ABSTRACT Gut microbiota play a crucial regulatory role in host energy metabolism and environmental adaptation, with their composition and function significantly influenced by dietary shifts. This study employed high‐throughput sequencing to analyze the dietary composition of Myotis chinensis and the seasonal dynamics of its gut microbiota, with functional predictions used to explore adaptive changes in metabolic pathways. Results indicated notable seasonal variations in dietary composition: Lepidoptera constituted the majority in spring (60.13%), and the diet transitioned to Orthoptera dominance in early summer (78.19%), with Odonata becoming the leading prey in late summer (79.99%), and Arachnida (47.93%) became the dominant taxon in autumn. Gut microbial diversity reached its maximum in late summer and was at its minimum during autumn. Functional predictions indicated significant upregulation of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism pathways in summer, while lipid metabolism and hibernation‐related pathways were enriched in autumn. These synergistic dietary and microbial functional adjustments help Myotis chinensis adapt to seasonal energy demands and climatic extremes. This study provided novel insights into the ecological adaptation mechanisms of insectivorous bats.
Xiong et al. (2026) studied this question.