Age-Related Differences in Gut Microbiome and Fecal Metabolome of Captive African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus).

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to characterize the profiles of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) of different ages. The combination of metagenome and metabolome was performed on the feces of captive African penguins of varying age groups, including juvenile (1-3 years old), adult (4-15 years old) and senior (16-20 years old) individuals. The results of the metagenome showed that microbial abundance was significantly different between groups. Adult penguins had higher abundances of Gallilactobacillus and Ligilactobacillus compared to juvenile penguins. Senior penguins exhibited higher abundances of Gammaproteobacteria and Escherichia coli than adult penguins. We further identified differentially expressed metabolites across the groups using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Correlation analysis showed that age was correlated significantly with certain differential microbial species and fecal metabolites. The results revealed that age is a key factor influencing gut microbiota and metabolism in African penguins. Our results provide baseline information on gut microbial structure and fecal metabolite characteristics in African penguins of different ages, which is vital for the management and ex situ conservation of this endangered species.