Comparing the gut microbiota of Sichuan golden monkeys across multiple captive and wild settings: roles of anthropogenic activities and host factors.

BACKGROUND: Captivity and artificial food provision are common conservation strategies for the endangered golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana). Anthropogenic activities have been reported to impact the fitness of R. roxellana by altering their gut microbiota, a crucial indicator of animal health. Nevertheless, the degree of divergence in gut microbiota between different anthropogenically-disturbed (AD) R. roxellana and their counterparts in the wild has yet to be elucidated. Here, we conducted a comparative analysis of the gut microbiota across nine populations of R. roxellana spanning China, which included seven captive populations, one wild population, and another wild population subject to artificial food provision. RESULTS: Both captivity and food provision significantly altered the gut microbiota. AD populations exhibited common variations, such as increased Bacteroidetes and decreased Firmicutes (e.g., Ruminococcus), Actinobacteria (e.g., Parvibacter), Verrucomicrobia (e.g., Akkermansia), and Tenericutes. Additionally, a reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratiosuggested diminished capacity for complex carbohydrate degradation in captive individuals. The results of microbial functional prediction suggested that AD populations displayed heightened microbial genes linked to vitamin and amino acid metabolism, alongside decreased genes associated antibiotics biosynthesis (e.g., penicillin, cephalosporin, macrolides, and clavulanic acid) and secondary metabolite degradation (e.g., naphthalene and atrazine). These microbial alterations implied potential disparities in the health status between AD and wild individuals. AD populations exhibited varying degrees of microbial changes compared to the wild group, implying that the extent of these variations might serve as a metric for assessing the health status of AD populations. Furthermore, utilizing the individual information of captive individuals, we identified associations between variations in the gut microbiota of R. roxellana and host age, as well as pedigree. Older individuals exhibited higher microbial diversity, while a closer genetic relatedness reflected a more similar gut microbiota. CONCLUSIONS: Our aim was to assess how anthropogenic activities and host factors influence the gut microbiota of R. roxellana. Anthropogenic activities led to consistent changes in gut microbial diversity and function, while host age and genetic relatedness contributed to interindividual variations in the gut microbiota. These findings may contribute to the establishment of health assessment standards and the optimization of breeding conditions for captive R. roxellana populations.

Differences in the gut microbiota between Cercopithecinae and Colobinae in captivity.

The gut microbiome of captive primates can provide a window into their health and disease status. The diversity and composition of gut microbiota are influenced by not only host phylogeny, but also host diet. Old World monkeys (Cercopithecidae) are divided into two subfamilies: Cercopithecinae and Colobinae. The diet and physiological digestive features differ between these two subfamilies. Accordingly, highthroughput sequencing was used to examine gut microbiota differences between these two subfamilies, using data from 29 Cercopithecinae individuals and 19 Colobinae individuals raised in captivity. Through a comparative analysis of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), significant differences in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota were observed between Cercopithecinae and Colobinae. In particular, the gut microbiota of captive Old World monkeys clustered strongly by the two subfamilies. The Colobinae microbial diversity was higher than that of Cercopithecinae. Additionally, Firmicutes, Lactobacillaceae, Veillonellaceae, and Prevotella abundance were higher in Cercopithecinae, while Bacteroidetes, Ruminococcaceae, Christensenellaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Acidaminococcaceae abundance were higher in Colobinae. PICRUSt analysis revealed that the predicted metagenomes of metabolic pathways associated with proteins, carbohydrates, and amino acids were significantly higher in Colobinae. In the context of host phylogeny, these differences between Cercopithecinae and Colobinae could reflect adaptations associated with their respective diets. This well-organized dataset is a valuable resource for future related research on primates and gut microbiota. Moreover, this study may provide useful insight into animal management practices and primate conservation.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Garrulax poecilorhynchus (Aves, Passeriformes, Timaliidae).

The entire mitochondrial genome of Garrulax poecilorhynchus consists of 17 814 bp and containe 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and two control regions. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome of G. poecilorhynchus is A = 5342 (29.99%), T = 4314 (24.22%), G = 2480 (13.92%), and C = 5678 (31.87%). The genome has an overall A + T content of 54.21%, which has a similar value among known genus Garrulax mitogenomes. All the tRNA genes display a typical clover-leaf structure. Garrulax poecilorhynchus share the closest relationship with other two species, G. perspicillatus and G. sannio. These data could serve to enrich the resource of genus Garrulax in systematic, population genetic, and evolutionary biological studies.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Babax lanceolatus (Passeriformes: Timaliidae).

The complete mitochondrial of Babax lanceolatus is 17 849 bp in length. The contents of A, C, T, and G in the mitochondrial genome were 29.53%, 32.62%, 23.72%, and 14.13%, respectively. The mitogenome of B. lanceolatus were composed of 13 typical protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and two putative control regions. All protein-coding, rRNA, and tRNA genes were similar to those of other Passeriformes in gene arrangement and composition. Garrulax perspicillatus was the nearest sister to B. lanceolatus, and they were clustered with other species of Garrulax family. The results could provide essential information for molecular phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses of Passeriformes.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Garrulax ocellatus (Aves, Passeriformes, Timaliidae).

Timaliidae, generally known as the babblers, includes about 275 species in 50 genera. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Garrulax ocellatus, and it was determined to be 17,828 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNAsfer (tRNA) genes, and 2 control regions. The complete mitochondrial genome contained 15.24% G, 23.02% T, 33.13% C, and 28.61% A, which was similar to other Passeriformes mitochondrial genomes. There are eight tRNA genes and one PCG (ND6) encoded on the L-strand, and other PCGs were encoded on the H-strand. All genes were closely assembled and only 17 intergenic spacers were observed. In total, the spacers were 99 bp in length, and there were seven pairs of genes overlapping sequences of 30 bp in length. Phylogenetic relationship could provide useful information for the further study on the species taxonomic.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Garrulax formosus (Aves, Passeriformes, Timaliidae) and its phylogenetic analysis.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Garrulax formosus was obtained for the first time, which is 17 869 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNA, 22 tRNA genes and 2 different control regions. All genes are distributed in plus strand, with the exceptions of one PCG (ND6) and eight tRNA genes. All PCGs are initiated with ATG, except for COX1, which is initiated with GTG, while stopped by five types of stop codons. All tRNA genes have the potential to fold into typical clover-leaf structure except tRNA(Ser)(GCT). According to the phylogenetic tree, we can infer that it is reasonable to divide Garrulax formosus into the genus Garrulax.

Characteristic of complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic relationship of Garrulax sannio (Passeriformes, Timaliidae).

Garrulax sannio (Passeriformes, Timaliidae) was the medium-sized bird, whose plumage color was similar for both sexes. The complete sequence of the mitochondrial DNA genome from G. sannio used the polymerase chain reaction method. The genome (17 840 bp in length) contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA (12S and 16S) genes, 22 tRNA genes and 2 control regions (D-loop). The base composition of G. sannio mitogenome A + T percentage was 52.22%. It is slightly higher than G + C 47.78% which was similar with other vertebrates. Through constructed phylogenetic tree, we could identify its taxonomic status. Therefore, mitochondrial genome was a best way to preserve genetic resources of species.