FIG 2.

Alpha diversity of the microbial community in different intestinal segments from chickens that received a normal diet (Control) or a diet supplemented with 1 g berberine/kg feed (BBR) for 12 or 21 days posthatch. Observed, observed OTUs; Chao1, estimated species richness; Shannon, estimated species diversity. *, P ≤ 0.05. The Shannon index tended to increase in the jejunum in the BBR group on day 12 (P = 0.0722). The observed number of OTUs (P = 0.0114), Chao1 estimator (P = 0.0287), and the Shannon index (P = 0.0425) were significantly reduced by berberine in the cecum on day 12. The observed number of OTUs was significantly increased (P = 0.0297), as well as the Chao1 estimator (P = 0.0914) and the Shannon index (P = 0.0780) tended to be increased in the colon on day 21 in the BBR group.