Variations in bacterial taxonomic profiles and potential functions in response to the gut transit of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) feeding on cow manure

Earthworms play an important role in the organic matter decomposition terrestrial ecosystems. interact directly with microorganisms to affect via gut transit, i.e., digestion and assimilation of foregut midgut its excretion by hindgut. However, how microbial community ingested earthworms respond transit processes different segments is not clear. We used composted cow manure feed sampled vermicompost contents foregut, hindgut for bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. observed that earthworm decreased abundances dominant phyla Proteobacteria Bacteroidetes but increased Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi Acidobacteria. The alpha diversity was lowest segments, structure significantly from enrichment analysis results revealed selective stimulatory inhibitory effects on which extended vermicompost. FAPROTAX data indicated C N metabolic microbes were enriched gut. Microbes involved fermentation methanogenesis hindgut, denitrification foregut. metabolism after stimulation (P < 0.05), pathogenic animals plants inhibited. Combined subsequent correlation biochemical analyses, altered function accelerate degradation mineralization phosphorus potassium. Our study suggests process plays regulating dynamics