Evidence for the effects on the wildlife gut microbiome by grazing: The potential gut microbiota transmission between Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) and sympatric livestock

Grazing can impact wildlife by resource competition, habitat degradation, and pathogen transmission. The Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (<i>Rhinopithecus bieti</i>) are endemic and endangered primates, facing the negative effects of grazing. In the study, we conducted 16S rRNA sequencing to investigate the gut microbiota of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys and sympatric livestock. Our results revealed that cattle exhibited relatively higher microbial similarity with monkeys compared to pigs. The SourceTracker analysis further indicated a potential cattle-origin gut microbiome in monkeys (mean ± standard deviation (SD): 11.24% ± 0.43%), while no pig-derived microbiome was detected. We speculated that shared environment and partial dietary similarities may drive the microbial similarity and transmission. Furthermore, our findings suggested potential microbial transmission between the gut microbiome of livestock and the environment, revealing probable environmental influence caused by grazing. Overall, our study showed the impacts of grazing on the wildlife microbiome and the environment and provided insights for conservation management.