Gastrointestinal Biogeography of Luminal Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)
Xiaolong Hu, Yuting Wei, Tianxiang Zhang, Xiaoguo Wang, Yongtao Xu, Weiwei Zhang, Yunlin Zheng
Abstract
Feces or specific segments of the gastrointestinal tract (in particular, the rumen) were sampled to explore the gut microbiome. The gastrointestinal biogeography of the luminal microbiota in ruminants, which is critical to guide accurate sampling for different purposes, is poorly understood at present. The microbial community of the rectal sample (as a proxy of fecal sample) showed higher correlation with those of other large intestinal sites relative to the small intestine or stomach, suggesting that the microbial composition is specifically shaped by the unique physiological characteristics of different gastrointestinal niches. In addition, significant differences in microbiomes and SCFAs were observed among the different gastrointestinal sites.