Seasonal Dietary Shifts Alter the Gut Microbiota of Avivorous Bats: Implication for Adaptation to Energy Harvest and Nutritional Utilization

Abstract

The coevolution between the host and its gut microbes can promote an animal’s adaptation to its specific ecological niche and changes in energy and nutritional requirements. This study focused on an avivorous bat, the great evening bat ( Ia io ), to investigate how seasonal dietary shifts affect the gut microbial composition and function, thereby facilitating adaptation to an avian diet.