Microbial diversity and composition on the surface of Chinese alligator eggs with different phenotypes during artificial incubation

The internal and external environments affect the Chinese alligator (<i>Alligator sinensis</i>) eggs during the incubation period. This study aimed to explore the composition, diversity, and function of microorganisms on the surface of Chinese alligator eggs with different phenotypes during artificial incubation, providing a theoretical basis for improving the hatching success rate of Chinese alligator eggs. The development of high-throughput sequencing technology has enabled microbial DNA sequencing. In this study, the microbial community on the surface of Chinese alligator eggs (42 samples) was analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. The microbial profiles significantly varied among Chinese alligator eggs with a clean, shiny, crack-free surface (G group) and those with a dirty, dull, cracked surface (B group). The composition and abundance of microorganisms markedly varied between the B and G groups. The predominant bacterial taxa on the surface of Chinese alligator eggs were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota, with Proteobacteria exhibiting the highest abundance. The abundance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes in the G group was greater than that of the B group. Moreover, the abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota in the B group was greater than that of the G group. These findings indicate that the structure and diversity of microbial communities significantly varied on the surface of Chinese alligator eggs with different phenotypes during the incubation period and that different developmental stages of the eggs are dependent on microbes. The findings of this study provide a novel perspective on microbial dynamics during the incubation of Chinese alligator eggs and provide a scientific basis for the optimization of artificial incubation environments in the future.