Mitochondrial genome analysis, phylogeny and divergence time evaluation of (Aves, Strigiformes, Strigidae).

Background Prior research has shown that the European peninsulas were the main sources of colonisation of Northern Europe during the late glacial period. However, the phylogenetic relationship and the divergence time between from Leigong Mountain Nature Reserve, Guizhou Province, China and the Strigiformes from overseas remains unclear. The mitochondrial genome structure of birds is a covalent double-chain loop structure that is highly conserved and, thus, suitable for phylogenetic analysis.

Host genetic background rather than diet-induced gut microbiota shifts of sympatric black-necked crane, common crane and bar-headed goose.

Introduction: Gut microbiota of wild birds are affected by many factors, and host genetic background and diet are considered to be two important factors affecting their structure and function.

Methods: In order to clarify how these two factors influence the gut microbiota, this study selected the sympatric and closely related and similar-sized Black-necked Crane () and Common Crane (), as well as the distantly related and significantly different-sized Bar-headed Goose (). The fecal samples identified using sanger sequencing as the above three bird species were subjected to high-throughput sequencing of gene and gene to identify the feeding types phytophagous food and gut microbiota.