Effects of Microhabitat Temperature Variations on the Gut Microbiotas of Free-Living Hibernating Animals

Microbiology Spectrum · 6 authors, 3 centres

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TL;DR

This study compared gut microbiota in free-living hibernating bats from two natural sites with different winter ambient temperatures using 16S rRNA sequencing. The central result was that a higher winter ambient temperature was associated with decreased gut microbial alpha-diversity, while microbial community structure (beta-diversity) remained similar across sites.

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This preclinical field study investigated gut microbiota changes in free-living least horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus pusillus) hibernating at two adjacent natural sites with different winter ambient temperatures. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the researchers compared microbial diversity and composition between hibernating and active bats across seasons and sites. During hibernation, higher ambient temperature was associated with significantly decreased alpha-diversity, but no significant difference in beta-diversity. Site-specific differences were found in the relative abundances of several bacterial phyla, and 74 amplicon sequence variants were differentially abundant between hibernating and active bats, with many associated with the cooler site. Limitations include the inability to control for all variables between populations, though the study design aimed to minimize confounding factors like diet and climate. The findings suggest ambient temperature influences gut microbial diversity and associated metabolic pathways in hibernators, while highlighting the importance of microbiota stabilization during torpor.

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other

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preclinical research

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AI pipeline

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10434193

Effects of Microhabitat Temperature Variations on the Gut Microbiotas of Free-Living Hibernating Animals

Microbiology Spectrum

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ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT Variations in ambient temperature ( T a ) may significantly influence the gut microbiotas of ectothermic and endothermic animals, affecting fitness. It remains unclear, however, whether temperature fluctuations affect the gut microbial communities of hibernating animals during torpor. To investigate temperature-induced changes in the gut microbiota during hibernation under entirely natural conditions, we took advantage of two adjacent but distinct populations of the least horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus pusillus ), which inhabit sites with a similar summer T a but a different winter T a . Using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing, we estimated differences in gut microbial diversity and composition between the hibernating (winter) and active (summer) R. pusillus populations at both sites. During the active period, gut microbiotas did not differ significantly between the two populations, probably due to the similar T a s. However, during hibernation, a higher T a was associated with decreased α-diversity in the gut microbiome. During hibernation, temperature variation did not significantly affect the relative abundance of Proteobacteria , the dominant phylum at both sites, but marked site-specific differences were detected in the relative abundances of Firmicutes , Actinobacteria , and Tenericutes . In total, 74 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were significantly differentially abundant between the hibernating and active bat guts across the two sites; most of these ASVs were associated with the cooler site, and many belonged to pathogenic genera, suggesting that lower ambient temperatures during hibernation may increase the risk of pathogen proliferation in the host gut. Our findings help to clarify the mechanisms underlying the gut microbiota-driven adaptation of hibernating mammals to temperature changes. IMPORTANCE Temperature variations affect gut microbiome diversity and structure in both ectothermic and endothermic animals. Here, we aimed to characterize temperature-induced changes in the gut microbiotas of adjacent natural populations of the least horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus pusillus ) which hibernate at different ambient temperatures. We found that the ambient temperature significantly affected the α-diversity, but not the β-diversity, of the gut microbiota. Bats hibernating at cooler temperatures experienced more drastic shifts in gut microbiome structure, with consequent effects on energy-related metabolic pathways. Our results provide novel insights into the effects of ambient temperature on the gut microbiotas of hibernating animals.

CITATION EXPORT

Sen Liu, Yanhong Xiao, Xufan Wang et al.. Effects of Microhabitat Temperature Variations on the Gut Microbiotas of Free-Living Hibernating Animals. Microbiology Spectrum. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00433-23

AUTHORS

6 · 3 CENTRES

Sen Liu, Yanhong Xiao, Xufan Wang, Dongge Guo, Yanmei Wang, Ying Wang

a College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
b Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

EDITOR / REVIEWER

Blaire Steven