Dynamic Changes in Gut Microbiota and Antibiotic Resistance Gene Diversity in Captive Scaly-sided Mergansers (Mergus squamatus)
This study focused on the endangered Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus). Using metagenomic sequencing, we systematically examined the dynamics of gut microbiota, ARGs, and virulence factors (VFs) across four developmental stages-chicks, juveniles, subadults, and adults-in captive populations and compared these with wild populations.