Gut microbiota and quantitative traits divergence at different altitude of long-tailed dwarf hamsters, Cricetulus longicaudatus

To investigate the community structure and diversity of gut microflora and their function in body mass regulation, as well as the effects of various locations on gut microbiota and Cricetulus longicaudatus body mass regulation at various elevations. We examined the diversity, abundance, and community structure of the gut microbiota of long-tailed dwarf hamsters individuals from 8 regions in ShanXi province during summer using 16S rDNA sequencing technology and analyzed the relationships between these microbiota and environmental variables as well as morphological indicators. The results revealed Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes as the dominant phyla at the phylum level, with Lactobacillus emerging as the predominant genus. We observed difference of gut microflora between different areas, and this diversity effected by altitude. The high altitude areas individuals had lower ß diversity of gut microbiota than low altitude area. Moreover, the body and skull indexes long-tailed dwarf hamsters of also changed with altitude. The result presented in this study indicated that the body size of long-tailed dwarf hamsters conforms to Bergmann's law. And Providencia had significant correlation with body size. Finally, functional analysis of the gut microbiota indicated altitude-dependent alterations in metabolic function, while collinear network analysis demonstrated interactions among the gut microbiota. These findings collectively suggest that altitudinal differences exist in the of long-tailed hamsters, with altitude serving as a primary factor influencing both microbial structure and metabolic function. This study highlights altitude as a crucial determinant shaping the gut microbiota and phenotypic characteristics of long-tailed hamsters, showcasing their species-specific adaptability to changes in altitude.