecal samples were collected from wild ptarmigans from Svalbard (L. m. hyperborea) and northern Norway (L. m. muta) during autumn/winter (Sept-Dec). Samples from captive Svalbard ptarmigans fed commercial pelleted feed were included to investigate the effect of diet on microbial composition and function. Abundances of methanogens and bacteria were determined by qRT-PCR, while microbial community composition and functional potential were studied using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. Abundances of bacteria and methanogenic Archaea were higher in wild ptarmigans compared to captive birds. The ceca of wild ptarmigans housed bacterial groups involved in PSM-degradation, and genes mediating the conversion of phenol compounds to pyruvate. Methanomassiliicoccaceae was the major archaeal family in wild ptarmigans, carrying the genes for methanogenesis from methanol. It might be related to increased methanol production from pectin degradation in wild birds due to a diet consisting of primarily fresh pectin-rich plants. Both wild and captive ptarmigans possessed a broad suite of genes for the depolymerization of hemicellulose and non-cellulosic polysaccharides (e.g. starch). In conclusion, there were no physiological and phenotypical dissimilarities in the microbiota found in the cecum of wild ptarmigans on mainland Norway and Svalbard. While substantial differences in the functional potential for PSM degradation and methanogenesis in wild and captive birds seem to be a direct consequence of their dissimilar diets.

Gut microbiota composition and metabolomic profiles of wild and captive Chinese monals (Lophophorus lhuysii)

“…For example, wildlife that is maintained in a captive setting have significant differences in diet, social structure, and stress, all of which potentially affect their gut microbiota. Previous studies have demonstrated that captivity affects the composition of gut microbes in birds [11][12][13][14] and mammals [9,10,15,16], with considerable differences were observed between wild and captive individuals. Thus, study on the gut microbiota in both wild and captive animals may provide a way to understand more about how to successfully maintain captive wildlife and in optimal health condition.…”

Metabolomic LC-MS/MS analyses and meta 16S rRNA gene analyses on cecal feces of Japanese rock ptarmigans reveal fundamental differences between semi-wild and captive raised individuals

“…The disappearance of Synergistes spp. in captivity is also seen in other subspecies of rock ptarmigans [28,36] and captive capercaillies [40]. Therefore, grouses or ptarmigans easily loose this particular group of bacteria in captivity.…”

From plants to feces: pilot applications of FTIR spectroscopy for studies on the foraging ecology of an avian herbivore

“…In our study, FTIR spectra of dropping samples gained from aviaries and those of field samples yielded a distinct separation of these two dropping groups in terms of PCA scores. The diverse feeding regime (and related differences in anatomy and physiology, Moss 1997;Liukkonen-Anttila et al 2000;Wienemann et al 2011;Salgado-Flores et al 2019) of captive birds compared to wildliving individuals thus became evident, particularly on the first PCA axis, which explained nearly 60% of the variability in spectra. Moreover, the spatial proximity of undigested plant material and droppings within the captive versus the wild-living group on the PCA plot supported the idea, that spectral signals of intestinal droppings might adequately reflect variation in food choice.…”