Structural and functional differences of gut microbiota in Pomacea canaliculata from different geographical locations...

Gut microbiota is related to host fitness, and influenced by geographical locations and habitats. Pomacea canaliculata is a malignant invasive alien snail that threatens agricultural production and ecosystem functions worldwide. Clarifying the general rules of the gut microbial community structure and function of the snails in different geographical locations and habitats is of great significance for understanding their invasion at different spatial scales. This study used high-throughput sequencing technology to compare and analyze the differences in community structure and function of gut microbiota in P. canaliculata from five geographical locations (Liuzhou, Yulin, Nanning, Wuzhou, and Hezhou) and three different habitats (pond, paddy field, and ditch) in Guangxi Province. The results showed that intestinal microbial alpha diversity of P. canaliculata was higher in Liuzhou, Yulin, lower in Nanning, Wuzhou, Hezhou, and higher in ponds compared with paddy fields and ditches. The dominant phyla of gut microbiota in snails were Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and the dominant genus was Lactococcus. The community structure of gut microbiota in snails varied significantly across different geographical locations and habitats, and the phyla Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria had significantly higher relative abundance in snails collected from Nanning and Yulin, respectively. Moreover, the relative abundance of gut functional microbiota associated with human disease in P. canaliculata was significantly affected by geographical locations and habitats, and with the highest abundance in ponds. However, the relative abundance of functional microbiota related to metabolism, genetic information processing, organizational system, environmental information processing, and cellular processes were only significantly affected by geographical locations. Collectively, geographical locations and habitats had significantly different effects on the community structure and function of gut microbiota in P. canaliculata, and the greater differences were caused by geographical locations rather than by habitats.