The gut microbiota of wild wintering great bustard (Otis tarda dybowskii): survey data from two consecutive years

Background. The composition of the intestinal microbiota plays a significant role in modulating host health. It serves as a sensitive evaluation indicator and has substantial implications in protecting endangered species. Great Bustards are typical farmlanddependent wintering birds that are highly susceptible to the interference of human activities. However, information regarding their gut microbiota remains scarce. Methods. To ensure a comprehensive analysis of this crucial data, we collected fecal samples from wild Great Bustards at their wintering habitat for two consecutive years. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was subsequently applied to characterize their core gut microbiota and determine whether the gut microbial composition was similar or varied interannually. Results. The gut microbiota of the Great Bustard was primarily comprised of four phyla: Firmicutes (82.87%), Bacteroidetes (7.98%), Proteobacteria (4.49%), and Actinobacteria (3.67%), accounting for 99.01% of the microbial community in all samples. Further analysis revealed 22 genera of core microbes and several pathogens. Notably, there were no significant differences in the alpha-diversity and beta-diversity between the two sample groups from different years. Conclusions. This study provides essential information for assessing the health and developing targeted protective measures of this threatened species.

Automated summary

The study analyzed the gut microbiota of Great Bustards, revealing a composition primarily comprised of four phyla and 22 core genera, with some pathogens present. There were no significant differences in the diversity of gut microbiota between sample groups from different years.