Cecal Microbiome Analyses on Wild Japanese Rock Ptarmigans (Lagopus muta japonica) Reveals High Level of Coexistence of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Lactate-Utilizing Bacteria

Abstract

Preservation of indigenous gastrointestinal microbiota is critical for successful captive breeding of endangered wild animals, yet its biology is poorly understood. Here, we compared the cecal microbial composition of wild living Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus muta japonica) in different locations of Japanese mountains, and the dominant cecal microbial structure of wild Japanese rock ptarmigans is elucidated. Coriobacteraceae and Lachnospraceae were the two dominant bacterial families in all samples analyzed. At the genus level, 10 genera Olsenella, Actinomyces, Megasphaera, Slackia, Cloacibacillus, Bifidobacterium,Escherichia,Dialister, Megamonas, and Bilophila were dominant. These results reveal the high level of coexistence of lactic acid bacteria (Olsenella and Bifidobacterium) and lactate-utilizing bacteria (Megasphaera). This coexistence should be taken into account for the successful breeding of captive Japanese rock ptarmigans in the national conservation program.

Keywords: Bifidobacterium; Japanese rock ptarmigan; Lagopus muta japonica; Megasphaera; Olsenella; cecal microbiome.

Figure 1

Locations of sample collections.

Figure 2

Japanese rock Ptarmigan (Left: A male Japanese rock Ptarmigan on the unmelted snow at Mt. Tateyama in spring. Right: A female Japanese rock ptarmigan with her chicks at Mt. Kita in summer.).

Figure 3

(a) Community structure at the family level of cecal microbiota of wild Japanese rock ptarmigans at different locations in Japanese mountains. (b) Community structure at the genus level of cecal microbiota of wild Japanese rock ptarmigans at different locations in Japanese mountains.

Figure 3

(a) Community structure at the family level of cecal microbiota of wild Japanese rock ptarmigans at different locations in Japanese mountains. (b) Community structure at the genus level of cecal microbiota of wild Japanese rock ptarmigans at different locations in Japanese mountains.

Figure 4

(a) Cluster dendrogram at the genus level of cecal microbiota of wild Japanese rock ptarmigans at different locations in Japanese mountains. (b) Cluster dendrogram at the family level of cecal microbiota of wild Japanese rock ptarmigans at different locations in Japanese mountains.

Figure 4

(a) Cluster dendrogram at the genus level of cecal microbiota of wild Japanese rock ptarmigans at different locations in Japanese mountains. (b) Cluster dendrogram at the family level of cecal microbiota of wild Japanese rock ptarmigans at different locations in Japanese mountains.