Characterization and comparison of gut microbiomes in nine species of parrots in captivity

Gut microbiomes have profound effects on the health of hosts. About 28% of extant parrot species are threatened with extinction. To inform conservation efforts, we characterized and compared the gut microbiomes in nine species of parrots in captivity. The core gut microbiome of parrots was dominated by three bacterial phyla: the Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. This core gut microbiome is similar to that in other herbivorous birds. There were no statistical differences in the diversity of gut microbiomes among parrot species, but significant variations in richness were detected. Individuals of the same species had more similar gut microbial composition to each other than to other species, indicating the potential role of host ancestry on shaping gut microbiomes. However, gut microbiomes did not cluster according to host species. Furthermore, Lactobacillus might influence the gut microbial composition of parrots. These results can contribute to improving our understanding of the basic characteristics of parrot gut microbiomes and help with their conservation.