Functional differentiation related to decomposing complex carbohydrates of intestinal microbes between two wild zokor species based on 16SrRNA sequences

Abstract

Background The intestinal microbes in mammals play a key role in host metabolism and adaptation. As a subterranean rodent, zokor digs tunnels for foraging and mating. These digging activities of zokors increase the energy expenditure relative to their aboveground counterparts. However, relatively little is known regarding intestinal microbes of zokor and how they make full use of limited food resources underground for high energy requirements. Results Eospalax cansus and Eospalax rothschildi had distinct intestinal microbes. Although the composition of intestinal microbes is similar in two species, the proportion of bacterium are distinctly different between them. At phylum level, 11 phyla were shared between two species. Firmicutes and Bacteroidota were two dominant microbes in both of two species, while Eospalax cansus have a significantly high proportion of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota than that of Eospalax rothschildi. At genus level, norank_f_Muribaculaceae were dominant microbes in both of two zokor species. The relative abundance of 12 genera were significantly different between two species. Some bacterium including unclassified_f__Lachnospiraceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ruminococcus and Eubacterium_siraeum_group associated with cellulose degradation were significantly enriched in Eospalax cansus. Although alpha diversity was with no significant differences between Eospalax cansus and Eospalax rothschildi, the intestinal microbes between them are significant distinct in PCoA analysis. We have found that trapping location affected the alpha diversity values, while sex and body measurements had no effect on alpha diversity values. PICRUSt metagenome predictions revealed significant enrichment of microbial genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism in Eospalax cansus rather than Eospalax rothschildi. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that Eospalax cansus harbor a stronger ability of fermentation for dietary plants than Eospalax rothschildi. The stronger ability of fermentation and degradation of cellulose of intestinal microbes of Eospalax cansus may be a long-time adaptation to limited food resources underground.

DNA metabarcoding Uncover the Diet of Subterranean Rodents in China

“…Studies have shown that zokor is a pure herbivorous animal, with a well-developed cecum for decomposing cellulose in plants [50]. Meanwhile, we classified the fungi groups obtained, and found that they were mainly pathogenic fungi of plants, endophytic fungi, fungi in soil, and fungi intrinsic to the stomach of zokor, but not large edible fungi.…”

“…The rat mainly feeds on taproots(54.60%) and rhizomes(26.41%),( Table 4 .) which are rich in water and energy, which can meet the high energy consumption caused by zokor’s digging habit [50].…”

DNA metabarcoding uncovers the diet of subterranean rodents in China

“…Overall, 99.81% of the effective ASV sequences were annotated to Eukaryota, among which Fungi accounted for 69.55%, Viridiplantae was 29.52%, Metazoa was 0.82%, and unclassified was only 0.11%. Studies have shown that zokors are purely herbivorous animals possessing a well-developed cecum for decomposing cellulose in plants [ 26 ],this study focused on Viridiplantae.…”

“…Plants in the zokor’s diet could also be classified according to the plant parts that zokors feed on. Zokors mainly feed on taproots (54.60%) and rhizomes (26.41%)( Table 4 ), which are rich in water and energy and thus can meet the high energy consumption requirements caused by the zokor’s digging habits [ 26 ].…”

Microbial Biogeography along the Gastrointestinal Tract Segments of Sympatric Subterranean Rodents (Eospalax baileyi and Eospalax cansus)

“…Gut microbiota are mainly influenced by host genetics and environmental factors [ 40 ], and food has frequently been reported to be the main factor [ 41 , 42 ]. When comparing the species in our study, the bacterial community compositions of the whole GIT, as well as each segment, were significantly different.…”