摘要：Background: It is well known that nutrient availability can alter the gut microbiota composition, while the effect on diversity and temporal stability remains largely unknown.Methods: Here we address the equine caecal microbiota temporal stability, diversity, and functionality in response to diets with different levels of nutrient availability. Hay (low and slower nutrient availability) versus a mixture of hay and whole oats (high and more rapid nutrient availability) were used as experimental diets.Results: We found major effects on the microbiota despite that the caecal pH was far from sub-clinical acidosis. We found that the low nutrient availability diet was associated with a higher level of both diversity and temporal stability of the caecal microbiota than the high nutrient availability diet. These observations concur with general ecological theories, suggesting a stabilising effect of biological diversity and that high nutrient availability has a destabilising effect through reduced diversity.Conclusion: Nutrient availability does not only change the composition but also the ecology of the caecal microbiota.Keywords: 16S rDNA; caecal microbiota; hay; whole oats; equine(Published: 4 August 2015)Citation: Microbial Ecology in Health & Disease 2015, 26: 27216 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/mehd.v26.27216
