A comparison of digestive strategies for fishes with different feeding
habits: digestive enzyme activities, intestinal morphology and gut
microbiota
Abstract
Feeding habit determines the digestive tract structure and intestinal
microflora. However, the relationship among feeding habit, digestive
physiology intestinal, and microbial diversity of omnivorous,
herbivorous, filter-feeder and carnivorous fish reared in the same pond
has not been compared. This study compared the digestive enzyme
activities, intestinal morphology and intestinal microflora of
omnivorous (Carassius auratus), herbivorous (Ctenopharyngodon idellus),
carnivorous (Siniperca chuatsi) and filter-feeder (Shizothorax grahami)
and predicted the potential functions of specific microflora on
different nutrients. Twelve intestine samples were collected from each
of the four fishes from Dianchi Lake. The composition and diversity of
microbial communities were determined by using high throughput
sequencing of 16S rDNA. The results showed that the filter-feeder fish
had significantly higher protease but lower amylase activities in the
intestine than herbivorous. The carnivorous fish intestine had more
microvilli branches and complex structures than other fish species in
the order carnivorous > herbivorous >
filter-feeder > omnivorous. The diversity of intestinal
microflora was higher in omnivorous and followed the order omnivorous
> herbivorous > filter-feeder >
carnivorous. Acinetobacter species and Bacteroides species were the most
dominant flora in carnivorous and herbivorous fish, respectively.
Acinetobacter johnsonii, Acinetobacter lwoffii and Pseudomonas stutzeri
might help the host to digest protein, while Bacteroidetes species may
help the host to digest cellulose. Taken together, feeding habit
determines the digestive enzyme activities, intestinal tissue morphology
and differential colonization of fish intestinal flora. The knowledge
obtained is useful in designing appropriate approaches for feed
formulation and feeding practices in for fish.