Structural and functional differences of gut microbiota in Pomacea canaliculata from different geographical locations and habitats

Gut microbiota is related to host fitness, and influenced by geographical
locations and habitats. Pomacea canaliculata is a malignant invasive alien
snail that threatens agricultural production and ecosystem functions
worldwide. Clarifying the general rules of the gut microbial community
structure and function of the snails in different geographical locations
and habitats is of great significance for understanding their invasion at
different spatial scales. This study used high-throughput sequencing
technology to compare and analyze the differences in community structure
and function of gut microbiota in P. canaliculata from five geographical
locations (Liuzhou, Yulin, Nanning, Wuzhou, and Hezhou) and three
different habitats (pond, paddy field, and ditch) in Guangxi Province. The
results showed that the intestinal microbial alpha diversity
of P. canaliculata was higher in Liuzhou, Yulin, lower in
Nanning, Wuzhou, and Hezhou, and higher in ponds compared with paddy
fields and ditches. The dominant phyla of gut microbiota in snails were
Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteriota, and
Bacteroidota, and the dominant genus was Lactococcus. The community
structure of gut microbiota in snails varied significantly across
different geographical locations and habitats, and the phyla Firmicutes
and Cyanobacteria had significantly higher relative abundance in snails
collected from Nanning and Yulin, respectively. Moreover, the relative
abundance of gut functional microbiota associated with human disease in P.
canaliculata was significantly affected by geographical locations and
habitats, and with the highest abundance in ponds. However, the relative
abundance of functional microbiota related to metabolism, genetic
information processing, organizational systems, environmental information
processing, and cellular processes was only significantly affected by
geographical locations. Collectively, geographical locations and habitats
had significantly different effects on the community structure and
function of gut microbiota in P. canaliculata, and the greater differences
were caused by geographical locations rather than by habitats.