Seasonal characteristics of gut microbiota in varied tits and its relationship with immunoglobulin A

Juan Wang; Ning Ding; Yu Han; Zezhong Gao; Dongmei Wan

doi:10.26496/bjz.2025.202

Authors

Juan Wang School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
Ning Ding School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
Yu Han School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
Zezhong Gao School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, P.R. China
Dongmei Wan School of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, P.R. China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2025.202

Keywords:

intestinal microbiota, seasonal variation, immunoglobulin A, varied tits

Abstract

Gut microbiota play a central role in immune defense and adapting to environmental fluctuations. Varied tits (Sittiparus varius) are socially monogamous birds with a narrow geographic distribution, whose habitat and diet undergo significant seasonal changes. We hypothesized that the diversity and composition of gut microbes in varied tits would exhibit seasonal differences, and that the relative abundance of gut microbes would be correlated with host’s immunity. To test these hypotheses, we characterized the fecal bacterial community composition of varied tits by sequencing the V3–V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, comparing the differences in gut microbiota composition across seasons, and exploring the relationship between bacterial abundance and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrations. A total of 4847 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), 40 phyla, 108 classes, 269 orders, 477 families, and 1109 genera were obtained from 16S metabarcoding. The intestinal microbiota of varied tits was dominated by the phyla Proteobacteria (35.29%), Firmicutes (26.66%), Cyanobacteria (13.99%), Actinobacteriota (9.62%) and Bacteroidota (7.32%). Significant seasonal variations in gut microbiota composition were observed, while the abundance-based coverage estimator (ACE) index of alpha diversity in spring was significantly higher than in summer, and overall community structure (beta diversity) differed markedly between winter and spring. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) revealed the enrichment of specific bacterial taxa in each season (LDA > 4, P < 0.05), such as winter-associated Proteobacteria and Pantoea, spring-associated Bacteroidota and Bacteroides, and summer-associated Firmicutes and Erwinia. However, no significant correlation was found between the abundance of these gut microbes and IgA concentrations. Our findings provide empirical insights into the seasonal dynamics of gut microbiota in wild birds, contributing to a better understanding of their ecological adaptive strategies, which are essential for developing adequate conservation strategies.

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