Diversity and composition of rumen microbiome in Sika deers (Cervus nippon yakushimae) from Yakushima Island, Japan

We characterized the rumen microbiota of wild Yaku sika population by high throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Rumen microbiota play a crucial role in digesting cellulolytic biomass for ruminant diet. Deer in Yakushima Island Japan, known as Yaku sika, graze a wide range of forage types, and have caused serious reduction of forest understory vegetation in the island while increasing their population. Dietary shifts in the host, observed especially with Yaku sika at highly populated areas, are expected to influence community composition in RM. Significantly higher diversity and distinct community structure were observed in Yaku sika from high-density areas compared to those from decreasing population density areas. These features may contribute to the flexibility of Yaku sika dietary shift and to maintain nutritional status under high density conditions.

本研究通过对细菌16S rRNA基因（16S rRNA gene）开展高通量测序（high throughput sequencing），完成了野生屋久岛鹿（Yaku sika）种群的瘤胃微生物组（rumen microbiota）表征分析。瘤胃微生物组在反刍动物消化纤维素类生物质以支撑日粮营养获取的过程中发挥关键作用。栖息于日本屋久岛的鹿俗称屋久岛鹿（Yaku sika），它们取食多种类型的饲草；随着种群数量不断扩张，该鹿群已对岛上的林下植被造成了严重破坏。已有观测显示，尤其是在种群高密度分布区域的屋久岛鹿，其日粮会发生显著转变，这类改变有望对其瘤胃微生物组的群落组成产生影响。相较于种群密度下降区域的个体，高密度区域的屋久岛鹿瘤胃微生物组展现出显著更高的物种多样性与更为独特的群落结构。上述特征或可助力屋久岛鹿实现日粮转变的灵活性，并使其在高密度生存环境下维持自身的营养稳态。