Dietary drivers of gut microbiota diversity and function in wildlife of Wolong Nature Reserve: a metagenomic study

A metagenomic study reveals significant differences in gut microbiota composition and function between herbivores and carnivores in the Wolong Nature Reserve, with diet acting as a primary driver. Herbivores exhibited higher microbial diversity and were enriched in cellulose-degrading bacteria like Ruminococcus champanellensis, while carnivores showed higher lipid metabolism and protein degradation, with an abundance of Rhodococcus and Pediococcus. The study also identified potential health risks from pathogens such as Escherichia and Listeria, which were more prevalent in carnivores and positively correlated with niche width. Noninvasive sampling methods were used to analyze the gut microbiomes of 10 protected wild animals, providing insights into the intricate linkages between diet, microbiota composition, and host ecology. These findings offer valuable theoretical and practical implications for ecological conservation, species restoration, and environmental management in high-altitude environments.

Huang, F., Shi, X., Chen, P., Hu, Q., Zhao, Y., Chen, Z., Ma, W., Tan, Q., Feng, X., & Zhang, X. (2025). Dietary drivers of gut microbiota diversity and function in wildlife of Wolong Nature Reserve: a metagenomic study. Current Zoology, 72(1), 14–29. https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoaf018