Is intestinal bacterial diversity enhanced by trans-species spread in the mixed-species flock of hooded crane (Grus monacha) and bean goose (Anser fabalis) wintering in the lower and middle Yangtze River floodplain?

Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to analyse the intestinal bacteria of these two species during different wintering periods at Shengjin Lake. We tested whether contact time enhances the trans-species spread of gut bacteria. Our results indicate that although intestinal microflora of hooded crane and the bean goose were different, direct or indirect contact in the mixed-species flock caused the spread of gut bacteria trans-species, and a very high proportion of common pathogens among these two hosts. Overall design: Studies on intestinal bacteria of two different species of hooded crane and bean goose, including 57 samples of hooded crane and 52 samples of bean goose.