Gut Microbiota Composition of Wild Birds in Different Habitats in Suai Niah, Miri, Sarawak
Keywords:
faeces, gut microbiota, habitat, wild birdsAbstract
Birds host diverse communities of micro-organisms in their guts that play a crucial role in providing nutrition and protection from pathogens. Various studies have reported on the influence of habitat factors that shape the gut microbiome of wild birds. However, there have been limited studies conducted in Sarawak. In this study, we collected the gut composition of wild birds from different habitats at Suai Niah, Miri. Fifteen faeces samples from various bird species were gathered from three distinct habitats: a secondary forest, an oil palm plantation, and a village. The faeces samples were analysed using the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA molecule as a microbial fingerprint, and metagenomic analyses were performed with microbial ecology packages in QIIME to characterise the gut microbiota in wild birds. Metagenomic analysis identified four primary bacterial phyla: Firmicutes (59.23%), Bacteroidetes (17.98%), Proteobacteria (14.06%), and Actinobacteria (3.71%), collectively accounting for the majority of the total relative abundance across all samples. This study highlights habitat as a key factor shaping the gut microbiome of wild birds. Gut microbes influence host nutrition, immunity, and adaptation, while birds may act as pathogen reservoirs affecting other species. Microbiome studies in wild birds are therefore important for understanding health, disease risk, and the ecological impacts of environmental changes, with broader implications for conservation and biodiversity. The information gathered from this study can inform future research and enhance our understanding of the gut microbiome of birds in Borneo.
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