Analysis of fungal diversity in the feces of.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intestinal fungal composition plays a crucial role in modulating host health, and thus is of great significance in the conservation of endangered bird species. However, research on gut fungal composition in birds is limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to examine gut fungal community and potential fecal pathogen composition in wild. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from the habitats of wildand(a widely distributed species belonging to the same family as) in summer and autumn. Thereafter, RNA was collected and the internal transcribed spacer rRNA gene was sequenced via high-throughput sequencing to investigate seasonal variations in intestinal core fungi, microbial fungi, and potential pathogenic fungi. RESULTS: The gut microbiota ofandwere highly similar and mainly consisted of three phyla, Ascomycota (58.46%), Basidiomycota (28.80%), and Zygomycota (3.56%), which accounted for 90.82% of the fungal community in all the samples. Further, the predominant genera were(12.24%),(8.37%),(5.18%),(2.76%),(1.84%), and(1.14%), and the potential fecal pathogens identified included,,, and. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence that the diversity of intestinal fungi in the endangered species,, is similar to that in the common species,, and may serve as a basis for monitoring the status ofand for developing conservation measures.