PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
UNASSIGNED: Koalas, an Australian arboreal marsupial, depend on eucalypt tree leaves for their diet. They selectively consume only a few of the hundreds of available eucalypt species. Since the koala gut microbiome is essential for the digestion and detoxification of eucalypts, their individual differences in the gut microbiome may lead to variations in their eucalypt selection and eucalypt metabolic capacity. However, research focusing on the relationship between the gut microbiome and differences in food preferences is very limited. We aimed to determine whether individual and regional differences exist in the gut microbiome of koalas as well as the mechanism by which these differences influence eucalypt selection.
UNASSIGNED: Foraging data were collected from six koalas and a total of 62 feces were collected from 15 koalas of two zoos in Japan. The mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis was conducted to estimate the mitochondrial maternal origin of each koala. In addition, the 16S-based gut microbiome of 15 koalas was analyzed to determine the composition and diversity of each koala\'s gut microbiome. We used these data to investigate the relationship among mitochondrial maternal origin, gut microbiome and eucalypt diet selection.
UNASSIGNED: This research revealed that diversity and composition of the gut microbiome and that eucalypt diet selection of koalas differs among regions. We also revealed that the gut microbiome alpha diversity was correlated with foraging diversity in koalas. These individual and regional differences would result from vertical (maternal) transmission of the gut microbiome and represent an intraspecific variation in koala foraging strategies. Further, we demonstrated that certain gut bacteria were strongly correlated with both mitochondrial maternal origin and eucalypt foraging patterns. Bacteria found to be associated with mitochondrial maternal origin included bacteria involved in fiber digestion and degradation of secondary metabolites, such as the families Rikenellaceae and Synergistaceae. These bacteria may cause differences in metabolic capacity between individual and regional koalas and influence their eucalypt selection.
UNASSIGNED: We showed that the characteristics (composition and diversity) of the gut microbiome and eucalypt diet selection of koalas differ by individuals and regional origins as we expected. In addition, some gut bacteria that could influence eucalypt foraging of koalas showed the relationships with both mitochondrial maternal origin and eucalypt foraging pattern. These differences in the gut microbiome between regional origins may make a difference in eucalypt selection. Given the importance of the gut microbiome to koalas foraging on eucalypts and their strong symbiotic relationship, future studies should focus on the symbiotic relationship and coevolution between koalas and the gut microbiome to understand individual and regional differences in eucalypt diet selection by koalas.
UNASSIGNED: Foraging data were collected from six koalas and a total of 62 feces were collected from 15 koalas of two zoos in Japan. The mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis was conducted to estimate the mitochondrial maternal origin of each koala. In addition, the 16S-based gut microbiome of 15 koalas was analyzed to determine the composition and diversity of each koala\'s gut microbiome. We used these data to investigate the relationship among mitochondrial maternal origin, gut microbiome and eucalypt diet selection.
UNASSIGNED: This research revealed that diversity and composition of the gut microbiome and that eucalypt diet selection of koalas differs among regions. We also revealed that the gut microbiome alpha diversity was correlated with foraging diversity in koalas. These individual and regional differences would result from vertical (maternal) transmission of the gut microbiome and represent an intraspecific variation in koala foraging strategies. Further, we demonstrated that certain gut bacteria were strongly correlated with both mitochondrial maternal origin and eucalypt foraging patterns. Bacteria found to be associated with mitochondrial maternal origin included bacteria involved in fiber digestion and degradation of secondary metabolites, such as the families Rikenellaceae and Synergistaceae. These bacteria may cause differences in metabolic capacity between individual and regional koalas and influence their eucalypt selection.
UNASSIGNED: We showed that the characteristics (composition and diversity) of the gut microbiome and eucalypt diet selection of koalas differ by individuals and regional origins as we expected. In addition, some gut bacteria that could influence eucalypt foraging of koalas showed the relationships with both mitochondrial maternal origin and eucalypt foraging pattern. These differences in the gut microbiome between regional origins may make a difference in eucalypt selection. Given the importance of the gut microbiome to koalas foraging on eucalypts and their strong symbiotic relationship, future studies should focus on the symbiotic relationship and coevolution between koalas and the gut microbiome to understand individual and regional differences in eucalypt diet selection by koalas.
摘要：
■考拉,澳大利亚树栖有袋动物，依靠桉树的叶子为他们的饮食。他们选择性地只消耗数百种可用的桉树物种中的少数。由于考拉肠道微生物群对桉树的消化和解毒至关重要，他们在肠道微生物组中的个体差异可能导致其桉树选择和桉树代谢能力的变化。然而,关注肠道微生物组和食物偏好差异之间关系的研究非常有限。我们旨在确定考拉的肠道微生物组是否存在个体和区域差异，以及这些差异影响桉树选择的机制。
■从6只考拉收集了觅食数据，从日本两个动物园的15只考拉收集了总共62只粪便。进行了线粒体系统发育分析，以估计每个考拉的线粒体母体起源。此外,分析了15只考拉的基于16S的肠道微生物组，以确定每个考拉肠道微生物组的组成和多样性。我们使用这些数据来调查线粒体母源之间的关系，肠道微生物组和桉树饮食选择。
■这项研究表明，肠道微生物组的多样性和组成以及考拉的桉树饮食选择因地区而异。我们还发现，考拉的肠道微生物组α多样性与觅食多样性相关。这些个体和区域差异将由肠道微生物组的垂直（母体）传播引起，并代表考拉觅食策略中的种内变异。Further,我们证明，某些肠道细菌与线粒体母体来源和桉树觅食模式密切相关。发现与线粒体母体来源相关的细菌包括参与纤维消化和次生代谢产物降解的细菌，如利肯纳尔科和增效草科。这些细菌可能会导致个体和区域考拉之间代谢能力的差异，并影响其桉树的选择。
■我们表明，考拉的肠道微生物组和桉树饮食选择的特征（组成和多样性）因个体和区域起源而异，正如我们所预期的那样。此外,一些可能影响考拉桉树觅食的肠道细菌显示出与线粒体母体起源和桉树觅食模式的关系。区域起源之间的肠道微生物组的这些差异可能会在桉树选择中产生差异。鉴于肠道微生物组对考拉在桉树上觅食的重要性及其强烈的共生关系，未来的研究应关注考拉与肠道微生物组之间的共生关系和协同进化，以了解考拉在桉树饮食选择中的个体和区域差异。
■从6只考拉收集了觅食数据，从日本两个动物园的15只考拉收集了总共62只粪便。进行了线粒体系统发育分析，以估计每个考拉的线粒体母体起源。此外,分析了15只考拉的基于16S的肠道微生物组，以确定每个考拉肠道微生物组的组成和多样性。我们使用这些数据来调查线粒体母源之间的关系，肠道微生物组和桉树饮食选择。
■这项研究表明，肠道微生物组的多样性和组成以及考拉的桉树饮食选择因地区而异。我们还发现，考拉的肠道微生物组α多样性与觅食多样性相关。这些个体和区域差异将由肠道微生物组的垂直（母体）传播引起，并代表考拉觅食策略中的种内变异。Further,我们证明，某些肠道细菌与线粒体母体来源和桉树觅食模式密切相关。发现与线粒体母体来源相关的细菌包括参与纤维消化和次生代谢产物降解的细菌，如利肯纳尔科和增效草科。这些细菌可能会导致个体和区域考拉之间代谢能力的差异，并影响其桉树的选择。
■我们表明，考拉的肠道微生物组和桉树饮食选择的特征（组成和多样性）因个体和区域起源而异，正如我们所预期的那样。此外,一些可能影响考拉桉树觅食的肠道细菌显示出与线粒体母体起源和桉树觅食模式的关系。区域起源之间的肠道微生物组的这些差异可能会在桉树选择中产生差异。鉴于肠道微生物组对考拉在桉树上觅食的重要性及其强烈的共生关系，未来的研究应关注考拉与肠道微生物组之间的共生关系和协同进化，以了解考拉在桉树饮食选择中的个体和区域差异。
