Data from: Gut microbiota provide co-existing strategies for two species of symmetrically distributed rodents in competition for food

Gut microbiota provides an effective strategy for sympatric proximal
species to coexist in interspecific competition. In the present
study, 16SrDNA was used to investigate the gut microbial of the Cricetulus
longicaudatus and Apodemus agrarius, which are two species
distributed in the same domain, under natural ambient and varying
dietary situations. Our data revealed that there were
significant differences in gut microbial structure and diversity between
the two species. Specifically, the voles demonstrated high alpha
diversity and abundance of Lactobacillus, whereas the mice shown
substantial enrichment of Verrucomicrobiota. Wild voles had a more complex
co-occurrence network, with a low level of positive correlation rate,
however, after being fed various diets, the network structure was
simplified, and the positive correlation rate increased. On the contrary,
wild mice had a simple co-occurrence network, with a high level of
positive correlation rate, after exposure to different diets, the network
structure became more complex, accompanied by a decrease in the positive
correlation rate. Our results also revealed differences in
dietary adaption between the two
species. Voles exhibited a greater microbial
adaptability under high-fat and high-fiber
diet than mice, as indicating by a significant rise in
the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. While mice demonstrated
reduced adaptation to dietary changes, and it had a stronger ability to
adapt to high-fat diet than to high-fiber diet. Finally,
our data revealed significant alterations in carbohydrate metabolism
pathways between two species. This study provides new insights
into how the gut microbiota of symmetrically distributed rodents provides
effective survival strategies for species in the face of competition.