A Multidimensional Landscape of the Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon): Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Sex-Specific Adaptations
In this study, gastrointestinal contents were collected from 10 anatomically distinct segments in 24 healthy adult sika deer. This study was the first to systematically analyze the sika deer gut microbiota by integrating three dimensions: spatial (10 gastrointestinal segments), temporal (four seasons), and sex-based (male and female). Using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and KEGG functional prediction, the study revealed significant differentiation and co-adaptive patterns in microbial community structure and metabolic functions across gastrointestinal segments, seasons, and sexes.