Gut microbiota differs between two cold-climate lizards distributed in thermally different regions.

Area of Science:

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• Microbiology
• Animal Physiology

Background:

• The metabolic cold-climate adaptation hypothesis suggests animals in cold climates have higher metabolic rates.
• Empirical evidence for this hypothesis, especially concerning gut microbiota, remains limited.
• This study investigates the role of gut microbes in the thermal adaptation of cold-climate lizards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare gut microbiota composition in two cold-climate lizard species.
• To determine if gut microbiota contributes to metabolic adaptation in cold environments.
• To test the metabolic cold-climate adaptation hypothesis in Phrynocephalus lizards.

Main Methods:

• A 2 species (P. erythrurus and P. przewalskii) × 2 temperatures (24°C and 30°C) factorial experiment was conducted.
• Lizards were maintained at experimental temperatures for 25 days.
• Fecal samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to compare gut microbiota.

Main Results:

• Gut microbiota was dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia.
• Microbiota promoted thermal adaptation in both species, with variations in bacterial abundance.
• Genes related to metabolism were more abundant in P. erythrurus at 24°C, indicating enhanced metabolic function.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiota plays a significant role in thermal adaptation for both lizard species.
• The contribution of gut microbiota to cold adaptation is more pronounced in P. erythrurus.
• Findings support the role of gut microbiota in enabling lizards to adapt to cold climates.