Gut microbiome reveals the trophic variation and significant adaption of three sympatric forest-dwelling ungulates on the eastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Background: The gut microbiome of herbivorous mammals regulates numerous physiological processes, including digestion and energy metabolism. The complex stomach architecture of ruminants, in conjunction with the metabolic capabilities of their microbiota, confers a considerable adaptive advantage to these animals. Nevertheless, a significant gap persists in comparative studies on the variations in the gut microbiome among sympatric ruminants and their potential adaptive implications.

Insight into mtDNA diversity of wild forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in Shanxi Province mountains.

Shanxi Province is the northernmost distribution range of Chinese forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), with wild populations scattered across Zhongtiao (ZT), Lüliang (LL), and Taiyue (TY) mountain ranges. Using line transect surveys and local guide assistance, coupled with infrared camera data, this study systematically collected fecal samples from wild forest musk deer from five nature reserves across the three mountain ranges. Genetic diversity was analyzed using the mtDNA control region, which yielded 129 effective sequences of 656 bp and 20 distinct haplotypes.