Comparison of the composition and function of gut microbes between adult and juvenile Cipangopaludina chinensis in the rice-snail system

The gut microbes of aquatic animals plays a vital role in food digestion and nutrient absorption. Herein, we aimed at high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA to further investigate whether there were differences in the diversity and composition of the gut microbes of adult and juvenile Cipangopaludina chinensis snails, as well as sediments. The microbial composition of the snail gut was relatively stable and has similar biological functions. These findings provide valuable information for in-depth understanding of the relationship between snails and environmental microorganisms, and provide new ideas for the development and changes of the gut flora of snails.