Disentangling the gut microbiota of Aldabra giant tortoises of different ages and environments

The gut microbiota of Aldabra giant tortoises is primarily shaped by environment rather than age, with wild tortoises exhibiting greater microbial diversity due to varied diets. A study analyzing 52 fecal samples from Seychelles and Italy revealed that geolocation significantly influences microbiota composition, while age had a lesser impact. Certain bacterial families, such as Spirochaetota and Fibrobacterota, were more prevalent in environments with higher fiber intake, reflecting dietary differences. Additionally, some bacteria were specific to individuals on Curieuse Island but not elsewhere. Centenarian tortoises showed reduced microbial complexity compared to younger adults. These findings highlight the importance of environmental factors in gut microbiota diversity and can inform conservation strategies for this long-lived species.

Zakaria, D., Sandri, C., Modesto, M., Spiezio, C., Scarafile, D., Cedras, A., Borruso, L., Manghi, P., Trevisi, P., Segata, N., Mattarelli, P., & Arita, M. (2025). Disentangling the gut microbiota of Aldabra giant tortoises of different ages and environments. PeerJ, 13, e19566. Portico. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19566