Real-time PCR to estimate population size of typical bacteria associated with the Cecum of Japanese rock ptarmigans

The Japanese rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta japonica) is an endangered alpine bird endemic to Japan. Wild individuals mainly consume leaves, flowers, and fruits of dwarf shrubs, but captive-reared birds often fail to adapt due to altered cecal microbiota. The bacterial genera Synergistes, Olsenella, and Megasphaera are typical in wild ceca. To restore these communities in captivity, chicks were fed alpine plants and freeze-dried cecal feces from wild birds. We developed a real-time PCR method to quantify these genera. While Synergistes was not fully restored, Olsenella and Megasphaera populations were successfully established. This method provides a practical tool to evaluate feeding strategies and supports the production of release-ready chicks from captive populations.