Grus Monacha Research Articles

Metagenomic analysis of the gut microbiota of hooded cranes (Grus monacha) on the Izumi plain in Japan.

Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have dramatically improved our understanding of the gut microbiota of various animal species. However, research on the gut microbiota of birds lags behind that of many other vertebrates, and information about the gut microbiota of wild birds such as migratory waterfowl is particularly lacking. Because the ecology of migratory waterfowl (e.g., lifestyle, diet, physiological characteristics) differs from that of other birds, the gut microbiota of migratory waterfowl likely also differs, but much is still unknown. The hooded crane (Grus monacha) is an important representative migratory waterbird species and is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species. In this study, we analyzed the bacterial and viral microbiota in the gut of hooded cranes by using deep sequencing data from fecal samples of hooded cranes that winter on the Izumi plain in Japan, and found that Cetobacterium, Clupeiformes, and Pbunavirus were clearly present in the fecal samples of hooded cranes. These findings advance our understanding of the ecology of hooded cranes.

Significant Differences in Intestinal Bacterial Communities of Sympatric Bean Goose, Hooded Crane, and Domestic Goose.

The host's physiological well-being is intricately associated with the gut microbiota. However, previous studies regarding the intestinal microbiota have focused on domesticated or captive birds. This study used high-throughput sequencing technology to identify the gut bacterial communities of sympatric bean geese, hooded cranes, and domestic geese. The results indicated that the gut bacterial diversity in domestic geese and hooded cranes showed considerably higher diversity than bean geese. The gut bacterial community compositions varied significantly among the three hosts (p < 0.05). Compared to the hooded crane, the bean goose and domestic goose were more similar in their genotype and evolutionary history, with less difference in the bacterial community composition and assembly processes between the two species. Thus, the results might support the crucial role of host genotypes on their gut microbiota. The gut bacteria of wild hooded cranes and bean geese had a greater capacity for energy metabolism compared to domestic geese, suggesting that wild birds may rely more on their gut microbiota to survive in cold conditions. Moreover, the intestines of the three hosts were identified as harboring potential pathogens. The relative abundance of pathogens was higher in the hooded crane compared to the other two species. The hooded crane gut bacterial community assemblage revealed the least deterministic process with the lowest filtering/selection on the gut microbiota, which might have been a reason for the highest number of pathogens result. Compared to the hooded crane, the sympatric bean goose showed the least diversity and relative abundance of pathogens. The intestinal bacterial co-occurrence network showed the highest stability in the bean goose, potentially enhancing host resistance to adverse environments and reducing the susceptibility to pathogen invasion. In this study, the pathogens were also discovered to overlap among the three hosts, reminding us to monitor the potential for pathogen transmission between poultry and wild birds. Overall, the current findings have the potential to enhance the understanding of gut bacterial and pathogenic community structures in poultry and wild birds.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Eimeria haematopusi n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in an Australian Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris) (Aves: Charadriiformes)

A novel Eimeria Schneider, 1875 species is described from an Australian pied oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris Vieillot, in Western Australia. The pied oystercatcher was admitted to the Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (KWRC), Perth, Western Australia in a poor body condition, abrasion to its right hock and signs of partial delamination to its lower beak. Investigation into potential medical causes resulted in a faecal sample being collected and screened for gastrointestinal parasites. Unsporulated coccidian oocysts were initially observed in the faeces and identified as Eimeria upon sporulation. The sporulated oocysts (n = 20) are ellipsoidal, 20–21 × 12–13 μm in shape and have thick bi-layered walls which are c.2/3 of the total thickness. Micropyle is present, robust and protruding, and occasionally has a rounded polar body attached to the micropyle. Within the oocyst, a residuum, in addition, two to five polar granules are present. There are four ellipsoidal sporocysts 9–11 × 5–6 μm with flattened to half-moon shaped Stieda bodies. Sub-Stieda body and para-Stieda body are absent. The sporocysts contain sporocyst residuums composed of a few spherules scattered among the sporozoites. Within the sporozoites, anterior and posterior refractile bodies are present, but the nucleus is indiscernible. To further characterise the novel Eimeria species from H. longirostris, molecular analysis was conducted at the 18S ribosomal RNA locus, using PCR amplification and cloning. Two cloned sequences from the novel Eimeria were compared with those from other Eimeria spp. with the highest genetic similarity of 97.6% and 97.2% from Clone 1 and 2, respectively with Eimeria reichenowi (AB544308) from a hooded crane (Grus monacha Temminck) in Japan. Both sequences grouped in a clade with the Eimeria spp. isolated from wetland birds, which include Eimeria paludosa (KJ767187) from a dusky moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa Gould) in Western Australia, Eimeria reichenowi (AB544308) and Eimeria gruis (AB544336) both from hooded cranes. Based on the morphological and molecular data, this Eimeria sp. is a new species of coccidian parasite and is named Eimeria haematopusin. sp. after its host H. longirostris.

순천만 흑두루미 놀이 인형극 퍼포먼스 탐구

Purpose: This study creates a dance and puppet play about overcoming the hardships and adversity of a hooded crane, tries to lead local students to look back on the ecological environment while enjoying it, and finds contextual meanings that contribute to the educational community through performances.&#x0D; Methods: As part of an implementation study, scripts, photos, and videos related to the creation and performance of the Hooded Crane Play puppet play, which were conducted in 2019 and 2021, were collected and analyzed.&#x0D; Results: In the case of &lt;Hooded Crane Play Puppet Play&gt;, 'participatory play-based performance by students', 'play based on the story of the Hooded Crane', and 'relationship with the local community' were found.&#x0D; Conclusion: As a result of examining the hooded crane play puppetry and performance from the viewpoint of creative artists/researchers/educators, the elements of student participation-type performances were highlighted as important and could contribute to healthy learning for students.

Comparison of the gut fungal communities among Hooded crane (Grus monacha), Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons), and Bean goose (Anser fabalis) at Shengjin Lake, China

The gut microbes regulate a variety of essential functions in avian hosts. Gut microbes are crucial for understanding avian specie’s ecological role and potential impact on the ecosystem. A wide range of factors shape the gut microbial diversity and communities in avian hosts, including similarity in genotype and shared evolutionary history, particularly in two closely related host species than distinctly related hosts. In this study, high-throughput sequencing methods were applied to compare and study the similarities and differences in the gut fungal communities of two geese from the same genus Anser, Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons, WG), Bean goose (Anser fabalis, BG) with Hooded crane (Grus monacha, HC) sympatric in overlapping niches at Shengjin lake, China. Our findings supported our hypothesis that the two closely related geese shared similar gut fungal alpha diversity patterns compared to Hooded cranes due to similarity in genotype and evolutionary history. In particular, the fungal community composition in the gut of Greater white-fronted goose showed larger variation relative to the other two species. This result suggested that dietary preferences might regulate the gut fungal communities, as Hooded crane and Bean goose share parallel dietary preferences. The results of the abundance null deviation model showed higher values of null deviation (NDV) in Greater white-fronted goose and Bean goose, indicating that the two closely related goose species might be associated with more robust gut filtering for their fungal community relative to Hooded crane species. The fungal co-occurrence networks were complex, with higher stability in the two congeneric geese species relative to Hooded crane. Moreover, 29 animal fungal putative pathogens were identified with high diversity and relative abundance in the two congeneric geese due to their complex migration patterns compared with Hooded cranes. However, due to niche overlap, direct or indirect association may lead to the dissemination of gut microbes among sympatric avian species. These findings have important implications for ecological research, conservation efforts, and wildlife health management. Moreover, these findings illuminate potential ecological and conservation repercussions and increase our understanding of the complex interactions between avian species and their gut flora.

Effects of Habitat Change on the Wintering Waterbird Community in China’s Largest Freshwater Lake

Poyang Lake wetland in the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain provides important wintering sites for migratory waterbirds. Extreme climatic events and human activities have resulted in the degradation and redistribution of habitat over the last few decades. However, the effects of habitat changes on the abundance of waterbirds remain unclear. We used long-term waterbird monitoring data and Landsat remote-sensing data to characterize changes in abundance and the relationship between habitat variation and abundance. A total of 113 waterbird species were recorded in the wintering period between 1999 and 2021, including 23 globally threatened species. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides), Bean Goose (Anser fabalis), and Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) were the dominant species. A total of 46 species with more than 6 annual surveys and average abundance &gt;100 were recorded between 1999 and 2021. For most species, the mean abundance across all sub-lakes was higher in the first year than in the last year, and no obvious changes were observed over the last 20 years. The mean abundances of the vulnerable species Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) and White-naped Crane (Grus vipio) significantly declined between 1999 and 2021. No significant changes in the mean abundance of all foraging groups were observed. The area of water bodies increased, and the area of mudflats decreased. For most species with significant changes in abundance, habitat change did not greatly contribute to variation in mean abundance. The reduction in the area of mudflats greatly contributed to declines in the mean abundance of the gray heron (Ardea cinerea) and gadwall (Anas strepera).

Evidence for cross transmission of pathogens between wild hooded cranes and domestic geese

Driven by habitat loss from anthropogenic activities, wintering migratory birds forage together with poultry in paddy fields, and thus impose risks of cross transmitting pathogens. To date, there is little evidence for such risks of pathogen transmission between wild birds and poultry. Using the high‐throughput sequencing, we report on detected potential pathogens of both wild hooded cranes Grus monacha and sympatric domestic geese Anser anser domesticus during the wintering period, and infer the possibility of cross‐species pathogen transmission. The results revealed that the number of shared amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of potential pathogens between the gut microbiota of the two species was low during the early wintering stage (17.2%; 5 ASVs shared) but increased to 56.3% (18 ASVs shared) during the late wintering stage. That is, potential pathogens in the gut microbial communities of the two species became more similar through co‐foraging in paddy fields, supporting cross transmission of pathogens between hooded cranes and domestic geese during the wintering period. Importantly, transmission appeared to be largely from wild hooded cranes to domestic geese, although some potential pathogens may have become specialized to the domestic goose in the late wintering stage. Humans are also face the risks of contracting these potential pathogens from migratory birds through their frequent contacts with domestic poultry. It is, therefore, necessary to closely monitor this pathway of pathogen transmission from wild birds to domestic animals and even to humans.

Prediction of overwintering crane population in Poyang Lake wetland based on RS and regression Model, China

Reasonable prediction of the crane population that arrives at Poyang Lake Reserve for overwintering every year is of great significance to protect cranes and to provide data about reserve planning. In this paper, considering the time-lag effect of landscape index on crane population, the Landsat satellite images of Poyang Lake wetland in 19 winter periods from 2001 to 2019 were selected. The land-use types of the images were classified by support vector machine to acquire the landscape pattern index. In addition, the Pearson test was adopted to examine the correlation between crane population dynamics and landscape pattern index during overwintering. Finally, the regression model of the crane population was obtained by multivariate linear regression analysis. The results showed that the landscape index had a delayed impact on the crane population, which was significantly correlated with the crane population in the following five years. This effect on different crane population was disparate. The number of siberian cranes and white-naped crane populations showed a downward trend, while that of hooded cranes and common crane populations showed an upward trend. Furthermore, the landscape index affects the crane population to a certain extent, but the landscape pattern has diverse effects on different crane populations. It is suggested that corresponding protection measures be taken for different crane populations to provide a better habitat for cranes in Poyang Lake.

Changes in wintering Hooded Cranes and their habitats at Chongming Dongtan over the past 20 years

The Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) is listed as a Vulnerable species in the IUCN red list. Tidal wetland (tideland), the major habitat for wintering Hooded Cranes at East China's Chongming Dongtan, has dramatically changed in the past two decades, but there is limited knowledge about the population and habitat changes of the Hooded Cranes. This study investigated the population size and distribution of wintering Hooded Cranes at Chongming Dongtan from 2000 to 2021. We used remote sensing images combined with a vegetation classification algorithm to analyse the distribution of saltmarsh vegetation. The quadrat method was used to investigate the density and weight of the underground corms of Sea Bulrush (Scirpus mariquter), the main food on tideland for the Hooded Cranes. From 2000 to 2021, the population number of wintering Hooded Cranes at Chongming Dongtan remained stable at approximately 100. In 2000, the area of Scirpus spp. and Common Reed (Phragmites australis) accounted for approximately half of the total saltmarsh area at Chongming Dongtan, respectively. The invasive Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) rapidly expanded on tideland in the 2000s while the Scirpus spp. was competed out and thus significantly reduced in area. After the implementation of an ecological project to control Smooth Cordgrass and to restore Scirpus spp. in the 2010s, the area of the Smooth Cordgrass decreased considerably while the area of Scirpus spp. increased. The corms of Sea Bulrush decreased on the southeastern tideland during the study period, which might be the cause of the northward movement of the foraging Hooded Cranes on tideland. We also found Hooded Cranes foraged crops in the nearby farmland in mid-winter, causing human-bird conflicts in the recent decade. Our results found that changes in habitat and food conditions on tideland impacted wintering Hooded Cranes. Foraging in farmland with human disturbance in the recent decade might be related to insufficient food on tideland. We suggest active intervention to accelerate the restoration of Sea Bulrush on tideland and reduce human disturbance in farmland to improve the habitat quality of the wintering Hooded Crane at Chongming Dongtan.

Characteristics of cross transmission of gut fungal pathogens between wintering Hooded Cranes and sympatric Domestic Geese

Migratory birds travel long distance and link various pathogens. Due to habitat degradation, wintering waterfowls forage together with poultry, increasing the risk of pathogen transmission between hosts. We investigated the fungal communities between wintering Hooded Cranes and Domestic Geese by high-throughput sequencing, and inferred the potential gut pathogens for both hosts at different wintering stages. The fungal community compositions were significantly different between seasons and between the hosts. The negative correlation was found between fungal diversity and pathogenic diversity, with higher fungal diversity and less pathogenic diversity in early stage and less fungal diversity and higher pathogenic diversity in late stage for both hosts. The dissimilarity of pathogenic community compositions decreased from early to late stage, with the quantity of overlapping potential pathogenic OTUs increasing along wintering periods between the two hosts, demonstrating the existence of pathogen cross transmission between the two hosts. Furthermore, the transmission pathway of avian pathogens was mainly from Hooded Cranes to Domestic Geese while the transmission direction of human pathogens was primarily from Domestic Geese to wild cranes. Based on above results, we argued that pathogen cross transmission and underlying outbreak risk of disease should be closely monitored in migratory birds and domestic poultry.

Spatio-Temporal Distribution Patterns and Determinant Factors of Wintering Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha) Population

Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha) rely on wetlands for the majority of their life cycle and respond to the environmental conditions during the wintering period. Future conservation planning should be driven by an understanding of how cranes respond to environmental factors at degraded wetland sites and the changes in their spatio-temporal distribution. In recent years, the spatial and temporal distribution of waterbirds and determinant factors have become a research focus. However, research on the specific factors influencing the relative abundance of Hooded Cranes from multiple perspectives in the different habitat patches at Shengjin and Caizi Lakes is lacking. Therefore, from 2021 to 2022, we investigated the quantity and distribution of Hooded Cranes in the upper part of Shengjin and Baitu Lake part of Caizi Lakes. We considered multiple habitat variables, including patch size, food biomass, food availability, and human disturbance, and analyzed the dynamic changes in the distribution of the population in different wintering periods. We used model selection and averaging to select the best model and identify key variables. During different wintering periods, the spatio-temporal distribution of the crane population differed in the upper part of Shengjin Lake, but the crane was mainly distributed in the northern part of the Baitu Lake part of Caizi Lake. The model that included food biomass and patch size was the best for predicting the relative abundance of Hooded Cranes. Cranes foraged in areas with large patches and abundant food resources. Therefore, we suggest reserving patch integrity and availability in the current habitats and protecting and restoring the main food resources to provide high-quality habitat patches and plentiful food resources for wintering populations of Hooded Cranes.

Significant differences in intestinal fungal community of hooded cranes along the wintering periods.

The intestinal microbiota play vital roles for health of wild birds in many ways. Migratory birds with unique life history might increase the risk of pathogenic transmission across the regions. However, few studies have clarified the fungal community structure and inferred the potential pathogens in guts of migratory birds. The high-throughput sequencing method was applied to analyze the fungal community structure and detect the potential fungal pathogens in guts of hooded cranes among different wintering stages. Significant differences were found in gut fungal community composition of hooded cranes among three wintering stages, with the lowest fungal diversity in the late wintering stage. In the late stage, hooded cranes harbored higher relative abundance of plant saprotroph, contributing to food digestion for hosts. Hooded cranes were associated with the lowest diversity and relative abundance of animal pathogens in the late wintering stage. There was an increasing trend of deterministic process for gut fungal community assembly, suggesting that hosts interaction with their fungal communities changed by enhanced gut selection/filtering along wintering periods. Hooded crane was associated with the strongest gut selection/filtering to obtain defined gut fungal community with retaining probiotics (i.e., plant saprotroph) and exclusion of certain pathogens in the late wintering stage. Overall, these results demonstrated that hooded cranes might regulate their gut microbiota to enhance digestion and decrease gut pathogens in preparation for long-term migration.

Effect of Anthropogenic Disturbance Intensity on the Vigilance Mode of Wintering Hooded Crane (Grus monacha)

Effect of Anthropogenic Disturbance Intensity on the Vigilance Mode of Wintering Hooded Crane (Grus monacha)

Winter coexistence in herbivorous waterbirds: Niche differentiation in a floodplain, Poyang Lake, China.

The classical niche theory supports the idea that stable coexistence requires ecological differences between closely related species. However, information on waterbirds coexistence in the entirely landlocked freshwater system of Poyang Lake is not well understood, especially when the available biomass of their food in the area decreases. In this study, we tested the ecological segregation mechanisms in the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 wintering periods among eight herbivorous waterbirds (including the Siberian crane Grus leucogeranus, hooded crane Grus monacha, white‐naped crane Grus vipio, common crane Grus grus, greater white‐fronted goose Anser albifrons, bean goose Anser fabalis, swan goose Anser cygnoides, and tundra swan Cygnus columbianus) at Poyang Lake. Using field observations and species niche and foraging habitat selection models, we investigated the abundance, distribution, and food sources of these eight waterbird species to quantify and compare their habitat use and ecological niches. Our results showed that niche segregation among the waterbirds, with respect to food types, time, and spatial location, allow them to coexist and use similar resources. The water level gradually receded in the sub‐lakes of the Poyang Lake, which could provide food sources and various habitats for wintering herbivorous waterbirds to coexist. We demonstrated that the differences in habitat use could mitigate interspecific competition, which may explain the mechanism whereby waterbirds of Poyang Lake coexist during the wintering period, despite considerable overlap in the dietary niches of herbivorous waterbirds.

Dyuktai Goose (Anser djuktaiensis) and Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) from the Pleistocene of Central Yakutia.

Bird bones from the Late Pleistocene (31-24 kyr) Ikhine-2 site (Central Yakutia), one of the key Upper Paleolithic sites in northeastern Siberia, have first been studied. This is the northernmost and the oldest bird association in the Pleistocene of Eastern Siberia. Among the bone materials available, the coracoids of the extinct Dyuktai goose (Anser djuktaiensis) and the hooded crane (Grus monacha) are of particular interest. Dyuktai goose is a large representative of the mammoth fauna, originally described from younger deposits (12-13 kyr) in southeastern Yakutia. This is the second find of this species in Russia, which significantly expands our understanding of the geography and time of its distribution. The hooded crane, a rare modern species with a limited habitat area, has first been found in paleontological record. This find indicates the northern distribution of this species during the Late Pleistocene Karginian interstadial. Bones of Anas crecca and Larus canus have also been found at the site.

Intestinal Microbes of Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha) Wintering in Three Lakes of the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Floodplain.

Simple SummaryIntestinal microbes are critical to host health, and are affected by environmental factors. In this study, we investigated the intestinal microbes of Hooded Cranes wintering at three lakes with different environmental characteristics in the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain in China, aiming to provide insights into the effects of habitat size and protection status of birds on their intestinal microbes. We found that the Hooded Cranes at the smaller lake had higher intestinal bacterial and fungal diversity than those at the larger lake. In addition, more diverse and abundant pathogens were found in the gut of Hooded Cranes that lived in the relatively poorly protected habitat than those that lived in well-protected habitat. This study contributes a new perspective for understanding the intestinal microbes of wintering migratory waterbirds at different habitats, and will help to understand the survival status of the vulnerable waterbirds at different habitats for their better conservation.Intestinal microbes participate in life activities of the host, and are affected by external environmental factors. Different habitat sizes and protection status provide different external environmental selection pressures for the same wintering waterbirds, which may be reflected in their intestinal microbes. Hooded Cranes are vulnerable migratory waterbirds with similar numbers wintering at three different lakes in the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain, Poyang, Caizi, and Shengjin Lakes. Here, we analyzed the characteristics of intestinal bacterial and fungal communities of Hooded Cranes wintering at the three lakes to clarify the effect of habitat size and protection status on intestinal microbes, using high-throughput sequencing technology. Our results showed that community composition and diversity of intestinal microbes were significantly different among lakes with different habitat size and protection status. The Hooded Cranes at Shengjin Lake (small) had higher intestinal microbial alpha-diversity (for both bacteria and fungi) than those at Poyang Lake (large), which might be induced by social behavior of more waterbirds per unit area. The Hooded Cranes at Caizi Lake (relatively poorly protected habitat) had more diverse and abundant intestinal potential pathogens than Shengjin Lake (well-protected habitat). Our results indicated that the environmental pressure of a habitat might affect intestinal microorganisms and more attention might be needed for the vulnerable waterbirds at the habitat of poor protection status.

Effects of foraging site distances on the intestinal bacterial community compositions of the sympatric wintering Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) and Domestic Duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)

BackgroundThe composition of intestinal microflora in animals is affected by cross-species transmission. In a nature reserve, the foraging sites of waterbirds are relatively fixed, but frequently close to residential areas and can also be visited by domestic fowls. It is easy to result in the trans-species-flock dispersal of gut microbes between the wild birds and domestic fowls. The effects of the variable foraging site distances on the gut microbe structures of the waterbirds and the sympatric domestic fowls are currently unclear, and further research is required to evaluate the impacts of geographic location on cross-infection.MethodsIllumina high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis software were utilized to compare and analyze the composition of gut microbes from the fecal samples of Hooded Cranes (HC; Grus monacha) and two groups of Domestic Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) that foraged at 1 km (ducks in near areas, D-N), and 4 km (ducks in far areas, D-F) away from the habitats of the Hooded Cranes at Shengjin Lake, China.ResultsThe results showed that there were significant differences in the alpha-diversity of the gut bacteria in the HC, D-N, and D-F samples under the interspecific distance factor. The dominant bacterial phyla, Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria, showed correlations with distance for each host. The D-N group had more diverse intestinal flora than the D-F, as they were physically closer to the HC and had more indirect contact and cross-transmission of their gut microbes. More potentially pathogenic bacterial sequences, and Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) were found in the D-N than in HC and D-F.ConclusionsHooded Cranes and the Domestic Duck populations at variable distances from the cranes showed significant differences in their intestinal bacteria and potentially pathogenic bacteria. The closer the foraging sites were, the easier the intestinal flora spread across species. The results provide a basis for determining the safe distance between wild birds and domestic fowls in a nature reserve.

A Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) at Delta Junction, a First for Alaska

A Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) at Delta Junction, a First for Alaska

Seasonal Variations in the Gut Fungal Communities of Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) at Wintering and Stopover Sites in China.

Simple SummaryThe gut fungi assist the host in various physiological activities, homeostasis, immune responses, and growth. The diversity and community composition of gut fungi are driven by multiple factors, including diet, environmental exposure, habitat type, and seasonal migration. Migratory birds have a peculiar life cycle, so it is interesting to understand the ecological function of their “gut fungal microbiome.” Birds are exposed to variable diets, environments, and habitats amid seasonal migration. The hooded crane is known as a long-distance migratory bird, inhabiting both wintering and stopover grounds during seasonal migration. During migratory seasons, it inhabits various habitats and is exposed to variable environments. This study analyzed the shifts between gut fungal diversity and the community composition of the hooded crane at both wintering and stopover sites amid seasonal migration. The gut fungal alpha diversity exhibited a more significant change during winter than in fall and spring. The gut fungal community composition exhibited significant shifts across winter, fall, and spring (ANOSIM, p = 0.001). The pathogenic diversity and relative abundance showed significant differences during winter at the wintering site relative to fall and spring at the stopover site. Moreover, the pathogenic fungal community composition was significantly different during fall, winter, and spring. This work contributes to present essential knowledge about the gut fungal microbiome of hooded cranes amid seasonal migration. This study also implicated that conservation measures for hooded crane conservation should be applied, as the risk of cross-transmission of potential fungal pathogens might increase during seasonal migration.The “gut fungal microbiome” maintains the immune system, homeostasis, and various physiological functions of an organism. Different factors shape and affect gut fungal diversity and community composition, such as environment, habitat type, food resources, and seasons during migration. Wild birds amid migration are exposed to different habitats with different environments, available food resources, and seasons, which may substantially impact their gut fungal community composition and diversity. The hooded crane (Grus monacha) is a known migratory bird that migrates over long distances and is exposed to varied habitats with different environments and food types. We investigated the differences in gut fungal diversity and community composition between wintering and stopover sites amid three migratory seasons. We deduced the gut fungal pathogenic diversity and community composition during winter, fall, and spring by using high throughput sequencing (Illumina Mi-seq), and the internal transcribed region 2 (ITS2) was examined. Samples were collected from Shengjin Lake in the winter and Lindian during the fall and spring. The dominant fungal phyla found across the three seasons were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, and Rozellomycota. The gut fungal alpha diversity showed significant shifts during winter at the wintering site compared with the fall and spring seasons at the stopover site. The fungal community composition exhibited a significant change across the three seasons (ANOSIM p = 0.001). The results also demonstrated that the diversity and relative abundance of potential pathogens also showed divergence in winter compared to fall and spring. This study provides the basis for understanding the discrepancy in gut fungal diversity and community composition during migratory seasons at both wintering and stopover grounds. It also suggests that conservation measures should be applied to the conservation of hooded cranes and other wild birds, as the risk of cross-infection increases during seasonal migration.

Effects of Food Changes on Intestinal Bacterial Diversity of Wintering Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha).

Simple SummaryThe intestinal microbiota plays a vital role in the health of animals, and food is an important factor that influences the intestinal microbial community. During the winter months, waterbirds require certain foods to supply them with energy through the cold winter. Due to changes in the plant resources available to waterbirds, their intestinal bacteria will vary accordingly. In this study, we analysed the relationship between food composition and intestinal bacteria in hooded cranes (Grus monacha). We found that food resources from similar habitats were more similar, and the corresponding hooded crane intestinal bacteria were also more similar. The results show that the intestinal bacteria of hooded cranes had a certain adaptability to the type of food being consumed. This study contributes novel insights into the diet of hooded cranes in the winter months, allowing for improved protection and management strategies.As food is recognised as an important factor affecting the intestinal microbiota, seasonal changes in diet can influence the community composition. The hooded crane (Grus monacha) is an endangered migratory waterbird species, with some of the population wintering in the sallow lakes in the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain. Their food resources have changed seasonally, with a reduction resulting from wetland degradation. To cope with seasonal changes in food availability, hooded cranes must constantly adjust their foraging strategies to survive. We studied the effect of changes in diet on the intestinal bacterial diversity of hooded cranes at Shengjin Lake, using faecal microanalysis and high-throughput sequencing. The results show that the main foods of hooded cranes were Polygonum criopolitanum, Oryza sativa, and Carex spp., which were significantly related to the composition of the intestinal bacterial community. In addition, foods available from the similar habitats were more similar, and the corresponding hooded crane intestinal bacteria were also more similar. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus acidipiscis in January and March was significantly higher than in November. Our research shows that the intestinal bacteria of hooded cranes actively adapt to diet changes to overcome the negative impact of the reduction in food resources, which is vital to the survival of hooded cranes.