Long-Read Sequencing Revealing the Effectiveness of Captive Breeding Strategy for Improving the Gut Microbiota of Spotted Seal (Phoca largha)

The spotted seal (Phoca largha) is the sole pinniped species that can reproduce in China and has been classified as the First-Grade State Protection animal. The conventional method for the protection and maintenance of the spotted seal population is the captive maintenance of the species in artificially controlled environments. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the captive strategy remains uncertain, with the potential to impact the health of spotted seals through alterations in gut microbiota. In this study, PacBio sequencing based on the full-length of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was applied to faeces from captive and wild spotted seals, thereby providing a first reference for the gut microbiota profile of spotted seals at the species scale. The gut microbiota of captive spotted seals was found to be more diverse than that of the wild population. The gut microbiota of spotted seals exhibited notable variation due to captive breeding, with an enrichment of Firmicutes and a reduction in Proteobacteria. The results of the co-occurrence network analysis indicated that the gut microbiota of captive spotted seals exhibited a greater degree of complexity and stability in comparison to that observed in their wild counterparts. The analysis of community assembly mechanisms revealed an increased determinism for the gut microbiota of captive individuals, with a concomitant decrease in the contribution of drift. Furthermore, the results of the predicted functions indicated a reduction in stress responses and an enhanced ability to metabolise sugars in the gut microbiota of captive spotted seals. In conclusion, the results of this study provide evidence that the current captive breeding strategy is an effective approach for improving the gut microbiota of spotted seals. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the potential of monitoring the gut microbiota to assess the health of marine mammals and inform conservation strategies for endangered species.