The diet-intestinal microbiota dynamics and adaptation in an elevational migration bird, the Himalayan bluetail (Tarsiger rufilatus).

Migratory birds experience changes in their environment and diet during seasonal migrations, thus requiring interactions between diet and gut microbes. Understanding the co-evolution of the host and gut microbiota is critical for elucidating the rapid adaptations of avian gut microbiota. However, dynamics of gut microbial adaptations concerning elevational migratory behavior, which is prevalent but understudied in montane birds remain poorly understood. We focused on the Himalayan bluetail (Tarsiger rufilatus) in the montane forests of Mt. Gongga to understand the diet-gut microbial adaptations of elevational migratory birds. Our findings indicate that elevational migratory movements can rapidly alter gut microbial composition and function within a month. There was a significant interaction between an animal-based diet and gut microbiota across migration stages, underscoring the importance of diet in shaping microbial communities. Furthermore, the gut microbial composition of T. rufilatus may be potentially altered by high-altitude acclimatization. An increase in fatty acid and amino acid metabolism was observed in response to low temperatures and limited resources, resulting in enhanced energy extraction and nutrient utilization. Moreover, microbial communities in distinct gut segments varied in relative abundance and responses to environmental changes. While the bird jejunum exhibited greater susceptibility to food and environmental fluctuations, there was no significant difference in metabolic capacity among gut segments. This study provides initial evidence of rapid diet-gut microbial changes in distinct gut segments of elevational migratory birds and highlights the importance of seasonal sample collection. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the unique high-altitude adaptation patterns of the gut microbiota for montane elevational migratory birds.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Lesser Sand-Plover Charadrius mongolus atrifrons and its phylogenetic position.

The Lesser Sand-Plover (Charadrius mongolus atrifrons) is a small shorebird in Charadriiformes. Here we assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of C. m. atrifrons (Aves: Charadriiformes) which is 16,919 bp in length and consisting of 13 protein-coding (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA and 1 control region. The overall A + T content of was 55.5%. The Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree based on the 12 concatenated mitochondrial protein-coding genes (except ND6 gene) placed C. m. atrifrons in a clade with C. alexandrines but separate from C. vociferus.

Complete mitochondrial genome and the phylogenetic position of Mycerobas carnipes (Passeriformes Fringillidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Mycerobas carnipes was sequenced in this study and the total length is 16,806 bp containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and one control region. The phylogenetic analysis based on 13 PCGs of five grosbeaks and other Fringillidae birds demonstrated that Mycerobas, Coccothraustes, and Eophona had close phylogenetic relationships for clustering as three sister branches, and supported that Eophona originated earlier in phylogeny.

The complete mitochondrial genome and the phylogenetic position of Alauda gulgula (Aves: Passeriformes).

The Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula) is a small songbird in the Alaudidae. Here we assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of Alauda gulgula which is 17,055 bp in length and consisting of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA, and 2 extensive heteroplasmic control regions. The overall A + T content of the mitogenome is 52.3%The maximum-likelihood (ML) tree based on the complete mitochondrial genome of A. gulgula revealed the close genetic relationship between A. gulgula and A. arvensis, but separate from A. cheleensis.