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Non-hibernating pikas' protein restriction tweaks their gut microbiome to help them survive the winter, when winter-active herbivores often struggle to find dietary protein

10.16.25 | PLOS

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Non-hibernating pikas' protein restriction tweaks their gut microbiome to help them survive the winter, when winter-active herbivores often struggle to find dietary protein
A plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) foraging during the harsh winter on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Credit: Dr. Fuyu Shi (CC-BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)


In your coverage, please use this URL to provide access to the freely available paper in PLOS Biology : https://plos.io/4nI13TV

Article title: Increased urea nitrogen salvaging by a remodeled gut microbiota helps nonhibernating pikas maintain protein homeostasis during winter

Author countries : China, Israel

Funding: see manuscript

PLOS Biology

10.1371/journal.pbio.3003436

Experimental study

Animals

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Additional Media

Non-hibernating pikas' protein restriction tweaks their gut microbiome to help them survive the winter, when winter-active herbivores often struggle to find dietary protein
A plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) at the burrow entrance in late September. Credit: Dr. Qingsheng Chi (CC-BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Keywords

Dietary Protein Gut Microbiota Herbivores Hibernation Microbiota Winter Season

Article Information

Journal
PLOS Biology
DOI
10.1371/journal.pbio.3003436
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Animals
COI Statement
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Contact Information

Claire Turner
PLOS
biologypress@plos.org

How to Cite This Article

APA:
PLOS. (2025, October 16). Non-hibernating pikas' protein restriction tweaks their gut microbiome to help them survive the winter, when winter-active herbivores often struggle to find dietary protein. Brightsurf News. https://www.brightsurf.com/news/LPEWQKO8/non-hibernating-pikas-protein-restriction-tweaks-their-gut-microbiome-to-help-them-survive-the-winter-when-winter-active-herbivores-often-struggle-to-find-dietary-protein.html
MLA:
"Non-hibernating pikas' protein restriction tweaks their gut microbiome to help them survive the winter, when winter-active herbivores often struggle to find dietary protein." Brightsurf News, Oct. 16 2025, https://www.brightsurf.com/news/LPEWQKO8/non-hibernating-pikas-protein-restriction-tweaks-their-gut-microbiome-to-help-them-survive-the-winter-when-winter-active-herbivores-often-struggle-to-find-dietary-protein.html.